TNN Changes to Spike on Aug. 11

[eng51squad51]

from mediaweek.com


TNN Rebrands Itself Spike TV

TNN: The National Network will become Spike TV on June 16 and will be
repositioned as the first network targeting men.

"Today the first network for men has a name, and it's Spike TV," said
Albie Hecht, president of TNN. "Spike TV captures the attributes and
essence of what we want the first network for men to be. It's
unapologetically male; it's active; it's smart and contemporary with a
personality that's aggressive and irreverent. This is a first major step
in our journey to super-serving men in a way no one has done before."

The network's new logo will be unveiled at the MTV Networks upfront
presentation in New York City on Tuesday, May 6.

During a conference call, Hecht announced the network's first slate of
male-skewing programming, which includes partnerships with Men's Health
magazine and CBS MarketWatch.

The re-naming of the channel will be supported by a multi-million dollar
awareness campaign that will include on-air, outdoor and print
advertising.

Spike TV will be available in 86 million homes. -- Richard Brunelli

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[Pavan]

Full release and slate of specials:

- Network President Albie Hecht Announces TNN To Change Its Name June 16
- Network Will Unveil New Logo At MTVN Upfront May 6

NEW YORK, April 15 -- In a conference call today with national consumer, trade and business media, network president Albie Hecht announced that TNN: The National Network will be re-named Spike TV, reflecting its new brand positioning as the first network for men. The name change will take effect on-air on Monday, June 16, and the network's new logo will be unveiled at the MTV Networks upfront presentation in New York City on Tuesday, May 6.
"Today the first network for men has a name, and its Spike TV," Hecht said in making the announcement. "Spike TV captures the attributes and essence of what we want the first network for men to be. It's unapologetically male; it's active; it's smart and contemporary with a personality that's aggressive and irreverent. It's a name we feel our audience will get and make a connection
with. I like Spike! This is a first major step in our journey to super-serving men in a way no one has done before."
Mr. Hecht made the announcement of the new name during a conference call in which he announced the network's first slate of male-skewing programming, which included partnerships with Men's Health magazine, CBS MarketWatch, as well as a schedule of new series and specials geared to appealing to the wide
range of men's entertainment interests.
Added Herb Scannell, President, Nickelodeon, TV Land and Spike TV, "When we decided use our near 65% male audience skew and become the first network for men, we knew we needed a name that was a strong statement of what this brand will be. Spike TV is going to be a great addition to our portfolio of
channels and will laser in on its target male demo and serve them the way Nickelodeon serves kids and TV Land serves classic TV lovers."
The re-naming of the channel will be supported by a multi-million dollar awareness campaign that will include on-air, outdoor and print advertising.
For programming listing guides, Spike TV will utilize the abbreviation SPIKE.




The First Network For Men Announces First Slate of Brand-Defining Series, Specials and Partnerships For 2003-04 Season

- Men's Health, Stuff and CBS MarketWatch Join The First Network for Men For Exclusive Lifestyle and Information Reports
- Network's New Schedule to Address Men's Lifestyle Interests through Slate of New Reality, Travel, Finance, Automotive and Sports-Themed Series and Specials Launching in 2003-04 Season

NEW YORK, April 15 -- As part of an expansive, multi-year
strategy in its re-branding, the first network for men unveils its first round of partnerships, series and specials created to make the network the key television destination for the full range of men's lifestyle interests.
Building upon its already strong entertainment base, the network will begin to launch in third quarter 2003 a new programming schedule including: first-ever, content-sharing partnerships with Men's Health, Stuff magazine and CBS MarketWatch; a slate of new series and specials, from reality shows to travel and sports-themed programs; and more than 40 pilots currently in development.
The announcements, made today by the president of the network, Albie Hecht, will further extend the network's brand positioning across a schedule already featuring key properties such as the James Bond franchise, an adult-animation block, C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation, the first-ever Video Game Awards, WWE, Slamball and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
"Today's men have a wide variety of entertainment interests, including movies, music, finance, cars, women, sports, comedy and health," Hecht said. "They want it all and they want it all in one place. The new schedule we've begun to create is part of our mission to help guys enjoy their lives through a wide variety of lifestyle programs that only a network fully dedicated to
them can provide."
In refining a brand that addresses and conveys informed, male-focused interests and issues, the network has entered into partnerships with Men's Health magazine, Stuff magazine, and CBS MarketWatch to produce run-of-network lifestyle reports on topics including health, fitness, finance, automotive, technology and news. These hosted reports, which will launch in third quarter
2003, include:

* Men's Health Minutes - With content directly from the pages of one of the most popular men's magazines, Men's Health Minutes will provide information and advice on uniquely male issues, from fitness to relationships and everything in between. Men's Health is the top-ranking magazine for Men 18-34.

