Contact Zelda Martens 303.693.8706 Debbie Barackman iN DEMAND 303.712.3365 Thomas Dima Cable Positive 212.459.1605

Positively Cable 2003 Beats ’02 Sponsorships by More Than 50%, Silent Auction Goal Next

Sponsorship Deadline Passes, Online Silent Auction is Newest Focus

DENVER, CO / NEW YORK, NY - September 18, 2003
Suggesting that Denver is regaining some of its former glory as the nation’s cable capital, the Denver Chapter of Cable Positive announced today that it has exceeded last year’s sponsorship level of its annual Positively Cable musical revue by more than 50%. With $83,500 in committed sponsorships, the chapter has exceeded last year’s amount by almost $30,000. The event, Scripps Networks Presents Beach Blanket Broadband, will be held November 13, at the Cable Center, in Denver. Entering its ninth consecutive year, the annual musical parody fundraiser benefits Cable Positive, the national non-profit organization that galvanizes the cable industry’s resources, access and influence in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and Rainbow House, which provides care for Denver children whose lives are affected by the AIDS virus.

In addition to presentation sponsor Scripps Networks, other Platinum sponsors include: Charter Communications, Eagle Direct, iN DEMAND, Rave Reviews, Time Warner Cable National Division, Universal Television, and YiaYia's Restaurant. Gold Sponsors include: CableNetWorkz, Comcast Media Center, Comcast Mountain Division, Discovery Networks, DST Innovis, Fox Cable Networks, Events Rents, Game Show Network, Multichannel News, New Line Cinema, PAX, Rainbow Media Group, and TV Guide.

Event chair Zelda Martens said the focus of planning for the 2003 event now moves from soliciting sponsors to collecting items for an internet silent auction. "Our deadline for sponsorship has passed,” Martens said, "but there’s still plenty of opportunity for companies to support the event by donating distinctive items for the internet silent auction.” Donated items in previous years included: trips, use of corporate suites at sporting events, autographed sporting goods, DVD players and other electronic packages, DVD gift sets, golf clubs, animation cels, gift certificates from national stores, professional sports team tickets, and more.

People all over the country will be able to bid via a website. All donors will be mentioned in the program book, and their donated items will be on prominent display at the silent auction on the night of the event. Donors will also receive national attention prior to the show through the unique on-line auction bidding process. An email solicitation with all the details went out to potential donors this week. In addition to a request for contributions, the e-mail allows recipients to have some interactive fun by putting the heads of cable personalities on various bathing suit bodies. Personalities include CableFax Daily columnist, Paul Maxwell; Rob Stoddard, Senior Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs for the NCTA; and Char Beales, President and CEO of CTAM. Those who did not get the email can go to www.positivelycable.org and click the silent auction button. (NOTE TO EDITORS: JPG files of the cable “bathing beauties” are attached to e-mail message)

Silent auction items will be accepted until October 1. Coordination of the email and internet portions of the silent auction are being handled by CableNetWorkz, a Positively Cable 2003 event sponsor.

Martens added, "Once the silent auction is up and running in October, we will start selling tickets for the November 13 performance. We expect it to be a sellout."

ABOUT CABLE POSITIVE
Cable Positive is a national non-profit organization that was founded in 1992 by three concerned cable executives with the mission of organizing cable’s resources in the fight against AIDS. Cable Positive is dedicated to unifying the talents, resources, access and influence of the communications industry to raise AIDS awareness; fund AIDS education, research and care; and promote a more compassionate climate for people whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS.