VIACOM-OWNED UPN STATIONS TO BROADCAST "MAKE IT COUNT," A WEEKLY PROGRAM ON THE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN PRODUCED BY CBS NEWS
Thirty-Minute Program Hosted by Lynda Lopez Will Debut Sunday, Sept. 12,
And Run for Nine Weeks, Through the Nov. 2 National Election
Select UPN Stations Will Also Broadcast CBS News' FACE THE NATION
In Tandem with New Program for Those Nine Weeks
Make it Count to be Offered to UPN Affiliates as Well
CBS News will produce a 30-minute weekly program on the 2004 presidential campaign for the 18 Viacom-owned UPN stations, KCAL 9 Los Angeles, as well as other UPN affiliates, beginning Sunday, Sept. 12. The program, to be titled MAKE IT COUNT, will be hosted by WCBS-TV New York anchor and reporter Lynda Lopez and will run for nine consecutive Sundays, concluding on Nov. 7, the Sunday after the Nov. 2 national election. The announcement was made today by Fred Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer, Viacom Television Stations Group, and Andrew Heyward, President, CBS News.
Additionally, certain UPN Owned stations in Viacom's duopoly markets will broadcast CBS News' FACE THE NATION WITH BOB SCHIEFFER, the Sunday morning public affairs program now celebrating its 50th anniversary, in tandem with MAKE IT COUNT for those nine weeks.
The new program will offer viewers a spirited and fresh mix of reporting on Campaign '04 to help illuminate and explain the latest news and most pressing issues. MAKE IT COUNT will tap the resources of CBS News and Viacom-owned stations around the country with reports from the campaign trail, the candidates' camps and the cities and towns where voters are making up their minds. Reports from CBS News producers/reporters who have been traveling with the candidates for almost a year, exclusive polls designed for UPN viewers from the CBS News Election Survey Unit and interviews with key campaign operatives and observers will also be in the program's mix.
"With the 2004 election shaping up to be extremely close, we are proud to offer this special series of election news reporting to our audience, which is often not served by other news broadcasts," said Fred Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer, Viacom Television Stations Group.
"We're very happy to be collaborating with the Viacom stations to produce a program that will provide viewers with information and perspective on a very important election," said Heyward. "This is another example of CBS News using its considerable resources in new and different ways. And the UPN stations' re-broadcast of FACE THE NATION as a companion program to this one is a significant bonus."
In addition to her work on WCBS, Lynda Lopez has been busy serving as an entertainment reporter for "E! News Live" on the E! Entertainment Television Network. She recently co-hosted a morning drive radio show with Chris Booker on Blink 102.7 in New York City. In April 2002, she was an entertainment reporter for NBC and Telemundo-owned and operated stations and NBC cable networks. Lopez also recently hosted "Glow," a beauty-themed series for the E! Entertainment Network's "Style" network, as well as being heard on WKTU Radio in New York City. She began her broadcasting career in radio at WBAB-FM and WLIR-FM, in addition to working as both assistant program director and music director at Party105 in Garden City, N.Y.. She made her television debut as a correspondent for VH-1, working on such shows as "The Daily One," "Back to Back Videos" and "Women First." From there, Lopez began working as an entertainment anchor for the morning show on WPIX-TV, the WB's New York City station. A native of the Bronx, Lopez graduated from C.W. Post University with a bachelor's degree in Broadcasting and Communications.
Patricia Shevlin, Executive Producer, CBS EVENING NEWS Weekend Editions, will serve as executive producer of the new program. John Frazee, Senior Vice President, News Services, CBS News, is the executive in charge of the project.
The Viacom Television Stations Group consists of 39 stations, including 20 CBS, 18 UPN and one independent station. The Group has duopolies in eight markets.
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