* CBS MarketWatch - Guys like money, and girls like guys that have money. Therefore, guys are interested in the financial markets. Three times a day, viewers will get financial updates live from the floor of the NASDAQ and a look into the movers of the days and information about the day's hottest stocks.

* Zero to 60 - Since the first Mustang rolled off the assembly line, there's been something special about the relationship between guys and their cars. Zero to 60 will keep men up to date with the latest in automotive news, do-it-yourself tips, the latest must-have gadgets and more.

* A Guy and His Stuff -Based on the magazine's column of the same name, this feature will wrap around the network's Wednesday-night movies and focus on the latest in gizmos, gadgets and technology for guys. Stuff magazine is aimed at male readers 18-25, with irreverent humor about the subjects they love most: women, sports and gadgets.

* In addition to these informational programs for men, the network is also beginning the roll out of a programming slate that features both new series and specials covering a wide-range of comedy, reality and lifestyle topics, including a men's lifestyle block that will premiere in January 2004. Following is the first slate of new series that will join the first network for men:

New Series:

* Ride With Funkmaster Flex - Its cars meets cribs. Produced and hosted by top DJ and car enthusiast Funkmaster Flex, who takes viewers into his exclusive world of car culture and celebrity, the series premieres August '03 with a guest-star line-up including Eminem, Ja Rule and Nelly, among many others.

* Top 10 Things Every Guy Should Experience (working title) - Follows men as they personally experience once-in-a-lifetime sporting events, such as the Indianapolis 500, Kentucky Derby, NBA Finals, MLB's All-Star Game, PGA Championship and the Super Bowl. A monthly run-of-network feature bowing March '04.

* The Eight-Minute Workout Challenge - Every man's fantasy is to get a great body in only eight minutes a day. Based on the recent surge in short-term fitness workouts, this show challenges its participants (3 guys and 3 gals) to go through brief, intense weight-training regimens that burn fat while building muscle. The series premieres as part of the network's new weekend men's lifestyle block, debuting January '04.

* Crash Test - A series that taps man's insatiable desire to compete and win at almost anything and at any cost, including sometimes their dignity. Here, guys will test their guile and guts as party crashers as they perform a series of tasks at parties to determine who is the ultimate party crasher. The series premieres in December '03.

* Ultimate Vacation Sweepstakes - Turquoise waters, five-star hotels, exotic locations and beautiful people. A travel show where men send in submissions to win the ultimate vacation. The series premieres as part of the network's new weekend men's lifestyle block, debuting January '04.

* The Scene - Exploring men's fascination with entrepreneurial endeavors, this reality series follows a group of would-be Ian Schrager's as they set out to create the next hot spot. From the first planning meeting to opening night, The Scene will chronicle the highs, the stress and the ultimate outcome of men willing to take big risks to become the owner of the next metropolitan "It" place. The series premieres March '04.

In addition to its slate of new series and lifestyle programming, the network will regularly feature special-event programming, such as the previously announced inaugural Video Game Awards (December '03) that will focus on areas of entertainment of particular interest to men. Among the upcoming specials slated for the 03-04 season are:

* 100 Most Irresistible Women - In a special Father's Day gift to men, this prime-time special will count down the year's most 100 irresistible women as voted by viewers. The show premieres in May '03.

* Auto Rocks - It's the Fast & The Furious meets Lollapalooza -- the Oscars of the auto industry! This special will combine the hottest cars of tomorrow with the hottest music stars of today in a truly heavy metal experience. Premieres in March '04

* Stuff Holiday Shopping Special - When it comes to deciding what to buy girlfriends, wives, sons and dads for the holidays, men can never have enough help. This prime-time special, in partnership with Stuff magazine, will offer a look at the year's best holiday gift ideas. The special premieres November '03.

Also, this June, the network will premiere its most ambitious original programming effort to date with a provocative new weekly animation block for guys, anchored by Stan Lee's Stripperella, starring Pamela Anderson; Gary the Rat, starring Kelsey Grammer and from creators Robb and Mark Cullen; and the
return of the breakthrough series Ren & Stimpy, featuring new original and very adult episodes from the mind of John Krisfaluci.

The network also will continue to feature movies with special appeal to men, including extending its Uncut movie franchise with full-length, unedited and limited commercial interruption versions of No Way Out, Blade Runner, The Terminator, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and The Untouchables, among others. The network also has strengthened its James Bond franchise, building
on the 15 original titles it acquired, with the additional acquisition of first-run window to the most recent Bond release Die Another Day, and rights to The World is Not Enough, License to Kill, and A View To A Kill.

[SBTB Geek]

Originally posted by pavanbadal
"[It] will laser in on its target male demo and serve them the way TV Land serves classic TV lovers."

