ION Television September 2008 -- Boston Legal, M*A*S*H, and NCIS

[Pavan]

ION Television Unveils New Look, New Advertisers, New Distributors & Affiliates, New Website and New, Younger Audience
“Positively Entertaining” Rebranding Campaign Launches on September 8

New Advertisers Include Honda, Walgreens, Western Union, Expedia.com, Hotels.com and Red Lobster

New Distribution Deals and Rollouts with Comcast, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Mediacom, Bresnan and Buckeye Solidify Reach to Over 94 Million Homes

Award Winning Off-Network Hits Invigorate Fall Lineup and Attract Desirable 25-54 Demo


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Today, over 94 million households will have the opportunity to tune-in to a reinvented ION Television, repositioned as a compelling new entertainment destination and galvanized by an exciting new brand, ION Television: Positively Entertaining. The new contemporary look and tag line – Positively Entertaining – complement the robust critically acclaimed off-network series – “Boston Legal,” “ER” and “NCIS” – which launch as part of ION Television’s strategically acquired fall programming lineup that appeals to a younger audience. The rebranding campaign coincides with the launch of ION Television’s new advertisers, distribution partners, shifted viewership, and newly rebranded website, www.iontelevision.com.

“With our contemporary look and ‘Positively Entertaining’ tagline, we are positioning ION Television as a general entertainment network, with broad appeal for consumers, advertisers and content creators,” said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, ION Media Networks. “We are pleased with our early success in securing marquis off-net acquisitions, as well as our theatrical and made-for-TV movies, targeting a broad and desirable 25-54 demo.”

“Our rebranding campaign essentially frames all that is new to ION Television and reinforces our brand’s limitless potential,” said Eleo Hensleigh, Chief Marketing Officer, ION Media Networks. “The ‘Positively Entertaining’ tagline exudes enthusiasm, translated across multiple genres of programming. The new contemporary aesthetic purposely complements the more youthful, confident and innovative brand personality and values of the network’s programming and mission.”

Advertiser Growth, New Categories: The impact of ION Television’s May upfront presentation is evidenced by our continued growth in advertising sales. The number of first-ever advertisers on ION Television has grown substantially and contributed to the dramatic increase in ad sales post-upfront. This fall, ION Television welcomes Walgreens, Western Union, Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Edward Jones and Red Lobster to its client roster. In addition, the network is introducing a new advertiser within the automotive category with the recent sign-on of Honda.

Multiple Distribution Deals: Straddling the unique position of both broadcaster and cable network, ION Television continues to sign cable, telecommunications and satellite distribution deals in local markets across the country. New rollouts by national distributors, such as Comcast, the nation’s largest multiple service operator, continue to increase momentum and expand the network’s total reach. Upcoming launches will include the continued rollout by Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Bresnan, Mediacom and Buckeye, as well as niche cable operators like MidContinent, Broadstripe, Comporium and Sky Angel. Additionally, ION Television recently announced a station affiliation agreement with WRCX–TV in Dayton, the nation’s 62nd largest TV market, which represents approximately 511,000 households.

New Website Launch -- iontelevision.com: ION Television extends its breadth beyond television and is launching a newly revamped and rebranded website, www.iontelevision.com. The site will feature numerous new features from streaming video, interactive games, video mash-ups, cast/show information, show trivia, forums and blogs.

ION Television’s strategy will focus heavily on expanding its programming offerings in coming television seasons, targeting a strong mix of quality major network TV series, as well as signature originals produced specifically for ION Television. Several key content additions have already been secured, such as the successful “Ghost Whisperer” and “Criminal Minds” franchises, which will infuse the lineup in fall 2009.

[JulieSomoski]

Why do they have to keep changing their image?-LOL. It seems like every month, Pavan posts ION's press release about becoming a fresh new network, yet every month, we get the same old crap from them. I'm still not watching this network, no matter how they change their image. Until they put some good, classic 80's/90's sitcoms on their lineup (and no, not MASH), then I still won't be watching.

I will check out their new site, though. I'm hoping it has a forum so we can go tell them exactly how we feel about their network!

[Scoobiedoo30]

Who enjoyed M*A*S*H on ION

[Pavan]

Good news! Our ION interview is back on! If all goes well, it should be up tomorrow or Thursday!

[Scoobiedoo30]

I am looking forward to The Ion Inviewer Wednesday or Thursday

[JulieSomoski]

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

Good news! Our ION interview is back on! If all goes well, it should be up tomorrow or Thursday!

Finally!!! They may be a few months late, but at least they didn't forget about it!

