KFC Fields "Reality TV Commercial" Contest

KFC Corp. tweaks the reality TV craze with a contest that lets consumers create a TV commercial. The September campaign dangles a $10,000 prize and one-time airing of the winning spot during prime time on Oct. 2.

Contestants write and film a 30-second spot for KFC's Bigger, Better Popcorn Chicken, then submit a video or CD by Sept. 23. Entries are judged on creativity, the use of Popcorn Chicken in the spot, production value and talent.

Louisville, KY-based KFC keeps all entries—a potential gold mine of marketing fodder for a mere $20,000 (including second- and third-place prizes of $5,000 each).

The contest ties to an ad campaign that broke Sept. 1. Humorous spots show "better" ways to eat Popcorn chicken.

Consumers who join the KFC Bigger, Better Fan Club at www.kfc.com are automatically entered in a national sweeps awarding a trip for two to Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston. The first 2,000 to join get coupons for Popcorn Chicken.

The contest was developed through a joint effort of the in-house Buzz Marketing team and its outside p.r. agency Edeleman Chicago.