RACING TELEVISION - PINKS Season 5 to Debut on SPEED in HD & VOD
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SPEED, making its much-anticipated move to HD on Feb. 7 with 100 hours of coverage from Daytona Speedweeks, will offer the full 13-episode 2008 season of PINKS in the new 720p format.
"We are looking to build on last year's successful stunt initiatives and expand them even further with PINKS in February," said Kevin Annison, SPEED VP of Digital and Interactive Media. "These stunts are great for getting the word out and driving tune-in to the linear network. We love it because we see an increase in ratings and it delivers increased exposure for SPEED and its affiliates in the areas of free on-demand, Hi-Def on-demand and high-speed broadband offerings."
PINKS pits amateur racers against each other in a best three-out-of-five, winner-take-all drag race format. To compete, each racer must sign over the title of his or her car with full knowledge that if he or she loses the race, they lose their ride, making it the first reality show to ensure contestants lose something other than their dignity.
During its first four seasons on air, PINKS has grown from three cameras, a few shifter carts and no spectators, to a series of lifestyle events with thousands of people, many clad in PINKS gear, asking for autographs, lining the track to watch the taping and dialing their cells to listen to driver negotiations. More than 800 applicants a year are willing to risk it all to be a part of what is being called "the hottest car show on television."
Post advanced screenings of the first two episodes, SPEED will continue to offer PINKS and other select SPEED programming shortly after episodes air on the linear channel via On Demand in both HD and SD.
"SPEED also will make customized spots available promoting the premiere of PINKS VOD in HD, the premiere of PINKS On Demand, and spots promoting the entire fifth season of PINKS available in HD On Demand. Affiliates can view and order these spots on www.foxcable.com," Annison added.
In addition, exclusive PINKS short-form content will be made available all season through SPEEDtv.com, VOD cable, iTunes video podcasts, mobile phones, cable broadband sites and viral distribution.
SPEED is creating an extensive PINKS program page on SPEEDtv.com that will feature original content, sneak peeks, driver profiles, PINKS online game and other initiatives. Affiliates will be given the option of linking their sites to the SPEEDtv.com program page or outfitting their own sites with PINKS material.
On the mobile front, long-form episodes will be available on Sprint wireless handsets via Sprint TV. SPEED clips and original short-form content will be made available to Sprint, Cingular, MobiTV and others. SPEED also has PINKS ring tones and wallpapers available for download via carrier decks.
PINKS full-length episodes, advanced screenings and free clips also will be available for electronic download via iTunes, Amazon, Best Buy and other electronic download distributors.
SPEED is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 78 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority.