Jude The Obscure
01-28-2008, 03:09 PM
"Baywatch" Returns with a Splash Weeknights on ION Television
The "Most-Watched TV Series in the World" from FremantleMedia North
America Joins ION Television's Primetime Programming Lineup
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- ION Media Networks, Inc. (AMEX:ION) has
entered into an agreement with distributor Litton Entertainment to air
FremantleMedia North America's mega-hit television series, "Baywatch,"
on ION Television, it was jointly announced today by Brandon Burgess,
Chairman and CEO of ION Media Networks, and Dave Morgan, President and
CEO of Litton Entertainment. The agreement marks the latest addition
of popular, quality programming to the network's primetime lineup.
This upbeat, action-packed series melds real-life issues, accessible
characters and tongue-in-cheek humor to provide ION's broad audience
with a perennial favorite that defined a genre. "Baywatch" on ION will
launch Monday, March 3, and air Mondays through Thursdays at 10 pm
(ET).
"This is another fun example of our strategy to offer upbeat,
mainstream programming to our viewers," said Burgess. "This iconic
series is a multi-generational TV staple, and 'America's Got Talent'
and 'Borat' have made David Hasselhoff and Pam Anderson as hip and
relevant as ever."
Set on the beaches of Malibu, "Baywatch" centers on the daily
adventures of a team of athletic California lifeguards, their
life-saving work and their off-duty relationships. Featuring David
Hasselhoff as Lt. Mitch Buchannon, the series made international stars
out of Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Yasmine Bleeth and Alexandra
Paul. In each episode, new dangers imperiled the cast, but, racing to
the rescue in trademark slow-mo' style, Los Angeles County's finest
lifeguards usually prevailed. Not long after its debut, "Baywatch"
became the most-watched television show in the world.
"We are thrilled to announce that 'Baywatch' will be back before
national audiences in prime time," said Morgan. "This classic series
features drama, action, romance, humor and a cast of celebrity icons."
"This brand goes from strength to strength," added Lisa Honig, Vice
President, Program Distribution for FremantleMedia Enterprises in
North America, the licensing, distribution and home entertainment
division of FremantleMedia. "'Baywatch' continues to draw audiences
on-air all over the world and remains a lucrative revenue stream
off-air with a strong demand in both the home entertainment and
consumer products markets. We're delighted to be working with ION and
Litton to bring the show back to the domestic fan base."
The new agreement is part of ION's ongoing initiative to add
compelling programming from leading content providers that blends
effectively with the network's signature quality content. This past
New Year's Eve, ION Television added to its primetime lineup the
Emmy-nominated series, "The Drew Carey Show." "Baywatch" will further
broaden the network's appeal by targeting a contemporary audience with
fun and upbeat entertainment.
"Baywatch, which premiered on NBC in 1989 and ran in first-run
syndication from 1991-2001, was executive produced by Michael Berk,
Gregory J. Bonan and Douglas Schwartz.
About ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation's largest
broadcast television station group and ION Television, reaching over
94 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast
television, cable and satellite distribution systems. ION Television
currently features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning
libraries of Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Television and CBS
Television, among others. ION Media has also partnered with RHI
Entertainment, which owns over 4,000 hours of acclaimed television
content, to provide weekend primetime programming consisting of
exclusive original programming and quality library titles. Utilizing
its digital multicasting capability, the company has launched several
digital TV brands, including qubo, a television and multimedia network
for children formed in partnership with several leading media and
entertainment companies, and ION Life, a television and multimedia
network dedicated to health and wellness for consumers and families.
For more information, visit www.ionmedia.tv.
About Litton Entertainment
Litton Entertainment, the preeminent independent distributor in the
television industry, has been producing and distributing quality
programming for twenty years. Programs include "Jack Hanna's Animal
Adventures," "Baywatch," "Cribs," "Pimp My Ride," "Storm Stories,"
"Date My Mom," "NASCAR Angels," "Animal Exploration with Jarod
Miller," "BusinessWeek Weekend" and theatrical films. Litton News
Services include "Good Housekeeping Reports," "BusinessWeek Reports
from Wall Street," "Standard & Poors Customized Reports" and "Consumer
Reports." For more information, visit www.litton.tv.
About FremantleMedia Enterprises & FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia Enterprises is the content exploitation arm of
FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing,
Distribution and Home Entertainment. It is a division of
FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and
producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time
drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment
programming in over 40 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is a
subsidiary of RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio
broadcast company, which is 90% owned by Bertelsmann AG, an integrated
media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the
world's media markets. For further information, visit
http://www.fremantlemedia.com.
About FremantleMedia North America
FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of
global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA
produces entertaining and innovative television programs for network,
cable and syndicated platforms, including the Emmy-nominated
musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "The Next Great
American Band" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "American
Inventor" (ABC), "Thank God You're Here" (NBC), "The Janice Dickinson
Modeling Agency" (Oxygen), "Property Ladder" (TLC), "Family Feud"
(syndicated), "Temptation" (syndicated), "Million Dollar Password"
(CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, "The
Price Is Right" (CBS).
