MIAMI, March 17 -- Building on one of the most successful kids' promotions in recent BURGER KING(R) history, SpongeBob SquarePants will again ascend from the depths of the sea to make a splash at participating BURGER KING(R) restaurants nationwide starting today, March 17, 2003. Six characters from television's number one rated kids' show are plunging into BURGER KING(R) Kids Meals. Eight toys feature the most appealing and colorful characters with fun, unique functions. The promotion will run for five weeks, during which time one of the most popular items on the Big Kids menu, CHICKEN TENDERS(R), will come in fun star and lightning bolt shapes.

"Not only has SpongeBob SquarePants become the number one Nielsen-rated kids show on TV, but it has also become a cultural phenomenon. Now the fun of SpongeBob and the 'Bikini Bottom Bunch' is available to boys and girls at home as well as in BURGER KING(R) restaurants," said Craig Braasch, vice president, global advertising and promotions, Burger King Corporation. "These eight new, fun, seaworthy toys inside our Big Kids Meals provide hours of aquatic entertainment for our young customers."

The promotion runs in conjunction with the SpongeBob's Lost Episode event on Nickelodeon, of which Burger King Corporation will be an on-air sponsor. The event culminates with the airing of "The Sponge Who Could Fly," a never- before-seen episode of SpongeBob SquarePants on Friday, March 21 at 8:00 p.m. on Nickelodeon.

About The Toys

Each toy features popular SpongeBob SquarePants characters based on the television cartoon, including SpongeBob Silly Squirter, Swing Time Patrick, Jellyfish Fields, Plankton Bubble Up, Squirt N' Whistle Squidward, Plush Shakin' SpongeBob, Karate Chop Sandy and Gravity Defying Gary.

Character Riddle Cards Add Online Excitement

Each "spongerific" SpongeBob character toy comes with a clue card containing a SpongeBob SquarePants character riddle. Kids can wade through the riddle, figure it out, then log onto http://www.Nick.com to answer the riddle to get digital SpongeBob trading cards. They can also enter a sweepstakes to win an exclusive, at-home SpongeBob SquarePants party for 25 people! Partygoers will view the SpongeBob SquarePants "Lost Episode" on the winner's new large- screen television.

"We are proud of the relationship we have built with Burger King Corporation and excited that SpongeBob is returning for his second BURGER KING(R) promotion. The promotion is sure to bring the young BURGER KING(R) customers all of the fun they have come to expect from Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants," said Pam Kaufman, senior vice president, marketing, Nickelodeon.

Waves of Advertising

This BURGER KING(R) promotion will be featured in kid-directed advertising, in-restaurant communication, a birthday mailer to Big Kids Club members and a micro site at http://www.burgerking.com. Big Kids can go to the micro site for interactive activities, downloadable screensavers and information about the eight fun SpongeBob SquarePants character toys.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 23rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 86 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than six consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

About Burger King Corporation

Burger King Corporation and its franchisees operate more than 11,400 restaurants in all 50 states and 57 countries and territories around the world, with 91% of BURGER KING(R) restaurants owned and operated by independent franchisees. Since the company's founding in Miami in 1954, the BURGER KING(R) brand has become recognized for the great taste of FLAME-BROILING, HAVE IT YOUR WAY(R) and the WHOPPER(R). In fiscal year 2002, ending June 30, 2002, the BURGER KING(R) system had system-wide sales of $11.3 billion. Burger King Corporation is owned by the equity sponsor group comprised of Texas Pacific Group, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Bain Capital. To learn more about the BURGER KING(R) system, please visit the company's website at http://www.burgerking.com.