AMC Names Pacino Sponsors

AMC Tuesday announced three sponsors for upcoming one-hour special Hollywood Celebrates Al Pacino: An American Cinematheque Tribute.

American Honda Motor Co.’s Acura division, Expedia Inc. (www.expedia.com/daily/home) and TGI Friday’s Inc. will sponsor the tribute to Pacino’s career, set to air Sunday at 10 p.m. (EST).

The three sponsors will receive 30 second customized vignettes for the week leading up to the premiere, featuring celebrity friends, co-stars and directors offering inside stories about and well wishes to Pacino.

Sponsors also will receive on-air presence through tagged tune-ins, commercial spots and billboards.

And Acura -- which is currently in its fourth year as an American Cinematheque sponsor -- also received on-site presence at the Oct. 21Los Angeles event, with its “Celestial Silver 2006 Acura RL” parked curbside.

Pacino’s 2002 film, Insomnia, starring Oscar winners Robin Williams and Hilary Swank, will air prior to Hollywood Celebrates Al Pacino, at 8 p.m.

“On the heels of its most successful ratings summer in the network’s history, AMC continues to maintain our loyal core audience, while offering our sponsors the wide consumer appeal they desire,” Rainbow National Network Advertising Sales president Arlene Manos said in a prepared statement.

“The network’s exclusive ongoing partnership with American Cinematheque also allows us to offer our sponsors special nontraditional branding opportunities,” she added.