Follow celebrities on their “balik kampung” trail with Esso and Mobil on Your Feel Good Channel

KUALA LUMPUR, September 25 - Home is where the heart is – nothing beats the anticipation of heading back to one’s beloved hometown. Take an intimate look into the private lives of celebrities as they too experience the same eager anticipation on their journey back to their hometowns with Road Home with Smiles on ntv7, Wednesdays, 9.00 p.m. starting 8th October 2008.

The 13-episode half-hour travelogue follows celebrities on their road home, closely capturing their happy and sometimes touching journey, giving viewers an insight into their past and present through snapshots of their lives. Kicking off the first episode of the show is charming actress and singer Betty Banafe, followed by hunky actor Azizan Nin in the second episode. Other celebrities to be featured in the show include Jehan Miskin, Belinda Chee, Daphne Iking, Hannah Tan and Hatta.

Each episode begins with an introduction of the celebrity and an overview of their place of origin. Viewers get the front seat on this journey with a local celebrity as they meander the roads back to their hometown.  We reminisce as well as share new experiences with them as they take us to their all time favorite haunts, secret hideaways and nostalgic street corners. From where to eat to the special place in their heart, viewers are treated to never seen before footages of their favourite celebrities.

“ntv7 is proud to present yet another entertaining series, Road Home with Smiles, which gives viewers an up close and personal look into the lives of celebrities as they journey back to where it all began for them,” says Airin Zainul, General Manager of ntv7’s Brand Management Group, Business Development and Marketing Communication.  “Apart from showcasing vignettes of Malaysian life seen through the celebrities’ ‘balik kampung’ experience, the travelogue additionally features road safety tips, making it not only a fun but also informative show.”

Sponsored by Esso and Mobil, the programme also highlights the convenience of the Smiles Driver Rewards card and its use at Esso and Mobil stations while on the road.

“At Esso and Mobil, we designed our Smiles driver reward programme with the customer in mind," says Faridah Ali, Retail Business Director, Esso Malaysia Berhad.   "Through the 'Road Home with Smiles' programme, viewers will learn how the Smiles card can help them save costs.  Customers can earn Smiles points for almost all purchases at our network of Esso and Mobil stations nationwide and get greater value in return via instant redemption for fuel and mart items.  For example, during this festive season, customers can instantly redeem their Smiles points for essential items such as cooking oil and rice while other attractive items are available from the catalogue. It's truly balik kampung with Smiles for everyone."

Get into the front seat and cruise along with your favourite celebrities on their balik kampung trip at Road Home with Smiles, every Wednesday, 9.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. starting 8th October, only at ntv7. To catch repeats online, log on to www.ntv7.com.my for Catchup TV.

About ntv7

The year 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of ntv7, celebrating “10 Feel Good Years” on air!

The station first came on air on 7th April 1998 and was Malaysia’s third private free-to-air television station. The station has positioned itself as a “Feel Good” channel, and along this tagline has set itself apart from the other stations with an emphasis on branding. ntv7 is also synonymous with the urban viewers providing trendy, interactive and enriching content that transcends across various digital media platforms such as 3G and mobile content.

ntv7 is wholly owned by Media Prima Berhad, the largest integrated media house in Malaysia which also owns TV3 (first private free-to-air television station in Malaysia), 8TV (the first station for young viewers), TV9, Primeworks Studios Sdn. Bhd. (film production and distributor), 43% equity in the New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad - one of the largest newspaper production groups, two radio stations - Fly FM and Hot FM and three outdoor media companies - Big Tree Outdoor Sdn. Bhd., UPD Sdn. Bhd. and The Right Channel Sdn. Bhd.

About ExxonMobil

The ExxonMobil Subsidiaries in Malaysia are a group of companies, which have business activities ranging from upstream exploration and production of oil and gas to the refining and marketing of petroleum products. In the upstream, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc. is one of the major crude oil producers and suppliers of natural gas to Malaysia.  Daily crude oil and condensate production is about 160,000 barrels of oil a day while daily gas production is 1.2 billion cubic feet a day.   In the downstream, three ExxonMobil subsidiaries, Esso Malaysia Berhad, ExxonMobil Malaysia Sdn Bhd and ExxonMobil Borneo Sdn Bhd operate a network of 530 Esso and Mobil service stations throughout Malaysia.  Esso Malaysia Berhad also operates an 88,000 barrel a day refinery in Port Dickson.