Taco Bell today announced a multi-million dollar advertising and product placement deal with The New TNN, basic cable’s fastest-growing young-adult network, to extend through the summer of 2003. On the heels of the Taco Bell’s advertising commitment to MTV, Taco Bell again reaches the pop culture-driven young-adult audience with a Viacom company.

“Advertising with The New TNN is part of our ongoing strategy to be a major player on cable networks that are most effective in reaching our target audience,” said Debbie Myers, Vice President of Media Services, Entertainment & Licensing, Taco Bell Corp. “This partnership is an effective way of capturing consumers’ attention in an organic fashion.”

The sponsorship includes advertising on top-rated shows and secures product placement in original TNN programming such as “Oblivious,” “Ultimate Revenge” and the network’s new adult-animation block that will launch in spring 2002 and feature “Gary the Rat,” starring Kelsey Grammer. This deal also helps Taco Bell position itself as a dominant advertiser on cable networks that attract its heavy quick service restaurant user.