• by May 30, 2003

I wanted to send you a comment on the way that one network really stepped up to the plate recently to bring added value to consumers. When the WB aired the Dawson's Creek series finale, they made it a two-hour episode, written by the original creator, and then spiced it up with vignettes during commercial breaks with clips from the cast. They also had the show sponsored by Kia with all kinds of billboards etc that were set it up in a way to make it feel like a special event. At the end the WB again had a vignette thanking the cast and crew for some wonderful years etc. UPN on the other hand, aired the Buffy series finale with just a one-hour episode with no other fanfare. In my opinion, the WB event did a great job of branding them as a network that cares about the time and effort viewers had put in and really left viewers with a warm fuzzy feeling of wanting more... hopefully the effort will bring some of those viewers to other WB shows. In the era of Tivo and reality TV, it's nice to see a network take the time to make something a more special experience that viewers won't want to skip by. And Kudos to Kia for taking advantage of it.