The Wendy Williams Show Partners With zeebox To Fuel Richer TV Conversation And Community On WendyShow.com

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- zeebox, the award-winning second screen app for TV, today announced an exclusive media partnership with "The Wendy Williams Show." As part of the engagement, the show's website will be the first to expand zeebox's popular TV Rooms into a weekly, curated view of the shows that viewers are obsessed with and talking about. Branded 'Wendy's TV World,' this syndicated feature will live on WendyShow.com where fans will be able to dish on the latest drama as well as post and share comments and rich media.

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"As social media becomes more integrated in television, this partnership with zeebox positions 'The Wendy Williams Show' at the forefront of daytime television in making the second screen experience as simple and interactive as possible," said Lonnie Burstein, Executive Vice President, Programming and Production at Debmar-Mercury. "'Wendy Watchers' are a dedicated and integral part of 'The Wendy Williams Show,' so we wanted to create a social space for them on our site where they can connect with Wendy's opinions as well as like-minded viewers around the nation. zeebox's syndicated TV Rooms are a great way for viewers to engage around the latest TV entertainment and celebrity news, and say it like they mean it."

Since November, viewers that visit WendyShow.com have been able to click on a promo that takes viewers directly to "The Wendy Williams Show Room," where Wendy has shared gossip with 'Wendy Watchers' including everything from the breaking news of Kelly Clarkson's pregnancy to conducting fun giveaways with her viewers for beauty products. Starting in December, the terms of the deal have been expanded to include the first fully syndicated, multi-show TV Room widget. Fans will be driven to 'Wendy's TV World' with on-air promotion during "The Wendy Williams Show" and via official social and digital channels.

"TV and the second screen are at an inflection point, and viewers are craving more context and personalization when it comes to engaging with their favorite shows," said Jen Kavanagh, SVP Strategic Partnerships and Marketing, zeebox U.S. "TV Rooms offer shows, talent and fans the ability to participate in vibrant 24/7 conversations that are tied specifically to a TV community. Through zeebox's syndicated TV Rooms, we're delivering the passion and discussion into our partners' branded environments as well.  Wendy is obsessed with TV 'just like us' and now, through this partnership, has her own TV World on WendyShow.com." 

About The Wendy Williams Show
"The Wendy Williams Show" is the provocative, must-see talk show in daytime. Taped live in New York City, the show screens internationally in 52 countries, is syndicated nationally and airs on BET at midnight. Viewers delight over Williams' distinctive and entertaining personality, as well as a diverse mix of interviews with celebrity guests from television, film, music and sports. Popular segments include "Hot Topics," in which she delivers her own unpredictable, honest and authentic take on the juiciest headlines, and "Ask Wendy," during which she offers real advice to audience members looking for solutions to problems. "The Wendy Williams Show" is produced and distributed by Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company.

About Debmar Mercury
Debmar-Mercury, a leading media company specializing in syndication, network, cable and ancillary markets, produces and distributes for daytime television "The Wendy Williams Show" and has U.S. distribution rights to FremantleMedia North America's "Family Feud"; distributes Tyler Perry sitcoms "House of Payne" and spinoff "Meet the Browns"; Lionsgate Television's "Anger Management" (starring Charlie Sheen and entering off-network syndication in September 2014); "Saint George" (starring and co-created by George Lopez, debuting in 2014 and in off-network syndication in September 2016); and a new untitled sitcom (starring comedy legends Martin Lawrence and Kelsey Grammer, set to premiere in 2014 and entering broadcast syndication in fall 2017), all for FX; Revolution/CubeVision's "Are We There Yet?" (starring Ice Cube); and has U.S. TV distribution rights to "South Park", "Hell's Kitchen" and a movie library featuring titles from Revolution Studios.  Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company.

About zeebox

zeebox is the leading TV-watching companion that empowers users to have an interactive and personalized second screen experience. Within the app, consumers can set up their own communities with zeebox's exclusive 'TV Rooms,' engage with friends, view exclusive content, buy what they see on screen, remote control their TV and more.  Broadcasters and content owners partner with zeebox to enhance their TV shows, connect with fans and monetize this new medium in sync with live TV. zeebox was founded in 2011 by former iPlayer CTO Anthony Rose and EMI executive Ernesto Schmitt. The company is headquartered in London with offices in New York and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.zeebox.com.

SOURCE zeebox