Posted: Tue, Sep 17, 2002, 10:22 AM ET (1422 GMT)
Soft drink company Pepsi-Cola is planning to purchase a seat on a future Soyuz flight as part of a reality TV series the company plans to sponsor, advertising industry trade publication AdAge.com reported Monday. The report said that Pepsi is negotiating with Russian officials to purchase a seat on the Soyuz for $15 million — a 25 percent discount on the publicly-stated "retail" price of $20 million — and will spend $10-20 million to promote the trip. Pepsi is reportedly planning a reality TV series where contestants would compete for the trip, and the company is in negotiations with one unnamed network to broadcast the show. The promotion would begin in summer 2003 and last a year; it is not clear when the Soyuz flight that Pepsi would purchase a ticket for would fly. Pepsi was reported to be one of the potential sponsors of Lance Bass’s failed bid to fly in space this fall, and one official told AdAge.com that Pepsi had been interested in a spaceflight promotion for several years, but could not previously work out a deal.

Related Links:

•  AdAge.com article