Charity Auction Offers Chance to Challenge Fear Factor Champions  5/3/05  

Click here to see the eBay Auction

Charity Auction Offers Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity to Challenge Fear Factor Champions in Live Audition for Hit TV Show

High Bidders to Compete in Universal Orlando's Fear Factor Live Attraction

ORLANDO, Fla., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning Monday afternoon, die-hard fans of the hit reality television show "Fear Factor" and other thrill-seekers will bid for the chance to hurl squid at a partner while suspended in mid-air, scramble from a car dangling 25-feet above ground and chug a meal -- worm and sauerkraut smoothie -- all while competing against real "Fear Factor" champions. 

And wait. There's more. 

Qualified bid-winners will take on those stunts at Universal Orlando's new Fear Factor Live attraction. Their performance will also be a live audition in front of producers from the hit "Fear Factor" TV show, who will consider offering the winners a place on the show next season. This will be the first live audition ever conducted by "Fear Factor" producers. 

The on-line listing, which will be active beginning Monday afternoon, is to mark the grand-opening of Universal Orlando's new Fear Factor Live attraction -- a new show that will give park guests the chance to compete in the same type of stunts they watch others perform on the TV show. 

The charity auction, which will benefit Give Kids The World, begins Monday, May 2 through Thursday, May 12 -- with opening bids set to start at $2,500. High bidders will get one of two vacation packages, listed on eBay, The World's Online Marketplace(R), which include the chance to compete in the Fear Factor Live attraction against Dean and Ashley Molina, who won this season's "Fear Factor" Couples' Competition on NBC. The package also includes a four-night/five-day vacation to Universal Orlando including accommodations, round-trip airfare, theme park admission, a VIP tour of the parks and a "Fear Factor" TV show prop signed by show host Joe Rogan." 

'Fear Factor' has become a true phenomenon across the United States," said Bob Gault, President and CEO, Universal Orlando. "We are thrilled to offer fans of the show -- and our theme park guests -- the chance to compete against real 'Fear Factor' winners. This is a one-time experience that cannot be duplicated anywhere else." 

The winners will be among the first to perform the stunts from the new attraction, which have been developed especially for theme park guests by Universal's creative team and "Fear Factor" show producers. 

Based upon the award-winning NBC program "Fear Factor," Fear Factor Live marks the first time a reality television show will be transformed into a theme park experience. In each show, park guests will compete against each other in a progression of extreme stunts, which are designed to test their physical and emotional limits. 

All proceeds from the listings will be donated to Give Kids The World. The charity auction can be accessed through eBay at http://www.ebay.com (key word: Fear Factor) and the Universal Orlando website at http://www.universalorlando.com .

The Universal Orlando resort destination (http://www.universalorlando.com ) includes two dramatically distinct and adjacent theme parks, the Universal Studios motion picture and television theme park and Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando's next generation theme park. Universal Orlando also includes CityWalk, a 30-acre dining, shopping, club and live-entertainment venue as well as premier on-site Loews hotels and world-class film and television production facilities. 

NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates the No.1 television network, the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

"Fear Factor" is produced by Endemol USA, the leading producer of television programming specializing in reality and non-scripted genres for network and cable television. David Goldberg is President of Endemol USA. The series is executive produced by Matt Kunitz ("Real World," "Dog Eat Dog") and David Hurwitz.

Give Kids The World is a nearly 70-acre, non-profit resort for children with life-threatening illnesses whose one wish is to visit Central Florida's best-loved attractions. Give Kids The World Village partners with over 250 wish-granting organizations around the world. With the help of many generous individuals and corporations, Give Kids The World Village completes the wish with accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attraction tickets and meals for a week-long, cost-free vacation. For more information, please visit the GKTW website at http://www.gktw.org .

SOURCE Universal Orlando Web Site: http://www.universalorlando.com