Christmas Weekend Movie Marathon Featuring John Wayne
Running on December 24 and 25
New York, NY, December 7, 2005 – AMC, basic cable's premiere destination dedicated to movies and movie culture, announced today that Outback Steakhouse has signed on to sponsor, Christmas with the Duke, a Christmas weekend movie marathon dedicated to John Wayne and the classic Western. The weekend movie marathon will run on December 24thand 25th, just in time for the Holiday.
As part of the sponsorship agreement, Outback Steakhouse will receive on-air presence through promotional and commercial spots, and online presence at amctv.com.
Additionally, Outback Steakhouse will receive enhanced billboards touting holiday gift cards.
Western-themed programming has proved to be successful for AMC. The network's recent exclusive licensing agreement with Paramount Pictures provided the network with 32 of John Wayne's greatest films, including the world premiere of the fully restored, digitally remastered High and the Mighty and Island in the Sky. The premieres of these movies, as well as the premiere of the 20th Anniversary of Clint Eastwood's Pale Rider, rank as AMC's highest rated telecasts ever, furthering the network's ratings success.
"This special programming block provides a good opportunity for Outback Steakhouse to reach families just as the holiday celebration and festivities begin," said Arlene Manos, President, Rainbow National Network Advertising Sales. "We are pleased to offer this great line-up of classic John Wayne films to our movie-loving audience."
Other movies included in the Christmas with the Duke marathon, all featuring John Wayne (The Duke), are: True Grit, The Comancheros, Angel and the Badman, Dark Command, The Fighting Tigers, The Green Berets, Hellfighters, Jet Pilot, Rio Grande, Sands of Iwo Jima, Wake of the Red Witch and War Wagon.
AMC's commitment to celebrate movie culture while connecting TV viewers with informed and entertaining programming has raised the network to new heights in ratings and delivery. Its new investment in stronger film titles, programming stunts and specials and original programming has had a tremendous impact in 2004 and 2005, providing AMC with its best season ever in the history of the network. The 04/05 season ranked as the network's strongest ever in Primetime HH ratings, Household, and A18-49 & A25-54 deliveries.
**Source: Nielsen Media Research, 04/05 season (9/27/04-9/25/05). Primetime: M-Su 8-11p; Since beginning of Nielsen measurement 4/97. Comparisons to ad-supported network performance exclude Nick, which does not broadcast more than 51% of primetime daypart.
About AMC
AMC, a division of Rainbow Media's Entertainment Services, which also includes WE: Women's Entertainment and IFC Companies, is a 24-hour, movie-based network, dedicated to the American movie fan. The network, which reaches over 86,000,000 homes, offers a comprehensive library of popular movies and a critically-acclaimed slate of original programming that is a diverse, movie-based mix of original series, documentaries and specials. AMC has garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including 14 Emmy awards. AMC is "TV for movie people."