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TV Land Builds Ultimate Baby Boomer Entertainment Brand
Network Unveils Upcoming Slate of Original Programming, Newly Acquired
Shows, Enhanced Movie Block, Multiplatform Content and New Pro-Social
Endeavor Designed to Cater to America's 78 Million Baby Boomers
NEW YORK, March 23 -- TV Land, a division of Viacom's
(NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) MTV Networks, today announced an ambitious slate of on-
and off-air efforts designed to further cater to America's 78 million Baby
Boomers. The announcement was made by TV Land President, Larry W. Jones
during his remarks before roughly 900 media industry executives in
attendance at the network's annual advertisers' presentation in New York.
In his remarks, Jones underscored TV Land's commitment to super serve
Boomers with upcoming originals, newly acquired programming, an expanded
roster of popular movies on the network's schedule and Cause Change, TV
Land's new pro-social effort that seeks to harness Boomers' desire to give
back to society through philanthropy, volunteerism and citizenship.
"TV Land wants to be the brand that understands and appreciates the
entertainment and pro-social needs of Baby Boomers," explains Jones. "By
expanding on our reach, where Boomers comprise roughly 75 percent of our
target audience, TV Land is uniquely positioned to deliver entertainment
and effective pro-social messaging that speaks to the life stage and values
Boomers are currently experiencing. The days of targeting younger
audiences, and hoping mature consumers will follow their lead, is now
officially over."
Adds Jeff Lucas, Executive Vice President of National Ad Sales for MTV
Networks Entertainment Group, "Following in the MTV Networks tradition of
super serving each of its individual audiences -- whether it's men, kids or
young adults -- TV Land is locked and loaded to help our marketing partners
reach the largest and most affluent generation in U.S. history."
TV Land's on-air and off-air brand strategy is comprised of the
following:
Original Programming
Several original shows, pilots and specials will grace the TV Land
line-up in the coming weeks and months. Those projects include:
* The Fifth Annual TV Land Awards Show - Hosted by Kelly Ripa, The TV Land
Awards is television's only show where contemporary stars come out to
honor Classic TV icons. Among this year's honorees include: Roots,
which will feature the reunion of several cast members in honor of the
epic's 30th Anniversary; Lucille Ball, whose Legacy of Laughter Award
will be accepted by her children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr.; The
Brady Bunch, which will be feted with the Pop Culture Award in an on-
stage reunion of the cast; and Hee Haw, which will be honored with the
Entertainer Award. Other honorees and presenters will be announced by TV
Land shortly. Airdate: April 22, 2007.
* TV Land Confidential - Each 30-minute episode of this returning TV Land
series is filled with anecdotes, interviews and clips, bringing viewers
the tales behind their favorite TV shows, musical performers and movies.
Premiere date: July 11, 2007.
* High School Reunion - (Previously announced; Series in development) TV
Land reunites more than a dozen alumni from a 1986 high school class.
Where are they now? The jock, the cheerleader, the partier, the bully,
the nerd and several others reunite more than twenty years later in a
two-week Hawaiian get-away to rekindle past relationships, rivalries and
romances. Premiere date: August 8, 2007.
* TV Land Myths & Legends: Elvis Presley - Based on the popularity of
season one of TV Land Myths & Legends, this half-hour special coincides
with TV Land's month-long salute to Elvis Presley (see acquired
programming below). Thirty years after his death, TV Land takes an in-
depth look at some of the most popularly held notions about the "King of
Rock and Roll" and dissects them to separate fact from fiction.
Airdate: August 16, 2007.
* Back to the Grind - This half-hour series takes iconic TV performers --
from Loni Anderson to Harry Anderson and other actors not named
"Anderson" -- and has them perform the real-life version of the jobs
their characters held on Classic TV shows like WKRP in Cincinnati and
Night Court. Airdate: October 10, 2007.
* Entertainment Weekly & TV Land Present: The 50 Greatest TV Icons - TV
Land partners with America's premier entertainment magazine to create a
comprehensive look at the 50 Greatest TV Icons, all culled from over 50
years of television. This 2-hour special will be shown on TV Land on
November 16, 2007.
* Penny and Cindy - (Previously announced; Pilot in Development) This
scripted buddy comedy reunites actresses and real-life friends Penny
Marshall and Cindy Williams, who gained fame and prominence on their
enduring sitcom, Laverne & Shirley. Airdate: TBA.
* 35 and Beyond Super Model Search - (Series in Development) This one-of-
a-kind series takes TV Land audiences to New York's Wilhelmina Models
Inc., where the would-be models are -- gasp! -- 35 and older. TV Land
will feature the aspiring models in this elimination competition to
select one winner for a lucrative modeling contract. Airdate: TBA.
* Celebrity Love Cruise - (Previously announced; Series in Development)
Celebrities take to the high seas looking for love in this reality show.
Airdate: TBA.
* Family Foreman - (Previously announced; Pilot in Development). TV Land
gives viewers an intimate look at George Foreman, the former heavyweight
boxing champ who reinvented himself into a successful businessman and
pitchman. Viewers will get a rare glimpse into his home life as a
minister and father to ten children, five of whom are also named George!
Airdate: TBA.
* The Big 4-0 - (Previously announced; Pilot in Development) TV Land
viewers are invited to see real people in action as they prepare for
another one of life's milestones -- cart-wheeling into a new life-stage
as a person in their 40s. Airdate: TBA.
