Nissan Strikes Professionals
TV Deal
Nissan
has struck a deal to supply one of its
top-of-the-range cars for a remake of
The Professionals, one of the cult series
which it parodied in a popular series
of ads for the Nissan Almera GTi. The
updated version, called CI5 - The Professionals,
features two characters called Chris Keel
and Sam Curtis, in place of the original
Bodie and Doyle played by Martin Shaw
and Lewis Collins in the original series.
In
the new series, a Nissan 200SX sports
coupe will be driven by Keel, played by
actor Kal Weber. Upmarket car manufacturer
Lotus has also struck a deal to supply
an Esprit for the character of Curtis,
played by Colin Wells.
Negotiations
are underway to sell the series around
the world, including the UK. Episodes
have already been shot in South Africa,
America and France. Quentin Griffiths,
a director of Entertainment Marketing,
which brokered the deal for Nissan and
Lotus, says: "The Professionals offers
one of the most high-profile TV placements
for us because of the international ramifications.
"There
could be an audience of up to 100 million
around the world."
Possible
repeats, video deals and a spin-off feature
film offer more exposure for Nissan and
Lotus cars.
Entertainment
Marketing, partly owned by Carat UK, also
arranged the wardrobe for Curtis, courtesy
of Hugo Boss.
Copyright
1998 Centaur Communications Limited or
its licensors.
MARKETING WEEK 07/05/98 P8
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