CNBC GREENLIGHTS "CLEVELAND HUSTLES" WITH NBA SUPERSTAR LEBRON JAMES AND "THE PARTNER" WITH MARCUS LEMONIS

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. & PASADENA, CA - January 14, 2016 - After eight consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth among P25-54 in primetime-the only cable network to deliver such significant gains- CNBC today announced the network is teaming up with NBA superstar LeBron James' and Maverick Carter's production company, SpringHill Entertainment, and Magical Elves for a new unscripted series set in Cleveland, Ohio. The series, set to debut in Summer 2016, will give local entrepreneurs the chance to realize their own dreams while also helping to revitalize struggling neighborhoods in their city.

In addition, CNBC unveiled plans for "The Partner," a new series featuring renowned businessman and investor Marcus Lemonis. In "The Partner," also debuting Summer 2016, Lemonis, host of CNBC's popular original series "The Profit," searches for the perfect person to help him run the businesses he's saved from the brink of disaster. And he's not just offering a job, he's offering a potential equity stake in his growing empire. Having invested more than $35 million of his own money in companies featured on "The Profit," Lemonis is now ready to invest in "The Partner."

"'Cleveland Hustles,' speaks to the network's entrepreneurial spirt and also creates an opportunity to help strengthen communities that have fallen on hard times," said Jim Ackerman, EVP, Primetime Alternative, CNBC. "Meanwhile, we've produced over forty episodes of 'The Profit,' and Marcus decided it was time to share his workload. 'The Partner' is a chance to grow our relationship with an important member of the CNBC family while also providing the opportunity of a lifetime for one of his fans."

New series:

"Cleveland Hustles"

"Cleveland Hustles" is produced by SpringHill Entertainment and Magical Elves with LeBron James and Maverick Carter as executive producers for SpringHill Entertainment and Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz as executive producers for Magical Elves.

In "Cleveland Hustles," NBA superstar LeBron James and his longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter will give four aspiring local entrepreneurs the chance to realize their own dreams while also helping to revitalize a neighborhood in Cleveland. LeBron and Maverick will enlist the aid of four trusted business experts and associates, who will in turn invest in and mentor fledgling entrepreneurs who need a little jumpstart. In success, these four businesses will provide jobs and services for neighborhoods that desperately need investment.

"The Partner"

"The Partner" is produced by Marcus Lemonis Productions LLC and Machete Productions with Amber Mazzola and Marcus Lemonis as executive producers.

Marcus Lemonis, serial entrepreneur and host of CNBC's "The Profit," puts his own money on the line to save struggling businesses. Over the course of three seasons, he's has invested more than $35 million dollars in companies featured on the series. And now, he's looking for the perfect partner to help him run it all. Candidates from diverse business backgrounds will compete for the opportunity of a lifetime; a position working alongside Lemonis and an equity stake in a multi-million dollar company.

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About CNBC:

With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, CNBC World and CNBC HD , CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to approximately 386 million homes worldwide, including more than 97 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries.

CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms. These include CNBC.com, the online destination for global business; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides real-time global market data and live access to CNBC global programming; and a suite of CNBC Mobile products including the CNBC Real-Time iPhone and iPad Apps.

CNBC is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. For more corporate information, visit www.nbcuniversal.com.

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. CNBC: 8 consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth in P25-54 average audience, M-Su 8-11P, 1Q14-4Q15. CNBC is the only cable network with 8 consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth in prime.