Sure it does.

I'm actually very interested in watching Spike TV. It has several new programs that might interest me. Hopefully they get rid of the black bar as well.

[AtlantaBravesFan29]

Pretty much going to be a news channel primarily for men. No sitcoms, no other shows,expect for movies and other assorted junk. Wish our cable system would get Hallmark and TV Land all I can say.

[dawsongirl]

And I'm not saying that because I'm a girl. I don't like Oxygen, WE, or Lifetime any better.

[TVJunkie101]

Interesting, I guess. Despite being a guy, I probably won't watch that channel much.

Unless of course they add sitcoms, or keep the dramas on. I just pray they get rid of that damn black bar.

I think it's good they are renaming the network, because as long as it's TNN, it will always be remembered as The Nashville Network. And at one point (at least online, lol) The Nothing Network. It's a good change, should be, well, the operative word here is interesting.

[DarleneIllyria]

Spike TV. Well, I do like the name. However, that's the only thing I like about it now.

[AtlantaBravesFan29]

In six little letters, B-O-R-I-N-G!!!

[Pavan]

I'm sure they'll keep Baywatch, V.I.P., shows like that. If fX does not renew Married...With Children, I think it will fit very well on Spike TV, I still can't believe they renamed the channel. That's the only sitcom I can think of that can fit on that channel now.

[TVJunkie101]

Originally posted by pavanbadal
I'm sure they'll keep Baywatch, V.I.P., shows like that. If fX does not renew Married...With Children, I think it will fit very well on Spike TV, I still can't believe they renamed the channel. That's the only sitcom I can think of that can fit on that channel now.

Yeah, you're right. Those shows most likely will stick around. I really could see Married...With Children on Spike TV. It does seem like the only sitcom that would fit.

It's odd that they are renaming the channel, but like I said in my other post, they needed too, because it would forever be compare to The Nashville Network, and The National Network. The name Spike TV is going to be a little hard to get used too...

[Buddy Hodges]

Other sitcoms that I think would work on the channel are Unhappily Ever After, NewsRadio,Night Court,Beavis and Butthead(even though its a cartoon) and Coach, which would fit better on "spike tv" then nick at nite. Spike TV is sorta a bad name actually, they should have just kept it as TNN. I also dont think they will get a lot of male viewers with the new shows that they announced.

[Pavan]

Originally posted by Buddy Hodges
Other sitcoms that I think would work on the channel are Unhappily Ever After, NewsRadio,Night Court,Beavis and Butthead(even though its a cartoon) and Coach, which would fit better on "spike tv" then nick at nite. Spike TV is sorta a bad name actually, they should have just kept it as TNN. I also dont think they will get a lot of male viewers with the new shows that they announced.

Yes, those shows would except NewsRadio or Night Court, I don't think those are Spike TV material. Coach is Spike TV material though.

[Scoobiedoo30]

Theses are the televison show's that I think would be gret for Spike TV


#1 Benson
#2 Amen
#3 227
#4 Empty Nest
#5 Gimme A Break
#6 Alice
#7 9 To 5
#8 Webster
#9 Trapper John M.D.
#10 Mr. Belvedear
#11 Just The 10 Of Us
#12 Diff'rent Strokes
#13 Hunter
#14 Facts Of Life
#15 AfterM*A*S*H




Aaron

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by Buddy Hodges
Other sitcoms that I think would work on the channel are Unhappily Ever After, NewsRadio,Night Court,Beavis and Butthead(even though its a cartoon) and Coach, which would fit better on "spike tv" then nick at nite. Spike TV is sorta a bad name actually, they should have just kept it as TNN. I also dont think they will get a lot of male viewers with the new shows that they announced.

Man, if they would only add Beavis and Butthead. I swear I would never complain about the station if they aired every single ep of B & B. I love that show. It's a guys show, but a chick can watch and enjoy it too. I love B & B.

[boechsner]

Originally posted by gmfox8@msn.com
Theses are the televison show's that I think would be gret for Spike TV


#1 Benson
#2 Amen
#3 227
#4 Empty Nest
#5 Gimme A Break
#6 Alice
#7 9 To 5
#8 Webster
#9 Trapper John M.D.
#10 Mr. Belvedear
#11 Just The 10 Of Us
#12 Diff'rent Strokes
#13 Hunter
#14 Facts Of Life
#15 AfterM*A*S*H




Aaron

Well from those, the only that possibly have a chance would be Trapper John, M.D. and Hunter. The others don't seem to be male friendly. No offense to anyone, but generally, men are stereotyped as being fans of shows like Married ... with Children and cartoon crap like King of the Hill. 227, Alice and The Facts of Life would seem out of place