Regis and Kelly Bring Viewers Aboard Cruise With Contest
Talk show hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa are taking their show on the high seas, broadcasting aboard a cruise ship for a week this summer. And the TV stars are bringing fans along for the ride, awarding free cruises via a watch-and-win contest.
Live with Regis and Kelly is partnering with NCL America’s new ship, Pride of America, to cruise historic ports on the east coast during her maiden voyage June 18 to 24. The morning talk show becomes the first nationally syndicated program to broadcast a full week of shows aboard a cruise ship, according to the show.
As part of the promotion, Philbin and Ripa will award one winner 20 cruise tickets—a trip for the winner and 19 friends and family members—each day from May 16 through June 10. Through the sweepstakes, winners can host their own reunion of sorts with Philbin and Ripa at the helm.
To enter Live’s Pride of America Cruisin’ Reunion, viewers must watch Live the week of May 2 for five on-air clues. On May 6, viewers can submit clues online at Liveregisandkelly.com or via mail and may be chosen to answer a Live trivia question based on a previous show. Viewers who answer the questions correctly could join Philbin and Ripa on the cruise. Consumers must watch the show weekdays during the promotion to learn if they are a winner.
The promotion is designed to help boost viewership of the talk show, which airs weekdays at 9 a.m. ET.
The cruise, which begins in New York, will sail to Boston, Philadelphia, PA, Norfolk, VA, and Miami. The program will broadcast from each location, with one show live from the high seas.
“Our show is about fun, excitement and doing something different,” said Michael Gelman, executive producer of Live with Regis and Kelly. “We’re trying to raise the bar on the excitement level and what we do. This, I think, is bringing [the show] to a new level. It’s pretty exciting to see people win their 20 trips. It makes each day an exciting event.”
“What’s more American than a family [with] a dream of getting together and having the means to send people on a trip together?” Gelman asked. “Here’s a chance to do it, and it’s going to be free.”
In total, 1,000 cruise tickets will be distributed. The sweepstakes will award 400 cruise tickets for viewers and their guests. The show’s affiliates will also offer viewers a chance to win tickets aboard the Pride of America via local watch-and-win contests in more than 200 markets.
Live with Regis and Kelly is no stranger to give-aways. The talk show gave away more than $1 million worth of Pontiac sports vans and other prizes as part of the Pontiac Extreme Van-A-Day Giveaway (PROMO Xtra Jan. 19).
Pride of America is the first new U.S. flagged cruise ship in 50 years and is the largest passenger ship ever built for the U.S. registry. The ship, which has 1,120 cabins and holds up to 2,146 passengers, features a ‘Best of America’ theme designed to reflect diverse parts of the U.S.
The sweeps begins May 2 and runs through June 10. TV spots and Internet materials will support.
