Ford is teaming up with NBC and an eight-time Emmy Award-winning reality

producer to create "Escape Routes," a prime-time reality TV show that will air on Saturday nights on NBC, beginning March 31 to help promote the brand new 2013 Ford Escape. "Escape Routes" is a new interactive reality series that will feature a cast of six teams of two participating in a unique road-trip competition with real-world challenges featuring the all-new Ford Escape.

"This is the first time an automaker has used prime-time television to launch a new vehicle and it is a great showcase for the all-new Escape," said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president for Global Marketing, Sales and Service. "'Escape Routes' builds on the success of Ford's previous social engagement programs and takes it to the next level with TV. This is another example of the innovative ways Ford is reaching consumers."

The show six episodes are hosted by reality TV show personality Rossi Morreale who has hosted a variety of network and cable TV programs. The show airs Saturday evenings at 8 pm/ET on NBC and will also air on mun2,a bicultural cable network for young Latino Americans, Saturday nights at 11 pm/ET. This is the first time Ford will air a series using both a general market broadcast and bilingual cable network. 

"At NBC, we continue to look for breakthrough ways to work with our partners and the 'Escape Routes' program was a unique opportunity that we hadn't seen

before," said James Hoffman, executive vice president, Sales and Marketing, NBC

"Escape Routes" will be produced by eight-time Emmy Award-winning producer Elise Doganieri in addition to David Leener from the Profiles Television team. "We are excited to be partnering with Ford on this groundbreaking series," said Doganieri. "There are two key elements to this series: first, the interactive element, which is designed to engage viewers throughout the show and encourage them to participate in the challenges; and second, the real-time twist where consumers have the ability to follow their favorite team in the digital space. By Joseph Szczesny