"Entourage," "The Sopranos" and other original series among the
programs on Delta's new HBO channel
New "Midnight Sky" signature service features specialty cocktails
created exclusively for Delta by nightlife proprietor Rande Gerber
ATLANTA, May 1, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Continuing its efforts to transform the in-flight experience for customers, today Delta Air Lines introduced two innovative new offerings onboard select flights, including HBO programming and Midnight Sky, a signature cocktail program created exclusively for Delta by nightlife proprietor Rande Gerber. Both are part of Delta's continued commitment to provide customers with unique and entertaining options that enhance the travel experience.
"Delta's partnerships with HBO and The Gerber Group further demonstrate our commitment to creating an experience that is distinctive and enjoyable for our customers worldwide," said Joanne Smith, Delta's senior vice president -- In-Flight Service and Global Product Development. "We're thrilled to provide our customers with these two innovative new offerings."
Customers can now view the dedicated new HBO channel which offers 40 to 50 hours of the network's most popular content -- including original series, movies, theatrical films, mini-series, TV movies, stand-up comedies and family programming -- on demand on all flights that feature Delta's state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system. The HBO channel is available to Delta customers traveling in domestic First Class and BusinessElite, the airline's international business-class service, at no cost. The HBO channel is also available to domestic Coach Class customers on select flights for $5 per feature film or movie and $2 for all other television programs.
Customers can also view a 30-minute block of HBO content created exclusively for Delta, available at no cost on aircraft featuring Delta's overhead entertainment system. The 30-minute program blocks include "behind-the-scenes" footage from HBO original series and interviews with actors and directors from the network's vast programming slate.
Under Midnight Sky, The Gerber Group introduces a signature cocktail line available on board all domestic and international Delta mainline flights, select Delta Connection(r) carrier flights and in the airline's Crown Room Clubs(r) and BusinessElite(r) lounges. Beginning May 1, customers can choose from four cocktails that will be personally mixed by Delta flight attendants who have been specially trained by mixologists from The Gerber Group:
-- "The Big Apple" -- Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Stirrings Apple
Martini mix and Cran-Apple Juice;
-- "Summer Sizzle" -- Disaronno Amaretto and Stirrings Apple Martini
mix;
-- "Mile High Passion Fruit Mojito" -- Bacardi Rum and Stirrings
Passion Fruit Mojito mix topped with a splash of club soda;
-- "Citrus Splash" -- Finlandia Mango Infused Vodka stirred with Fresca
Delta plans to refresh the Midnight Sky cocktail line three times each year. In addition, the signature cocktails will be available at no cost to Delta customers traveling in domestic First Class and BusinessElite, as well as in Crown Room Clubs and BusinessElite lounges. International coach-class customers receive one complimentary signature cocktail, beer or wine selection during the main in-flight meal service. In addition, international and domestic coach-class customers can purchase signature cocktails for $5 each.
"Delta is dedicated to developing an in-flight experience that is truly unique and distinct from its competitors, and we're excited to partner with them to further differentiate the on-board product with the great specialty cocktails under Midnight Sky," said Rande Gerber.
The HBO channel showcases 40 to 50 hours of selections, including the following programs:
* Da Ali G Show * Sopranos
* Entourage * Sex & The City
* Extras * Deadwood
* Rome * The Wire
* Big Love * Ellen DeGeneres: Hear and Now
* Bill Maher: Victory Begins * Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales
at Home for Every Child
* Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker * Dane Cook: Tourgasm
* Dennis Miller: All In * Dane Cook: Vicious Circle
* HBO Comedy Half Hour * Assume the Position with Mr. Wuhl
"Delta's advanced in-flight entertainment system will provide fans of HBO programming with an ideal viewing experience while they travel," said Dan Selig, Director, International Distribution for HBO. "The innovation allows another opportunity to showcase the high quality and award-winning programming that has defined the HBO brand, as well as providing a new avenue for exposure to a greater domestic and international audience."
Delta's dedicated HBO channel will also feature award-winning films, including 61*; American Splendor; For Love or Country; Dorothy Dandridge; Lackawanna Blues and Peter Sellers, as well as the critically-acclaimed mini series Band of Brothers. Additionally, the channel will offer documentaries such as Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team; When It Was a Game; the family-friendly Happy Ever After and The Sissy Duckling. Delta will update the two thirty-minute programming blocks twice a month and the on-demand programming on a quarterly basis.
The new HBO on-demand programming will be available on Delta's two-class, domestic transcontinental aircraft featuring all-leather seating in both first and coach class. On these aircraft, every customer has a front-row seat to great entertainment with Delta's state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment, boasting 24 channels of live television, more than 20 first-run and popular classic movies, a broad range of music, and a suite of 12 video games. This two-class, domestic product is offered to passengers on Delta flights over four hours (or more than 1,750 miles), including those from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle and more. HBO's on-demand programming will also be available to customers traveling internationally in BusinessElite on newly-refreshed aircraft featuring a similar, state-of-the art entertainment system.
Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) offers customers service to more destinations than any global airline with Delta and Delta Connection carrier service to 311 destinations in 52 countries. With more than 60 new international routes added in the last year, Delta is adding international flights at a faster rate than any other major U.S. airline and is a leader across the Atlantic with flights to 32 trans-Atlantic destinations. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers more than 600 weekly flights to 58 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 15,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 462 worldwide destinations in 98 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
The Delta Air Lines, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825
Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour premium television services, HBO and Cinemax. Together, both networks reach approximately 40 million subscribers in the United States via cable and satellite delivery. Home Box Office's international joint ventures bring HBO branded services to more than 50 countries around the globe.
Rande Gerber along with his brother Scott, are the founders and operators of The Gerber Group. The company, an evolution of their trademark brand, The Whiskey, was created to develop innovative nightlife, hotel, restaurant and lifestyle concepts. Rande Gerber founded The Whiskey nearly 15 years ago, and he has since become the most influential nightlife proprietor in the country. His extraordinary success with The Whiskey Bars has established Gerber as the pre-eminent tastemaker, with an uncanny ability to create chic, seductive bars with modern glamour that reflect the times and national moods. Since then, the Gerber's have expanded their nightlife brand and vision, developing hotel bars, lounges and restaurants with Ian Schrager, W Hotels, Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts, Sofitel and ME by Melia. The Gerber's have partnered with famed Modern Mexican Chef Richard Sandoval, to develop culinary destinations in Cancun, Chicago and Scottsdale.
The Gerber's latest locations are STONE ROSE Lounge at the recently renovated Sofitel Los Angeles, MIDNIGHT ROSE, a restaurant and lounge and THE PENTHOUSE, a roof top bar, in the historic Hotel Reina Victoria now ME Madrid, THE BEACHHOUSE, a modern Mexican restaurant, and ROSE BAR at ME Cancun, a luxury resort in Cancun, Mexico and a partnership with Maxim Magazine to develop Maxim Lounges the first of which opened at ME Cancun. For additional information, visit www.gerberbars.com