* The Story Of . . . (Pilot in Development) - This TV show takes a fun,
in-depth look at fads, trends and pop cultural phenomena fueled by the
TV Generation. From Disco to physical fitness crazes to plastic surgery,
each installment will explore one pop culture topic. Airdate: TBA.
Acquired Programming
Furthering its commitment to expanding the network's roster of hit
acquired programming, TV Land will showcase a month-long salute to Elvis
Presley and add the popular series' Scrubs and Just Shoot Me to the TV Land
schedule. Roll-out is as follows:
* Elvis Month - TV Land remembers the "King of Rock and Roll" by
showcasing Elvis concerts, TV appearances, movies and biographies
beginning on Friday, August 3, 2007 and airing throughout the entire
month of August. Among the music-based programming, TV Land will present
Elvis: '68 Comeback Special, Aloha from Hawaii, Elvis: The Great
Performances and Ed Sullivan's Rock and Roll Classics: Elvis Presley.
The network will also feature documentaries including Elvis By the
Presleys, Elvis on Tour and Elvis: His Best Friend Remembers. Several
movies will complement the schedule including Love Me Tender; Easy Come,
Easy Go; Fun in Acapulco and several others.
* Scrubs - TV Land proudly adds the winner of TV Land's 2001 Future
Classic Award to its schedule beginning in October, 2008. The series
follows life at Sacred Heart Hospital and the comic adventures -- and
stream-of-conscious thought bubbles -- of the hospital staff. The
series stars Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley
and Judy Reyes.
* Just Shoot Me - This hilarious office comedy follows life at Blush
Magazine, where a desperate writer -- in need of work -- joins her
father on-staff at this cutting-edge fashion magazine. Coming to TV Land
in first quarter, 2008 the series stars Laura San Giacomo, George Segal,
Wendie Malick and David Spade.
TV Land is Movie Land
Beginning Friday, April 6, 2007, TV Land will cement Friday nights at
10 PM (ET/PT) as the network's signature movie block featuring some of the
most beloved, enduring and iconic movies that Boomers fell in love with at
the multiplex or first experienced through television. Among the films to
be shown on TV Land include: The Blues Brothers Movie; Beetlejuice;
Caddyshack; Fletch; National Lampoon's Vacation; Pleasantville; White Men
Can't Jump; Working Girl; Young Frankenstein and several others. For more
information on the movie block, please visit http://www.tvland.com.
Multi-platform Content
Armed with a new broadband media player -- which debuted in August,
2006 -- and one of the deepest online libraries featuring hundreds of
television clips, celebrity interviews, classic TV commercials and several
other features, TVLand.com will continue to serve as the network's showcase
for multi-platform content. Now averaging over one million video streams
per month and with traffic that has grown 66% since the launch of the
player, online fans can find content that complements TV Land's original
and classic TV programming, access exclusive footage, play interactive
games and share content with other fans. TVLand.com will also feature
interviews with the creators, actors and producers from TV history from the
Academy of Television Arts and Science "Archive of American Television."
TV Land fans can have their say about TV Land programming through cell
phone text messaging on programs such as TV Land and Entertainment Weekly
Present: The 50 Greatest TV Icons, The Annual TV Land Awards and 35 and
Beyond. Additionally, TV Land will showcase original programming with
podcasts available for subscription on TV Land.com and iTunes. Full
episodes will also be available to watch on TVLand.com or purchase via
iTunes.
TV Land is also going mobile with a Wireless Access Protocol (WAP)
version of its popular tvland.com website. The site will feature
ad-supported content centered on its archive of the most beloved classic TV
shows and new original series and specials. TV Land fans will be able to
test their knowledge of classic TV with a celebrity photo trivia game and a
daily "Today in TV Land History" fact as well. Look for this new TV Land
Mobile application to debut 2nd quarter 2007. More features will be added
throughout the year.
Pro-Social
Beginning October 1, 2007 and beyond, TV Land will encourage its multi-
platform audiences to give back to society through Cause Change, TV Land's
newest pro-social initiative. On-going on-air promotion will underscore the
personal and social benefits of giving back to society through
philanthropy, volunteerism and good citizenship. On-air, the effort will
showcase individuals who contribute to the well -being of others and
viewers will be directed to http://www.tvland.com to learn more about how
they can participate and help. On TVLand.com, Cause Change will link to
other sites for more information on how they can be involved.
About TV Land
Now seen in over 88 million U.S. homes, TV Land is a division of MTV
Networks. TV Land's program mix features original programming, popular
dramas, sitcoms, westerns, Retromercials and a TV-referential interstitial
environment, all programmed to super serve Baby Boomers -- the first
generation of Americans to grow up watching television. TV Land Productions
was created in 2003 to develop original programming that complements the
network's successful acquired programming slate. TV Land Productions has
produced The TV Land Awards Show (March 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006) and
Chasing Farrah (Spring 2005). In 2006, TV Land premiered several original
productions including Generation Boom, I Pity The Fool starring Mr. T and
Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg. The network features all-time Classic
hits like All in the Family, M*A*S*H, I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show
and Bonanza.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the
world's leading creators of programming and content across all media
platforms. MTV Networks, with 135 channels worldwide, owns and operates the
following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2,
VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV,
CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL
SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these
networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its
audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than
200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless
and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements,
joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming
services can be seen worldwide.
SOURCE TV Land
http://www.nick-at-nite.com
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