Website
www.affiniongroup.com
For More DEAL OR NO DEAL CLUB Information Contact:
David Scharff / Jennifer Gross
Evolutionary Media Group
(323) 658-8700
/
Todd Smith
Affinion Group
(615) 764-2598
Set to launch with the new, half hour, syndicated daily version of the hit show.
LOS ANGELES, CA - September 8, 2008 - Brand New World and Affinion Group have partnered to introduce unique TV-show branded loyalty membership clubs to the US entertainment market. The first show to benefit from the partnership will be Endemol Productions' NBC hit Deal or No Deal. Through the Brand New World and Affinion partnership, the companies will help Deal or No Deal translate its huge success into the Deal or No Deal Club. This first-of-its-kind club in the US is launching today during the premiere of the half-hour daily version of Deal or No Deal, which is available to over 97percent of US households during its first season in syndication. The club is also accessible through a specially-created tie-in website launched today at http://www.dealornodealclub.com.
In keeping with the show’s theme, the Deal or No Deal Club's unique approach will provide members with access to highly valuable deals, including best-in-class discounts at nationwide retailers, renewable coupons at popular restaurants and leisure attractions, attractive dining and travel offerings, and private concierge services available 24-hours-a-day. The Deal or No Deal Club will be promoted through a weekly $10,000 sweepstakes in which viewers can participate for free via a toll-free number, as well as through the website of any local affiliate airing the program. No purchase is required to enroll in the weekly sweepstakes, but fans of the show can begin to enjoy the immediate benefits of the club and register for the sweepstakes at http://www.dealornodealclub.com.
The model being used has been proven in Europe by Brand New World for many years with the largest European broadcasters and production houses, including; RTL Group, ProSieben Group and Endemol. In bringing this lucrative model to the US, Brand New World has partnered with Affinion, the US-based global leader in providing compelling membership services and loyalty programs to companies seeking to enhance the value of their customer relationships. Affinion's vast experience in direct marketing and merchandise fulfillment dovetails with Brand New World's ground breaking business model in creating an exciting new concept in TV brand marketing. In joining together for this initial program, the companies have built a turnkey solution with the ability to customize future branded affinity clubs for TV producers, broadcasters and networks.
"Brand New World is very excited to be partnering with Affinion Group to bring this unique audience experience to the US." Says Frederic Westerberg, CEO of Brand New World: "Our club connects the viewer with their favorite TV shows directly, bringing them closer to the brand and allowing them unparalleled access to the benefits of membership. The elegance of these branded loyalty clubs is that through generating greater excitement with viewers, they also generate significant new revenue streams for the broadcasters."
"For over 35 years, Affinion has sought to bring leading-edge products together with innovative marketing solutions in a wide variety of media," said Tom Rusin, president and CEO of Affinion North America. "As we begin to explore the exciting possibilities for Affinion in telemedia, we are delighted to launch our efforts with such high-quality partners as Brand New World and Endemol."
About Brand New World -Brand New World specializes in converting TV viewers into valuable customers. As the leading provider in the field of Audience Relationship Management (ARM), Brand New World adds value to traditional TV interactive services such as sweepstakes or votes by establishing long-term relationships with viewers and generating new recurring revenue streams through customized products and membership offerings. With commercial TV partners throughout Europe and now the US, Brand New World has developed their ARM technology to provide successful TV programs with a new level of audience participation, brand loyalty, and as a result, a previously unexploited bonanza of direct marketing revenue potential. Through their unique, permission-based lead generation and loyalty conversion process, Brand New World has created detailed consumer profiles for millions of audience members around the globe, customizing product and service offers to the specific preferences of the individual member.
About Endemol USA - Endemol USA is a leading producer of television programming specializing in reality and non-scripted genres for network and cable television. The company produces the break-out hits "Deal or No Deal," "Wipeout," "1 VS 100," "Fear Factor," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Big Brother." Endemol USA is a division of the Endemol Group, a prominent international content developer, producer and distributor of television and online programming. The company, headquartered in the Netherlands, has subsidiaries and joint ventures in 25 countries, including the major European markets, the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. Endemol is owned by a consortium consisting of Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Media set Group and Cyrte Group.
About Affinion Group
As a global leader with almost 40 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing loyalty solutions. Leveraging its expertise in customer engagement, product development and targeted marketing, Affinion provides programs in subscription-based lifestyle services, personal protection, insurance and other areas to help generate increased customer loyalty and significant incremental revenue for more than 5,550 marketing partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Stamford, Conn., the company has approximately 4,250 employees and markets in 17 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.Safe Harbor Statement Under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release may contain statements that are forward looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. These statements include, but are not limited to, discussions regarding industry outlook, Affinion's expectations regarding the performance of its business, its liquidity and capital resources, its guidance for 2011, the consummation of the acquisition of Prospectiv and the impact to Affinion's business and the other non-historical statements in the discussion and analysis. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "continues," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," "forecasts," and similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs only as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, risks related to general economic and business conditions and international and geopolitical events, a downturn in the credit card industry or changes in the techniques of credit card issuers, industry trends, foreign currency exchange rates, the effects of a decline in travel on the Company's travel fulfillment business, termination or expiration of one or more agreements with its marketing partners or a reduction of the marketing of its services by one or more of its marketing partners, the Company's substantial leverage, restrictions contained in its debt agreements, its inability to compete effectively, and other risks identified and discussed from time to time in Affinion's reports filed with the SEC, including Affinion's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers are strongly encouraged to review carefully the full cautionary statements described in these reports. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.