or


[05/01/08 - 04:31 PM]
Ion Television Presents "Positively Entertaining" Program Lineup at 2008 Sales Presentation
"The Dead Zone" and "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" are the latest additions the network's fall lineup.

[via press release from ION]

ION Television Presents "Positively Entertaining" Program Lineup at 2008 Sales Presentation

Positioning for Broad Audiences with General Entertainment Appeal

"Boston Legal," "ER," "The Dead Zone," "Ghost Whisperer" & "Criminal Minds" Coming To ION Primetime

RHI Showcasing 12 Original Movies in New Season

Programming Schedule Expanding to 4 p.m.

"Denny Crane" Makes Surprise Appearance

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- ION Television today solidified its evolution into a popular, general entertainment network aimed at the 25-54 demographic. At its 2008 sales presentation to the advertising community, held at the New York Public Library in New York City, the Upfront highlighted ION Television's exciting, contemporary programming initiatives for the 2008-2009 television season and promised strong partnerships for advertisers in an ever-changing and competitive marketplace.

ION Media Networks, Inc.'s Chairman and CEO Brandon Burgess led the event, along with President of Sales and Marketing Stephen Appel. In addition to detailing upcoming programming plans, the two introduced ION Television's new "positively entertaining" network branding, showcased a powerful new primetime lineup and touted the expansion of the network's programming block to 4 p.m.

The evening's festivities were punctuated with a special guest appearance by "Boston Legal's" very own Denny Crane, TV icon William Shatner, who stars in the hit series premiering on ION Television in September. In addition, Australian singing sensation Delta Goodrem introduced ION Television's new branding with rousing performances of her break-out singles, "In This Life" and "Believe Again." Ms. Goodrem's music will be featured in the launch of the network's new Fall season.

"ION Television's expanded content and positioning can be summarized in two words: 'Positively Entertaining!'," said Mr. Burgess. "The shows we have lined up to deliver on that promise -� 'Boston Legal,' 'ER,' 'The Dead Zone,' 'Ghost Whisperer' and 'Criminal Minds' �- will positively do just that, bringing large and loyal audiences to ION Television in 2008 and 2009."

"Advertisers aiming to build market share and showcase their products need look no further than our new lineup," added Mr. Appel. "ION Television will be recognized for its value, innovation, ratings growth and expansive reach."

This Fall, viewers will see a great new lineup of top shows during the week and on weekends. RHI Entertainment, ION Television's exclusive partner in weekend primetime programming, will deliver 12 original movies, including three Westerns, during the 2008-2009 season. RHI's high-caliber content has brought impressive ratings returns, demonstrating how well the ION platform does with quality programming. The award-winning producer and distributor of groundbreaking miniseries and movies for television will continue to provide original programming, as well as quality library titles.

ION Television's weeknight schedule will feature the most Emmy-nominated program in history, "ER," a long-standing favorite that has earned 22 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, and 117 total Emmy nominations. A winner of the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, the medical drama is currently in its 14th season and remains one of the highest-rated dramas on television. The series features an all-star cast honored with four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Drama Series.

Also joining ION Television's primetime lineup will be the bold, outrageous and positively entertaining "Boston Legal." Starring Emmy Award-winners James Spader, Candice Bergen and William Shatner, and created by David E. Kelley, the series has regularly been a top-20 program on ABC and draws one of the most affluent audiences in television. The legal drama has won five Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award and a Golden Globe.

USA Network's original series, "The Dead Zone," a science fiction/suspense series from Debmar-Mercury, will appear on ION Television's Fall primetime schedule. Based on characters from the best-selling Stephen King novel and movie of the same title, this hit drama stars Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny Smith, a man who awakens from a six-year coma to discover that he has psychic abilities. With the help of his former fianc�e (played by Nicole deBoer) and her husband (played by Chris Bruno), Johnny uses his powers to solve crimes and help people in need.

Through a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, the hit sitcom, "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," will be on the ION Television Fall lineup. In this popular show, comedian Mark Curry plays Mr. Mark Cooper, a single teacher and basketball coach at a high school in Oakland, California. Mr. Cooper's positive outlook and sense of humor enable him to be a hilarious, yet inspiring figure to his students and players and to navigate the romantic complications in his life. The cast also includes Raven-Symon�, Holly Robinson Peete, Nell Carter, Omar Gooding and more.

