Digital Entertainment Network, Inc. (DEN) and Ford Join Forces
23 December 1999
Digital Entertainment Network, Inc. (DEN) and Ford Motor Company Join Forces To Promote a Safe and Sober Holiday Season
Premiere Charter Sponsor, Ford Marks Their Official Debut Through Educational
Drinking and Driving Series on DEN's 'confiDENtial' Program
SANTA MONICA, Calif., and DEARBORN, Michigan, Dec. 22 --
Digital Entertainment Network, Inc. (DEN(R)), the privately held interactive
online network that targets Generation Y, and Ford Motor Company, one of DEN's
premiere charter sponsors, today announced the debut of a brand new four part
series on drinking and driving, which is being featured on DEN's
"confiDENtial" program at http://www.den.net. The drinking and driving series,
solely sponsored by Ford Motor Company, kicks off the first of many
sponsorship activities that the company will unveil in conjunction with DEN's
youth-oriented, original Internet programming and entertainment network.
"Ford Motor Company chose this series to launch its official sponsorship
debut with DEN because it strongly supports one of our core values -- safety,"
said Elena Ford, Ford Motor Company's Director of eMarketing for
ConsumerConnect. "This important effort will help educate youths about the
perils of drinking and driving."
"This powerful D.U.I. documentary series introduced in conjunction with
Ford Motor Company, showcases Ford's true dedication to personal driving
safety and their unprecedented belief in the DEN online network," said Edward
Winter, Chief Marketing Officer, DEN. "We were excited when Ford agreed to
sponsor this series during the holiday season, as this important topic
deserves additional attention during this busy time of year. We look forward
to a very long and rewarding relationship with Ford."
"confiDENtial's" four-part series on D.U.I., three of which are currently
available and the fourth episode which will debut on December 28th, shows
young people the consequences of driving under the influence -- from a young
girl being arrested at a sobriety checkpoint; to the tragic aftermath of a
fatal accident; to a dramatic tour of the L.A. County morgue, part of a
court-ordered program designed to deter young drunk drivers. The current and
archived "confiDENtial" D.U.I. episodes are featured as short-format, linear
video content that can be seamlessly accessed at the DEN site. DEN's
"DENabler" program is the proprietary one-click solution which allows viewers
to easily and quickly install all of the plug-ins necessary to watch
its Internet-only programs.
"Our relationship with DEN is one of many Internet partnerships designed
to maximize Ford Motor Company's ability to communicate and interact with
consumers, particularly with the youthful Net Generation," added Elena Ford.
"DEN knows this audience inside and out, and this new D.U.I. series is a prime
example of that knowledge taken to the next level."
DEN's "confiDENtial" is a documentary series that features the first
person testimonials of young people speaking out on urgent youth issues like
eating disorders, violence in schools and drug abuse. The show is executive
produced by Kristen Schultz, a Peabody Award-winning documentary film and news
producer who has dedicated her professional career to creating provocative
programming for young people on issues such as homelessness, HIV, and teens on
death row. Medical and psychological experts also share wisdom and provide
resources for the audience.
"The confiDENtial program is about listening to real people talk about
their real lives and important problems -- and drinking and driving is
definitely a serious ongoing issue today's teens are facing and should be
aware of the consequences," said Kristen Schultz, Executive Producer of DEN's
"confiDENtial" program. "Recent statistics prove that these young drivers
make up 6.7 percent of the total driving population, and constitute 13 percent
of the alcohol-involved drivers in fatal crashes. That's a critical problem.
In the battle to illustrate reality, we're not here to preach to the audience,
but rather, educate our viewers through compelling programming on the Web, and
we're doing that."
Upcoming, Current and Archived "confiDENtial" D.U.I. Episode Synopsis'
Upcoming Episode: Debuts on DEN Tuesday, 12/28/99
"confiDENtial" D.U.I. Series PART 4 - A TRIP TO THE MORGUE
Join "confiDENtial" Reporter, O'Ryan McKinney for a harrowing trip through
the busiest morgue in the nation, as she accompanies young drivers convicted
of D.U.I. on an eye-opening experience, guaranteed to change their outlook on
taking a chance behind the wheel, forever.
Current Episode:
"confiDENtial" D.U.I. Series PART 3 - THE SURVIVOR PART 2
The aftermath of a drunk driving accident is especially hard on the
families of the survivors who must deal with the anger, the helplessness, the
guilt and the sorrow of losing someone in such a senseless, sudden,
preventable way.
This episode of "confiDENtial" is a continuation from the previous story,
but this time it's told from the perspective of the family members left
behind.
Archived Episode:
"confiDENtial" D.U.I. Series PART 2 -- THE SURVIVOR PART 1
A Saturday night out on the town turns tragic in seconds, leaving one girl
dead, another seriously injured. An unsettling story, all too common against
those who choose to drink and drive.
Archived Episode:
"confiDENtial" D.U.I. Series PART 1 - THE SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT
Several times a month the L.A. County Sheriff's Department sets up
sobriety checkpoints throughout the city, looking for drunk drivers that are a
danger to both themselves and others. Join "confiDENtial's" O'Ryan McKinney
for a long night with the police as they arrest people for D.U.I., and eight
people find out how serious the consequences of driving under the influences
really are.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is the world's largest producer of trucks and the
second-largest producer of cars and trucks combined, marketing and selling
approximately 7 million vehicles globally through its seven brands last year.
Ford Motor Company employs approximately 354,000 people in plants, offices and
laboratories to serve consumers in more than 200 countries and territories.
Ford also is one of the largest providers of financial services worldwide
through 2,400 branches in 33 countries.
About Digital Entertainment Network, Inc.
Digital Entertainment Network, Inc. (DEN(R)) is the Internet entertainment
network that creates original youth culture programming and e-commerce
opportunities of, by and for Generation Y consumers. As a privately held
company, DEN has built the technical infrastructure and assembled the creative
expertise to empower and entertain 14 to 24-year-olds on the Web and
revolutionize their unique culture worldwide. DEN's studios are based in
Santa Monica, California. For more information, visit the DEN site at
http://www.den.net.
DEN(R), den.net(TM), den.com(TM), >(TM), The DEN(TM), and >en.(R) are
among the trademarks and service marks of Digital Entertainment Network, Inc.
All rights reserved.