If you are a film buff who is already counting the days until the debut of the much-anticipated summer movie season then you’ll enjoy hearing the following news. According to NBC’s website, an exclusive preview of “Spider-Man” 3 is set to air during the network’s primetime show “Heroes” this week. The commercial will also invite Spidey fans to visit the network’s site to see seven minutes of never-before-seen film footage.
“Spider-Man 3” is considered one of the summer’s most anticipated movies along with “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” which will debut its trailer during the “Dancing with the Stars” season premiere on March 19th (and simultaneously on popular shows in 61 other countries). The “Pirates” movie will be released in the United States on May 25th.
According to studio executives, the decision to run the trailer during ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” (Disney owns ABC) was simple.
“It’s big-screen/small-screen synergy,” Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Motion Picture Group told news reporters.
“Broadcasters were anxious to get the trailer because they knew it would be supportive of driving viewership to their particular shows,” he said, adding that unveiling the trailer during popular programs will allow it to reach in excess of 200 million people.
As for debuting the “Spider-Man 3” trailer on NBC (the movie will be released in the United States on May 4th), marketing experts say it was a “no-brainer… a perfect fit.” I guess that means I must be functioning with half a brain because it took me a few minutes to connect the big-screen hero with his television counterparts. According to network executives, “Spider-Man” and “Heroes” have similar themes: “Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.”
“Heroes” has consistently posted big ratings for NBC, but you never know what could happen when you have people tune in just for the commercials.