[Pavan]

Boston Legal and especially NCIS are off to good starts:

Top 20 Markets Overnights:

Boston Legal / NCIS - Monday, Sept. 8
8PM and 9PM
http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums/a/t...1951#240101951

# 1       # 2       # 3       # 4       # 5
NY        LA       CHI       PHI       DAL
0.7/ 1    -.-/--    0.9/ 1    0.8/ 1    1.0/ 2 (Boston Legal)
1.3/ 2    0.2/ 0    1.4/ 2    1.2/ 2    1.7/ 2 (NCIS)

 # 6       # 7       # 8       # 9       #10
SF/OAK/SJ     BOS       ATL     WSH DC      HOU
0.0/ 0    0.4/ 1    1.0/ 1    0.8/ 1    0.8/ 1 (Boston Legal)
0.4/ 1    0.8/ 1    0.3/ 0    1.4/ 2    1.0/ 1 (NCIS)

#11       #12       #13       #14       #15
DET       PHX     TAM-StP  SEA-Tac   MIN-StPl
0.7/ 1    0.7/ 1    -.-/--   0.3/ 1    0.2/ 0 (Boston Legal)
1.0/ 1    1.5/ 2    -.-/--   0.8/ 1    0.8/ 1 (NCIS)

#16       #17       #18       #19       #20       #26
MIA-FtL   CLE-Akr     DEN    ORL-Dyta  SAC-Stkn     IND
0.6/ 1    0.7/ 1    0.8/ 1    1.4/ 2    0.1/ 0    0.2/ 0 (Boston Legal)
0.6/ 1    1.3/ 2    1.2/ 2    1.4/ 2    2.2/ 3    0.4/ 1 (NCIS)

NCIS - Tuesday, Sept. 9
9PM
http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums/a/t...2951#596102951

# 1       # 2       # 3       # 4       # 5
NY        LA       CHI       PHI       DAL
1.6/ 2    0.3/ 1    0.6/ 1    0.5/ 1    1.4/ 2

 # 6       # 7       # 8       # 9       #10
SF/OAK/SJ     BOS       ATL     WSH DC      HOU
0.3/ 1    0.6/ 1    0.9/ 1    0.6/ 1    0.5/ 1

#11       #12       #13       #14       #15
DET       PHX     TAM-StP  SEA-Tac   MIN-StPl
1.2/ 2    1.6/ 3    0.8/ 1    0.8/ 2    1.1/ 2

#16       #17       #18       #19       #20       #26
MIA-FtL   CLE-Akr     DEN    ORL-Dyta  SAC-Stkn     IND
0.1/ 0    1.7/ 3    1.9/ 3    1.0/ 1    1.2/ 2    0.6/ 1

(NCIS built on ER in each top 20 market except #16)

[JulieSomoski]

Wow, those are pretty good numbers, especially for NCIS. I thought Boston Legal would do better, but NCIS is clearly beating it. It's a huge improvement over the summer household numbers, which is a great sign for the networks executives, who obviously want these highly-rated dramas to do well for them.

[Pavan]

Week of Sept. 1-7 HH rating/share and total viewers for ION primetime (8-11p):

0.3/0 HH rating/share and 390,000 total viewers average

It'll be interesting to compare it to this week, since it will go up a bit with one airing of Boston Legal and two airings of NCIS...both did much better than the usual ION 8-10pm numbers.

Not sure if I posted Aug 25-31: 0.2 HH rating/0 share and 330,000 total viewers average.

Our ION interview will be on the blog tomorrow! We have it in our hands now!

[JulieSomoski]

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

Week of Sept. 1-7 HH rating/share and total viewers for ION primetime (8-11p):

0.3/0 HH rating/share and 390,000 total viewers average

It'll be interesting to compare it to this week, since it will go up a bit with one airing of Boston Legal and two airings of NCIS...both did much better than the usual ION 8-10pm numbers.

Not sure if I posted Aug 25-31: 0.2 HH rating/0 share and 330,000 total viewers average.

Our ION interview will be on the blog tomorrow! We have it in our hands now!

The household numbers were good, so I'm sure that and total viewers will go up a lot this week, which is a good sign for ION's sake.

And I can't wait for the interview! We've been waiting for months for it!

[Pavan]

Here is the interview wth ION:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/20...interview.html

Let us know what you think.

[Spilling Cereal]

Now we are talking!

[TKMetal]

Looked like most of her responses were right out of a press release. Most of the classic sitcoms and the elk are probably never coming back as they've moved head first with this latest branding going after proven programs. She emphasized FRESH!

[JulieSomoski]

yeah, I have to agree, I was kind of disappointed with the interview. Pavan, you're questions were right on the money, but her answers were extremely vague and everything she said was what we already knew. I wish she could have put more time into her answers, because it would have made the interview a lot better.

It seems to me they want to abandon the classic shows altogether, but she didn't want to say it directly in the interview. That's the sense I got from the vague answers.

[Pavan]

We shall see what happens. They will be looking to create a daytime block and remove the paid progamming, so that was the first time that was mentioned officially.