Monday, November 29, 2010

U2 signed up for Oprah Winfrey Australian specials

IRISH rock group U2 is expected to headline one of two global Oprah TV specials to be filmed next month in the Sydney Opera House forecourt.

Australian brands are signing up to advertise in the programs' local broadcasts.

Media understands local organisers have been briefed that U2, which will be in Sydney on December 14 and will play a concert that night at ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park, will be part of the Oprah line-up. It is also reported that Hugh Jackman will perform in the Oprah specials, to be shown on the Ten Network within days of their US on-air dates.

Telstra has meanwhile become the first Australian company to confirm it has booked an advertising package in Ten's broadcasts of the events, which will screen in prime time here in the lead-up to Australia Day.

"We look forward to connecting more than 300 of Oprah's most loyal viewers with Australia and the world through Telstra's Next G network when they arrive on our shores in December," Telstra chief marketing officer Kate McKenzie said.

Karen Eck, a local spokeswoman for Oprah Winfrey's production company, Harpo, which is organising talent for the events, said she had not been told who was performing.
Ms Eck said the first special would be filmed at 10am on December 14 and the second at 5pm -- which would give U2 time to perform at the Opera House and then travel to its concert.
A Ten advertising executive confirmed Harpo's sponsors had been approached to advertise in the program.
Sponsors of the event include Tourism Australia, Qantas and the NSW, Victoria and Queensland governments, all of which are underwriting the specials after Tourism Australia scored a coup by persuading Winfrey to produce the only broadcasts of her talk show outside the US.
In-program activity must be organised through Harpo, whose own sponsors include Chevrolet, Motorola and American Express, as well as Telstra.
"We have a broadcast sponsorship package and we're working with Harpo for any on-ground (or in-program) activity," the Ten executive said. "Obviously there's interest from those partners that have done deals through Harpo but there's high interest from here," she said.

source : http://www.theaustralian.com.au/

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