The "Most-Watched TV Series in the World" from FremantleMedia North
America Joins ION Television's Primetime Programming Lineup
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- ION Media Networks, Inc. (AMEX:ION) has
entered into an agreement with distributor Litton Entertainment to air
FremantleMedia North America's mega-hit television series, "Baywatch,"
on ION Television, it was jointly announced today by Brandon Burgess,
Chairman and CEO of ION Media Networks, and Dave Morgan, President and
CEO of Litton Entertainment. The agreement marks the latest addition
of popular, quality programming to the network's primetime lineup.
This upbeat, action-packed series melds real-life issues, accessible
characters and tongue-in-cheek humor to provide ION's broad audience
with a perennial favorite that defined a genre. "Baywatch" on ION will
launch Monday, March 3, and air Mondays through Thursdays at 10 pm
(ET).
"This is another fun example of our strategy to offer upbeat,
mainstream programming to our viewers," said Burgess. "This iconic
series is a multi-generational TV staple, and 'America's Got Talent'
and 'Borat' have made David Hasselhoff and Pam Anderson as hip and
relevant as ever."
Set on the beaches of Malibu, "Baywatch" centers on the daily
adventures of a team of athletic California lifeguards, their
life-saving work and their off-duty relationships. Featuring David
Hasselhoff as Lt. Mitch Buchannon, the series made international stars
out of Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Yasmine Bleeth and Alexandra
Paul. In each episode, new dangers imperiled the cast, but, racing to
the rescue in trademark slow-mo' style, Los Angeles County's finest
lifeguards usually prevailed. Not long after its debut, "Baywatch"
became the most-watched television show in the world.
"We are thrilled to announce that 'Baywatch' will be back before
national audiences in prime time," said Morgan. "This classic series
features drama, action, romance, humor and a cast of celebrity icons."
"This brand goes from strength to strength," added Lisa Honig, Vice
President, Program Distribution for FremantleMedia Enterprises in
North America, the licensing, distribution and home entertainment
division of FremantleMedia. "'Baywatch' continues to draw audiences
on-air all over the world and remains a lucrative revenue stream
off-air with a strong demand in both the home entertainment and
consumer products markets. We're delighted to be working with ION and
Litton to bring the show back to the domestic fan base."
The new agreement is part of ION's ongoing initiative to add
compelling programming from leading content providers that blends
effectively with the network's signature quality content. This past
New Year's Eve, ION Television added to its primetime lineup the
Emmy-nominated series, "The Drew Carey Show." "Baywatch" will further
broaden the network's appeal by targeting a contemporary audience with
fun and upbeat entertainment.
"Baywatch, which premiered on NBC in 1989 and ran in first-run
syndication from 1991-2001, was executive produced by Michael Berk,
Gregory J. Bonan and Douglas Schwartz.
About ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation's largest
broadcast television station group and ION Television, reaching over
94 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast
television, cable and satellite distribution systems. ION Television
currently features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning
libraries of Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Television and CBS
Television, among others. ION Media has also partnered with RHI
Entertainment, which owns over 4,000 hours of acclaimed television
content, to provide weekend primetime programming consisting of
exclusive original programming and quality library titles. Utilizing
its digital multicasting capability, the company has launched several
digital TV brands, including qubo, a television and multimedia network
for children formed in partnership with several leading media and
entertainment companies, and ION Life, a television and multimedia
network dedicated to health and wellness for consumers and families.
For more information, visit www.ionmedia.tv.
About Litton Entertainment
Litton Entertainment, the preeminent independent distributor in the
television industry, has been producing and distributing quality
programming for twenty years. Programs include "Jack Hanna's Animal
Adventures," "Baywatch," "Cribs," "Pimp My Ride," "Storm Stories,"
"Date My Mom," "NASCAR Angels," "Animal Exploration with Jarod
Miller," "BusinessWeek Weekend" and theatrical films. Litton News
Services include "Good Housekeeping Reports," "BusinessWeek Reports
from Wall Street," "Standard & Poors Customized Reports" and "Consumer
Reports." For more information, visit www.litton.tv.
About FremantleMedia Enterprises & FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia Enterprises is the content exploitation arm of
FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing,
Distribution and Home Entertainment. It is a division of
FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and
producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time
drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment
programming in over 40 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is a
subsidiary of RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio
broadcast company, which is 90% owned by Bertelsmann AG, an integrated
media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the
world's media markets. For further information, visit
http://www.fremantlemedia.com.
About FremantleMedia North America
FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of
global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA
produces entertaining and innovative television programs for network,
cable and syndicated platforms, including the Emmy-nominated
musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "The Next Great
American Band" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "American
Inventor" (ABC), "Thank God You're Here" (NBC), "The Janice Dickinson
Modeling Agency" (Oxygen), "Property Ladder" (TLC), "Family Feud"
(syndicated), "Temptation" (syndicated), "Million Dollar Password"
(CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, "The
Price Is Right" (CBS).