New Showtime subscribers can enjoy some free digital music along with the premium channel in the months ahead.
As part of a first-quarter acquisition campaign, Showtime has inked a promotional deal through which those who sign up for the service and keep it for three months will receive a $25 gift card good at any of Apple’s retail stores or receive a $25 iTunes Music Store gift certificate. The promotional period runs from now through March 31.
Showtime executives say that distributors can use its first-quarter acquisition campaign to promote the iTunes Music Store on their high-speed data offerings. In turn, Showtime is backing the effort with cross-channel spots, as well as a customizable direct mail initiative, banner ads and tailored HTML emails.
The network has also created a national sweepstakes around the second season launch of lesbian drama series The L Word, which will be promoted on Showtime and its various multiplexes. Consumers will be alerted to both the Apple offer and the sweepstakes at SHO.com.
“The idea of this promotion is to link the Showtime brand, which stands for cutting edge premium entertainment, with Apple, which has become in its own way one of the leading consumer entertainment brands in the world today,” said Len Fogge, executive VP of creative and marketing at Showtime Networks, in a prepared statement.
