Starz! Reaches for the Rings

Looking to tie in with the final theatrical installment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Starz! next month will present a 48-hour weekend-movie marathon, supported by a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign and sweepstakes.

The premium network’s "The Lord of the Rings Weekend," Dec. 19-21, will center on the pay TV premiere of the second film, The Two Towers. It will also include an extended version of the first entry, The Fellowship of the Ring, and a behind-the-scenes, on-the-set look at The Return of the King, which hits theaters Dec. 17.

Starz! will back the 48-hour marathon with $3 million in marketing support, highlighted by a sweepstakes that includes a trio of grand-prize trips to New Zealand, the country where the films were shot.