Victorias secret fashion show

Super Bowl Victoria's Secret Ad Leads To Web Site Overload 02/02/99

COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1999 FEB 2 (NB) -- By Bob Woods, Newsbytes. Even though the Fox television network's broadcast of the Super Bowl last weekend saw the lowest ratings of the 1990's, one company's Web site was crushed with interest because of its revealing ad during the game. Intimate Brands Inc.'s [NYSE:IBI] Victoria's Secret division said its Web site saw more than 1 million hits in just one hour after its 30- second commercial aired during the game. Besides airing its now-famous scantily clad models during the spot, Victoria's Secret also said it would broadcast its spring fashion show only on the Internet -- for all of the world to see. In gauging the Internet reaction, Victoria's Secret officials said in a statement the company created "the most heavily visited site in Internet history" and saw an "unprecedented response to any Web site in history," as a result of its cross-promotion with the Super Bowl ad. Demand for the site was so heavy that thousands of users either experienced delays or simply never got onto the site during the heavily trafficked first hour, officials said. The company expects interest for the upcoming fashion show to be equally high -- so much so that Victoria's Secret officials are recommending that Web surfers log into the show early. "We're pushing into uncharted technological territory here, and so we're asking for the patience of our viewers and customers," company officials said. The Victoria's Secret Web cast, which will highlight the company's latest lingerie designs, will take place exclusively via broadcast.com on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 7:00 PM EST. The feed, which will originate from the runway at Cipriani Wall Street in New York, will include high- speed multicast feeds ranging from 28 kilobits per second (Kpbs) to 300Kbps. Web surfers can go to two World Wide Web sites for more information: http://webevents.broadcast.com/victoriassecret/fashionshow99 and http://www.VictoriasSecret.com/vsc/index.html . Intimate Brands officials were not available for further comment by Newsbytes' afternoon deadline. Victoria's Secret main Web site is at http://www.VictoriasSecret.com . On TV, Fox said 127.5 million people watched last Sunday's Super Bowl telecast, which saw the Denver Broncos crush the Atlanta Falcons. While the show was the sixth-most watched TV show in US history, the game was watched by just 40.2 percent of US homes using televisions, and by 61 percent of households which had their TV sets on during the broadcast. Viewership -- or lack thereof -- of the 1999 game made it the lowest- rated Super Bowl broadcast since 1990. Reported By Newsbytes News Network, http://www.newsbytes.com . (19990202/Press Contacts: Debbie Mitchell, 614-415-7546, or Jerry Robinson, 212-614-4223, both for Intimate Brands /WIRES ONLINE, PC, BUSINESS/VICTORIAS/PHOTO)