Pepsi Picks Funnyman
Pepsi, Purchase, NY, tapped comedian Drew Carey to host its reality game show Pepsi Play for a Billion. The show, which airs in September on The WB, will give contestants a shot at $1 billion. “Drew makes a great connection with the TV-viewing public thanks to his fantastic improvisational skills and impeccable comic timing,” Pepsi SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Dave Burwick said in a statement. “He’ll make this a fun show to watch.”
The Pepsi Play for $1 Billion sweepstakes kicked off in stores last month. Consumers can look for entry codes on specially marked packages of Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Sierra Mist and enter the codes at www.billionsweeps.com or mail them in. More than 1,000 contestants will be randomly selected to star on the show, which will award one winner $1 million and the option to try for the $1 billion prize (without forfeiting the $1 million).
If the finalist actually wins the $1 billion prize, payment will be sent out in the form of a 40-year annuity with a balloon payment in the final year or the contestant can take a lump sum representing the present value of the annuity.
Pepsi and its agency, Dallas-based SCA Promotions, have teamed with insurance company Berkshire Hathaway to underwrite the full value of the grand prize.
The soft drink giant is also teaming with The WB on another show called Pepsi Smash, featuring music artists performing in front of live audiences.
Baskin-Robbins plans to open 100 of its Northeastern franchise locations in combination with Dunkin’ Donuts stores by summer’s end. The investment is estimated to be worth $15 to $17 million. More than 60 multi-branded locations have already opened, with the majority in New England. “Most are the stores are retrofitted, in existing Dunkin’ Donuts locations, and others have and will be built from the ground up,” says Debra Newton, a spokesperson for Baskin-Robbins. The Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts brands are part of Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants, Randolph, MA. Print ads support.
America Online, Microsoft and Yahoo have formed an alliance to block spam. The alliance will focus on the development of new technology, consumer protection, spam prevention, development of standards for commercial e-mail and coordinating with legal authorities.
