TLC LAUNCHES AGGRESSIVE SLATE OF TARGETED PROGRAMMING IN 2008-2009, BUILDING ON KEY VIEWER ENGAGEMENT
LOS ANGELES, Ca., April 08, 2008 � TLC kicks off the 2008 upfront season by unveiling a new brand, an aggressive slate of programming and a scheduling strategy that creates three unique ways for advertisers to be organically integrated into the network and speak directly to their target audience. Boasting the most engaged audience on cable (#1 with A18-49), the brand's "real-life" content delivers an unmatched connection with its viewers and for its advertisers across all platforms.
The new programming will build on the success of shows like WHAT NOT TO WEAR, TRADING SPACES and 10 YEARS YOUNGER, as well as LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WORLD and JON & KATE PLUS 8, both of which achieved record-breaking ratings during their current seasons on TLC, and will share the same emotional connection, a sense of celebrating life's surprises and aspirational yet fun storytelling that reflects the audience.
The new brand creates an environment with a sense of humor and a home for real-life, feel-good reality. TLC will package the brand and the content into nights themed around things that matter most to the audience and the advertisers. Monday is the night for the most successful real family sitcoms, and new shows will be added to expand that theme. Friday is all about makeovers, and Saturday is themed to home and decorating. The other nights will focus on relationships, careers and entertaining, and include new genres like competition and games, with each evening focusing on people and storytelling.
"TLC is more than a network of programming -- it's an accessible, fun destination with relatable people reflecting the most ordinary yet compelling stories that emotionally connect to all of us," explains Angela Shapiro-Mathes, President TLC. "We're creating strong multiplatform franchises with our new series, brand and themed nights that will make TLC the place the audience and the advertisers feel good about coming back to."
The themed nights will build from TLC's successful franchises across multiple genres, including:
FAMILY
LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WORLD (returning): Now in its third high-rated season, LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WORLD features the Roloffs, an extraordinary family composed of both little and average-height people, capturing their everyday successes and struggles and presenting an intimate view of life as a little person.
JON & KATE PLUS 8 (returning): The blockbuster hit, one of the network's most popular programs, follows the Gosselins, who, with 3-year-old sextuplets and 7-year-old twins, are hardly your typical American family. Jon and Kate are the parents of this adorable bunch, and they are battling all odds to make sure their brood has a normal, happy childhood.
MAKEOVER
WHAT NOT TO WEAR (returning): Each week, sultans of style Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, along with their fashion crime-fighting partners, stage style interventions on unsuspecting fashion victims and take them on an emotional journey to fashion enlightenment.
10 YEARS YOUNGER (returning): The popular series transforms people's appearance and attitudes, three each episode featuring three unbelievable, life-changing rejuvenations that use the latest in style and nonsurgical dermatological and dental innovations to take a decade off the person's look in just 10 days.
REAL SIMPLE (new series, August): TLC has partnered with the award-winning brand to launch a TV series, Web site, editorial content and more, providing busy women with a full lifestyle makeover.
SAY YES TO THE DRESS (returning): Sometimes, saying "yes" to the proposal is the easy part. Part bridal story, part fashion transformation and part family therapy, this engaging series goes inside the famed Kleinfeld bridal salon, where brides-to-be are on the search for a gown that matches their style, image and budget.
HOME/DESIGN
TRADING SPACES (returning): Hosted by fan favorite Paige Davis, who returned in 2008, the iconic series returns to its original format � two rooms, two days, $1,000 � and now features traders with stories as transformative as the swap itself.
DATE MY HOUSE (new series): Hosted by Bob Guiney, the series makes over a house on the market and gives potential homeowners a chance to "date" the house to really get to know the property before making a big commitment.
YOUR PLACE OR MINE? (new series): TLC launches its first-ever game show, hosted by Cameron Matheson, which pits two teams against each other for a chance to win full room makeovers, or the ability to steal the other team's new room.
FLIP THAT HOUSE (returning series): Following the hot "house flipping" trend, each episode follows the transformation of a different house, from purchase through renovation and then back on the market. Will the risk pay off with a resell profit?
RELATIONSHIPS
SINGLE MOMS (new series): The show follows three women over the course of 10 episodes as they embark on a nationwide search for love. Unlike any other relationship series, these women will have a chance to select the men they'd like to get to know better before they even meet them in person, and the audience will follow along on their dramatic quest to find someone to share their burdens and joys, a lifelong partner and role model for their children.
CAREERS
THE SINGING OFFICE (new series): Helping workers everywhere find out if they really know the people their office, this exciting new competition series hosted by Melanie Brown and Joey Fatone goes searching for the biggest and best hidden singing talents, forming teams across departments and pitting office against office. The two teams battle it out on the Hollywood stage � but only one team will win it all.
UNUSUAL LIVES
ASHLEY PAIGE (new series): What happens when your biggest dream becomes your worst nightmare? Famed bikini designer Ashley Paige hit it big with her spectacular suits, but running a business was more than she could handle. Follow her and her team as she tries to create a company, wow the design world and keep her life afloat.
LA INK (returning series): Kat Von D, alongside two of the most respected female tattoo artists and one legendary male artist, runs the newest and hottest tattoo shop in LA. Each episode shares their lives and shows the culture and stories behind the latest tattoos of celebrities, athletes, rockers and regular people alike.
AMERICAN CHOPPER (returning series): Profiling the lives of Paul Teutul Sr., Paul Jr. and Mikey of Orange County Choppers, creators of the world's most outrageous custom motorcycles, each episode captures the day-to-day drama of battling impossible deadlines and each other to push the envelope of motorcycle design and fabrication.
NAPOLEON COMPLEX (working title)(new series): Follow 12 students from internationally renowned makeup artist Napoleon Perdis' makeup academy as they go through a 10-week master class boot camp to see who has what it takes to work alongside Napoleon for the next year. We will also go behind the scenes and into Napoleon's world: building his business here in the States; at home with his wife and four children; and out on major jobs for bridal, runway or celebrity events.
EVENTS
MISS AMERICA/MISS AMERICA REALITY CHECK (returning): TLC successfully reinvented the MISS AMERICA brand, introducing a reality show and re-imagining the live finale. The event captured approximately 11 million viewers, a significant improvement over recent performances.
ADDITIONAL NEW SERIES INCLUDE (all working titles)
ROCK THE RECEPTION: A couple gets the chance to choreograph an unforgettable first dance.
WHO ARE YOU WEARING: Would-be designers will compete for the opportunity to design for and dress a celebrity prior to a red carpet event.
THIS IS WHY YOU'RE SINGLE: A surprising intervention for perpetually single people.
MADE OF HONOR: A battle to be the bride's second in command.
I'VE GOT NOTHING TO WEAR: Help women find flattering clothing in their existing closet.
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO: New half-hour series that gives you the "smart money" answers to today's tough renovation/real estate questions.
TAKE HOME NANNY: Helping families get ready for a big event where the child will be center stage.
About TLC
TLC celebrates life's surprises with programming that explores those unmatched, "you had to be there" moments. Connecting a community of real people � whether they are on television or watching it � the network's hit programming, including WHAT NOT TO WEAR, JON & KATE PLUS 8, LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WORLD and TRADING SPACES, reflects authentic experiences and relatable lives. Finding fun and beauty in the unexpected, TLC will always be a trusted destination for viewers who want the "real" in their reality.
TLC is available in more than 93 million homes in the United States, nearly 8 million homes in Canada and through the Web site at TLC.com. TLC is part of Discovery Communications which is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman.
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