CNN Invites Online Users to Test Their Knowledge with the CNN Challenge

CNN Invites Online Users to Test Their Knowledge with the CNN Challenge

Ford Sync Sponsors Interactive Quiz on CNN.com

NEW YORK, November 5, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — In conjunction with the launch of the new CNN.com, the No. 1 news and information site has debuted the CNN Challenge, an interactive online news trivia quiz. Found at www.CNNChallenge.com, the quiz – focused on both historical news events and the top stories of the week – is guided by various CNN, HLN and CNN International anchors, including Larry King, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Robin Meade and Christiane Amanpour.

CNN Challenge users are encouraged to return frequently as new quizzes are published weekly. New quizzes about historical events are available each Tuesday and Wednesday, and a new current news quiz is available every Thursday.

"The CNN Challenge offers CNN.com's users the ability to expand their knowledge of the news and current events in a fun and engaging way," said KC Estenson, senior vice president and general manager of CNN.com. "At its core, the CNN Challenge is another example of how we are leveraging interactivity and the social nature of the web to create a unique online experience for news enthusiasts across the globe."

The CNN Challenge consists of three rounds of five questions, specific to the who, what, when, where and why of certain news events. In the final stage of the quiz – the Lightning Round – the player's skills are pushed further, allowing only 90 seconds to answer five questions interactively. A player accumulates points based on their response time and the value of the question, which varies by the stage of the quiz.

After playing the quiz, users can check the 'Newsbin' for answers to and additional context on each of the questions, as well as links to more information related to the questions available through reporting on CNN.com.

The quiz can be shared with friends via email or to the social web by clicking on the Facebook, Twitter and Mixx icons. Users can also see where they rank on the 'Leaderboard' of the quiz or challenge other members of the CNN Challenge community.

Joining the CNN Challenge later this month as its inaugural launch sponsor will be Ford Sync, the in-car communications and connectivity system available in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models. Sync plans to run :15- second interactive video ads between some game rounds and will have logo presence throughout. With co-branded promotion including banners and billboards across the new CNN.com, Ford Sync will have a consistent presence as the first presenting sponsor of the CNN Challenge.

"We're so pleased to have Ford Sync on board as our first sponsor for The CNN Challenge. It is a unique and incredibly effective platform for advertisers to interact with an engaged audience in a premium, branded environment," said Greg D'Alba, EVP and COO, CNN Advertising Sales and Marketing. "We're attracting new advertisers to CNN across all of our platforms because we've proven we're a leader in innovation, while remaining true to our trusted brand."

CNN.com is the No. 1 destination for online and wireless news according to Nielsen, garnering the greatest audience share in total minutes and page views and the most mobile usage among current events and global news sites. Launched in 1995, CNN.com draws from the resources of CNN Worldwide and its many partners to provide consumers with the most enriching, immediate interaction with news anywhere, seamlessly combining articles, videos, images, interactive features and user-generated content. CNN.com's news video offering – both live and on-demand – is unparalleled on the Web. CNN.com's recent awards include a Peabody Award, two EPpy awards, four CableFAX Best of the Web awards, a National Headliner award, and the 2009 Edward R. Murrow award for best website.

Press Contacts:
April Andrews
CNN.com

404.878.5017
april.andrews@cnn.com

Deborah McBride
Turner Ad Sales
212.275.6752
deborah.mcbride@turner.com



Related Links
CNN Challenge landing page
CNN.com
CNN Press Center
CNN blog RSS feed for up-to-date news
Facebook CNN Fan Page
Twitter @CNNPR
Twitter @CNN
Twitter @CNNBrk






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