New Line Teams With America Online To Create Premiere Online Promotion For The ""Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"" Video And Platinum Series DVD Release
New Line Home Video today announced the ""Austin Powers The Spy that Shagged Me"" video and DVD exclusive online promotion of the year with America Online. [See Widescreen Reviewís DVD review on the Webzine.] Beginning this week, AOL members will have the opportunity to exclusively preview ten never-before-seen scenes from ""Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me"" by going to AOL Keyword: Get Austin. America Online members will be the first to experience the exclusive scenes a week prior to the Platinum Series DVD release available November 16. Additional AOL-only online activities will include a live chat with Verne Troyer, aka ""Mini-Me,"" on AOL Live (AOL Keyword: Live), customized voice prompts by Mike Myers and a week-long sweepstakes in which three grand prize winners will receive authentic costumes used in the filming of Austin Powers. The promotion, which will remain on AOL through the end of the year, is expected to generate broad consumer interest online and anticipated to be one of AOL's largest online programs with a major Hollywood studio. ""The AOL promotion promises not only to increase awareness, but also stimulate demand,"" stated Sarah Olson-Graves, Senior Vice President of marketing, New Line Home Video. ""By placing such extensive content online, we are confident that consumers will want to own this DVD once they experience portions of ëAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.í"" ""Our first alliance with New Line for the theatrical release of Austin Powers was so well received, we were thrilled to team up with New Line Home Video for the video and DVD release,"" said Jonathan Sacks, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the AOL service. ""We anticipate an overwhelmingly positive response to what promises to be a unique experience for our members."" AOL's ""Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"" Promotion Details AOL Keyword: Get Austin gives AOL members exclusive access to: - Ten never-before-seen scenes, featuring the five main characters included on the Platinum Series DVD, beginning this week through the end of the year. Users click on a photo of Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Felicity Shagwell, Mini-Me or Fat Bastard and can access two scenes of each character. - A week-long Austin Powers sweepstakes awarding three grand prize winners with an authentic costume used in the filming of ""Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me."" Costumes include the bathrobe worn by Austin Powers in the opening sequence as well as in the ""Got Milk"" print ads, the lingerie worn by Frau Farbissina in the ""Let's Get It On"" scene with Dr. Evil and the ""shagadelic"" suit worn by Austin in the final space scenes. - AOL members will be able to customize their AOL voice prompts (""Welcome,"" ""You've Got Mail"" ""You've Got Pictures,"" ""Goodbye"") with recently recorded greetings from Austin Powers and Dr. Evil. Examples include respectively ""You've Got Mail, Baby"" and ""You've Got Freakin Mail."" - A live online chat with Verne Troyer, aka ""Mini-Me,"" on AOL Live. The chat will take place on Wednesday, November 17 at 8:30pm, ET at AOL Keyword: Live. The winners of the Austin Powers costume sweepstakes will be announced during the live chat event. Theatrical Promotion Background A $205 million blockbuster, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me broke boxoffice records as the highest-grossing comedy opening in film history. When the movie was released, AOL and New Line teamed up for significant online promotion, which included content integration, an online auction, online ticket sales through AOL MovieFone, and advertising. According to an ACNielsen ReelResearch study, the movie advertisements on AOL heightened members' interest in seeing the motion picture. Interest in viewing the blockbuster hit was 44% greater among members who recalled seeing an ad for the film on AOL.