As previously announced, the beloved comedic drama, "M*A*S*H," will be included in the Fall lineup, along with three series that have recently begun their run on the network, "The Steve Harvey Show," "Family Feud" and "Quantum Leap." In its continuing commitment to present compelling and entertaining programming aimed at the 25-54 demographic, ION Television will add the much-lauded television series, "Criminal Minds" and "Ghost Whisperer," to its programming block in 2009. Both series are showing ratings strength going into their fourth original seasons on CBS.

About ION Media Networks

ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation's largest broadcast television station group and ION Television, which reaches over 94 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems, and features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning libraries of RHI Entertainment, CBS Television, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Television, Twentieth Television and Warner Bros., among others. Using its digital multicasting capability, the Company has launched several digital TV brands, including qubo, a channel for children focusing on literacy and values, and ION Life, a channel dedicated to active living and personal growth. It also has launched Open Mobile Ventures Corporation (OMVION), a business unit focused on the research and development of portable, mobile and out-of-home transmission technology using over-the-air digital television spectrum. For more information, visit www.ionmedia.com.





  [may 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· DEAD ZONE, THE (USA)
· ER (NBC)
· FAMILY FEUD (SYNDICATION)
· GHOST WHISPERER (CBS)
· STEVE HARVEY SHOW, THE (WB)





[10/19/26 - 11:31 AM]
Jon Stewart to Host Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" Through 2028
Stewart will continue to host every Monday and serve as executive producer for the series through December 2028.

[10/19/26 - 11:05 AM]
O-T Fagbenle, Sutton Foster, Lamorne Morris, Zavior Phillips, and Michael Urie Will Guest Star in Season 2 of "Rooster"
Some fresh faces on the Ludlow College campus this semester.

[10/19/26 - 11:01 AM]
Mindy Kaling, Writer & Executive Producer of Netflix's "Running Point," Joins Season 3 Cast
Kaling will play Divya, the outspoken, confident CEO of a popular gambling app.

[10/19/26 - 10:19 AM]
2026 NLCS on FOX & FS1 Pulls in Best Average Viewership for an LCS on Any Network Since 2015
On FS1, Game 4 averaged 6,135,000 viewers.

[10/19/26 - 10:01 AM]
Janelle James Debuts Her First Hour Long Stand-Up Special on Netflix
In her debut hour-long stand-up special, Janelle James covers everything from body counts, bank accounts and why women should wrestle men.

[10/19/26 - 08:03 AM]
Netflix to Become the New Home of "La Velada del Ano" for the Next Three Years
Its fifth edition, held in 2025, reached a peak of 9.3 million concurrent viewers, while average viewership has grown from approximately 1 million in 2021 to more than 6 million in 2026.

[10/19/26 - 07:01 AM]
18 Globo Titles Heading to Netflix in Unprecedented Licensing Agreement
The package includes 14 films, three telenovelas and one series, with licenses covering different territories.

[10/19/26 - 06:01 AM]
Apple TV Announces Season Seven Cast for "Slow Horses" Including Varada Sethu, Ethan Moorhouse, Tuppence Middleton, Merab Ninidze and Joshua McGuire
Season seven is adapted from the "Bad Actors" novel in the CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning Mick Herron "Slough House" book series, and sees Lamb and his Slow Horses on the hunt to find and neutralize a mole at the heart of British Government before they can bring down the state.

[10/19/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Drive - The Pretenders" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Two drivers. One fake engagement. And a chemistry neither of them saw coming.

[10/18/26 - 08:02 PM]
Video: 10 Years of Netflix Korea
Netflix Korea turns 10. And our story continues.

[10/18/26 - 08:01 PM]
Netflix Unveils First Look at "Empress of Flames", A Fresh Take on the Iconic Thai Story of Vengeance for the Throne
The iconic story returns with a fresh perspective that upends the familiar conventions and takes viewers deeper into its origins and schemes behind a ruthless battle for the throne.

[10/18/26 - 05:01 PM]
"The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" Seasons 2 & 3 Production Confirmed - Ju Ji-hoon and the Team Return
Beloved for its exhilarating and cathartic story, Season 1 swept the Top 10 lists in 63 countries in 2025, topping the list in 18 countries worldwide.

[10/18/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "You, Me, Us" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a free-spirited woman and a family-minded man pursue adoption, their opposing backgrounds and world views put their love to the test.

[10/16/26 - 10:31 PM]
Video: "Akka" - Official Teaser - Netflix
In a kingdom ruled by women, matriarch Bhavani faces her biggest threat in Rudra, a ruthless rebel eyeing her land and legacy.

[10/16/26 - 02:30 PM]
Brewers Triumph on FS1 Delivers Most-Watched LCS Game 3 Telecast Since 2016
On FS1, Game 3 averaged 6,460,000 viewers.