Fresh Brewed Films Launches 24-Episode IPTV Series for 18-30 Demographic, Targets Liquor and Lifestyle Sponsors

"Barflies" Participates in NATPE Alternative Upfronts Showcase, Also Seeking Traditional Syndication as Writers' Strike Dries up Traditional TV Inventory


LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - January 29, 2008) - NATPE - Fresh Brewed Films, LLC (www.freshbrewedfilms.tv), a division of Hayworth Entertainment Group, will be selling product placements, sponsorships and other forms of alternative advertising for its new 24-episode series, "Barflies," which is slated to debut on IPTV networks in April, according to CEO Michael E. Hayworth.

"Just as the independent film industry started small and now dominates the landscape of the entire motion picture industry, IPTV serials will become a large part of the consumer television experience in the next five years," said Hayworth. "We are at the forefront of this trend and feel that the current writers' strike will accelerate the market acceptance of IPTV by mainstream television consumers hungry for new content. This is particularly true in the 18-30 year-old demographic we are targeting with our initial IPTV series, 'Barflies.'"

"Barflies," which is produced by Hayworth, Stanley Bogest and John Lamb, completed 24 scripts by WGA writers prior to the strike, so its content will be viable for both Internet and traditional syndication, said Hayworth. "Our business plan calls for short-form video funded by product placement, including real-time product insertion, yet we also expect that 50 percent of our revenues will be generated by traditional aftermarket opportunities, including cable television and DVD compilations." Hayworth added that his product placement model is taking the unusual added step of merchandising the "Barflies" brand directly into college town bars with participating sponsors, most notably liquor companies.

The 2008 NATPE Alternative Upfronts are presented by the Interactive Television Alliance (www.itvalliance.org) at NATPE. The "ITA Alternative Upfronts Pavilion" is an invitation-only lounge where A-list producers and major advertising brands meet with pre-screened potential partners for back-to-back 25-minute sessions. This integrated program of education, private meetings, public showcase and networking provides a structured marketplace for ITV-enabled content and advertising.

"We see 'Barflies' as a digital 'Cheers,'" added Hayworth, "or a male 'Sex and the City' -- it's a buddy sitcom about bar life in one's 20s." "Barflies" is set in North Carolina, where Hayworth received incentives from the North Carolina Piedmont Triad Film Commission. Hayworth added that he foresees an explosion of high-quality Internet content being produced in smaller markets because of the lower costs of production and state film board incentives.

Hayworth is a graduate of the Full Sail School of Film, in Winter Park, FL, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also holds a certificate in media marketing management from the Harvard Business School. Hayworth formed HEG in 2006 and has nine years experience in interactive film production. He is a member of the well-known Hayworth family of High Point, NC, which has been a dominant force in the furniture industry for the past century.

Other HEG executives include Stan Bogest, CFO, and John Lamb, SVP of development. Bogest is a 35-year motion picture veteran with a long history of studio and production accounting positions, having worked on legendary films including "Kramer vs. Kramer," "Annie Hall" and "Raging Bull." Lamb has a diverse background in theater and is a graduate of UNC Greensboro.

For more information, please contact Michael Hayworth at 336-880-5404, or email mike.hayworth@freshbrewedfilms.tv.

Contact Information: Agency Contact: Elina Heng Terpin Communications 310-821-6100 x108