SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 11, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Virgin America and Showtime Networks Inc. have partnered to offer the first North American inflight presentation of the SHOWTIME hit series "Dexter" and "The Tudors" on the airline's first flights to Las Vegas. Virgin America will showcase the acclaimed series at every seat on every flight through the airline's cutting edge inflight entertainment system, Red(tm).
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Launched in early August, Virgin America is a next-generation airline aimed at bringing a little fun back to flying -- with the most advanced inflight entertainment system in the skies and programming currently not offered on other domestic carriers. Along with 25 movies on demand, 18 channels of satellite TV, instant messaging, videogames and 3,000 MP3 tracks -- now episodes of the award-winning SHOWTIME series will be available on-demand at every seatback.
Episodes from the first seasons of the groundbreaking programs starring Michael C. Hall ("Dexter") and Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("The Tudors") made their fleet-wide premieres on Virgin America's first flights to Las Vegas. Virgin America's inaugural flight to Sin City on October 10 included Virgin America Chief Executive Officer Fred Reid, U.S. majority-share investors, Virgin Group Chairman and minority investor Sir Richard Branson, showgirls and a wedding at 35,000 feet. Penn & Teller, stars of SHOWTIME's hit original series "Penn & Teller: Bullsh*t!," introduced Branson and Reid at a launch kick-off stunt at The Palms Resort & Casino. The celebrations continued that night with an after-party and celebrity charity poker match hosted by World Series of Poker Champion Jamie Gold at Tryst at the Wynn Resort with members of the "Dexter" cast. "Dexter" star David Zayas won the game and $10,000 will be donated to the charity of his choice on behalf of the actor and Virgin America.
"Showtime is definitely cutting edge -- just like Vegas," said Charles Ogilvie, Virgin America, Director of Entertainment and Partnerships. "Showtime's innovative content is a perfect addition to our on-demand television line-up."
About Virgin America:
As San Francisco's hometown airline, Virgin America will serve as many as 10 cities within a year of operation, and up to 30 cities within five years. Virgin America now serves Las Vegas with non-stop flights from San Francisco and connecting flights from New York and Washington Dulles. Virgin America's brand-new planes will offer guests interactive inflight entertainment systems, plugs for laptops and other portable electronics, the ability to order food or chat with other guests from their own video-screen and a host of other features aimed at bringing a little fun back to flying. www.virginamerica.com
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About Showtime:
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME(r), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(tm) and FLIX(r), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(r) TOO(tm), SHOWTIME(r) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(r), SHOWTIME BEYOND(r), SHOWTIME NEXT(r), SHOWTIME WOMEN(r), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(r) and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(r), THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD(tm), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(tm) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(tm). SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME(r) PPV.
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