• by Aaron Baar , March 11, 2010

HBO is looking to promote its mini-series, "The Pacific" -- and itself -- via an interactive kiosk placed in several World War II-themed museums across the country. 

"For HBO the partnership is a great entry point to promote tuning in to 'The Pacific' to a very targeted audience," says Seth Grossbard, an account director at Civic Entertainment Group (CEG), which developed the campaign. "If you're taking time to go to one of our battleship museums, you're probably going to be interested in the mini-series."

For the promotion, CEG has installed HBO-branded kiosks in 16 World War II-themed museums around the U.S. The kiosks, which operate like an ATM, allow visitors to record a video tribute thanking veterans and active military for their service. The 30-second messages, recorded free of charge, can be emailed to active-duty service members and will be sent to HBO, which will compile the tributes for a montage appearing on its website and distributed to the troops.

"We were looking for a way for everyday citizens to have a way to show appreciation and thanks for service," Grossbard tells Marketing Daily. "That's a message that comes though in 'The Pacific," to show future generations what the greatest generation sacrificed for us."

The 16 museums will use their databases to promote the kiosks and their exhibits, Grossbard says. CEG is also working with a number of military support organizations such as the American Legion and Operation Gratitude to promote the kiosks, which will be in the museums through Memorial Day.

"The Pacific" is a 10-episode mini-series that premieres March 14 and will run until May 16. The show, produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman, is meant as a companion piece to the trio's 2001 miniseries "Band of Brothers," which followed soldiers through Europe during WWII. The new series follows a group of Marines through the Pacific Theater, including battles such as Iwo Jima and Okinawa.