MyNetworkTV AND SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP ENTER INTO AFFILIATE AGREEMENT
17 Affiliates Signed for Network�s September Launch
MyNetworkTV Markets Include Tampa, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Nashville, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Greenville, San Antonio, Birmingham, Norfolk, Buffalo, Greensboro, Las Vegas, Mobile, Charleston, Paducah and Syracuse
NEW YORK/BALTIMORE, March 2, 2006 - FOX�s new primetime television network MyNetworkTV has quickly secured affiliate agreements with major station group owner Sinclair Broadcast Group to launch the network on September 5, 2006. The announcement was jointly made today by Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations, and David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI).
A total of 17 stations covering 11.9% of the U.S. owned or operated by Sinclair will officially become MyNetworkTV affiliates. These include WTTA/Tampa, WCWB/Pittsburgh, WRDC/Raleigh, WUXP/Nashville, WCGV/Milwaukee, WSTR/Cincinnati, WBSC/Greenville, KRRT/San Antonio, WABM/Birmingham, WTVZ/ Norfolk, WNYO/Buffalo, WUPN/Greensboro, KVWB/Las Vegas, WFGX/Mobile, WMMP/Charleston, SC, WDKA/Paducah and WNYS/Syracuse.
These Sinclair stations join Fox Television Stations� WWOR/New York, KCOP/Los Angeles, WPWR/ Chicago, KDFI/Dallas, WDCA/Washington, D.C., KTXH/Houston, WFTC/Minneapolis, KUTP/Phoenix, WRBW/ Orlando and WUTB/Baltimore.
�Sinclair is operated by some of the smartest people in the business. Their decision to become MyNetworkTV affiliates further endorses our approach to provide local broadcasters with network programming and a business model required to succeed in today�s converging digital marketplace,� said Abernethy.
Smith stated, �We are excited once again to be part of the birth of a new network. Given the great success of FOX over the years and their demonstrated history of thinking outside the box, we believe that over time this new network model will become a standard in the industry. The advantages MyNetworkTV provides to our stations are compelling, with both a creative programming model for our viewers and a favorable inventory split. We are especially excited about the Internet opportunities that will exist at the local level within this new paradigm.�
MyNetworkTV, scheduled to launch on Tuesday, September 5th, 2006, will program 12 hours of original programming from 8:00 to 10:00pm (EST/PST) Monday through Saturday. Station-friendly by design, MyNetworkTV will enable broadcasters with significant operational flexibility and a seamless flow of original primetime programming. The network�s pro-station strategy also intends to strengthen consumer recognition and increase viewership with powerful marketing initiatives conceived to unify the network�s brand on both the national and local levels.
The new scripted primetime drama strips �Desire� and �Secrets� will inaugurate MyNetworkTV. The hour-long programs produced by Twentieth Television will feature a 65-episode story arc stripped Monday through Friday over the span of 13 weeks. Each Saturday, a re-cap episode highlighting the two programs� previous week�s storylines will air. �Desire,� scheduled to air at 8:00pm (EST/PST), follows two close brothers on the run from the mafia who both fall in love with, and then passionately battle for, the same woman. Immediately following �Desire� will be �Secrets,� airing at 9:00pm (EST/PST). The drama takes an in-depth look at the dreams, successes and tragedies found everyday in the fashion industry.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies, currently owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 58 television stations in 36 markets. Sinclair�s television group reaches approximately 22% of U.S. television households and is affiliated with all the major networks. Sinclair owns a majority equity interest in G1440, Inc., an Internet consulting and development company, and Acrodyne Communications, Inc., a manufacturer of transmitters and other television broadcast equipment.
The Fox Television Stations group, one of the nation�s largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprises 35 stations in 26 markets, covering nearly 45% of U.S. television homes. This includes five duopolies in the top 10 markets, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Washington D.C., as well as duopolies in Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.
A leader in the U.S. program production and distribution arena, Twentieth Television is a unit of Fox Television and headed by Fox Television Stations� chairman Roger Ailes while CEO Jack Abernethy oversees day-to-day operations. Twentieth Television provides a wide array of first-run and off-network programming, as well as feature film packages, to the syndication and cable marketplaces. First-run programs distributed by Twentieth Television include �Geraldo at Large,� the news strip hosted by Geraldo Rivera, and the popular court shows �Divorce Court� and �Judge Alex,� the number one new first-run program of the 2005-06 season. In addition to �Desire� and �Secrets,� the company is set to launch the new court show �Cristina�s Court,� hosted by Cristina Perez, in Fall 2006. Twentieth Television also oversees the domestic sales of one of the most extensive libraries of off-net programming in the entertainment industry. Last fall, the company launched the groundbreaking drama �24,� starring Kiefer Sutherland, and The Peabody Award-winning sitcom �The Bernie Mac Show� in off-net syndication.
Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation, is principally engaged in the development, production and worldwide distribution of feature films and television programs, television broadcasting and cable network programming. The unit�s studios, production facilities and film and television library provide high-quality creative content, and broadcasting and cable networks provide extensive distribution platforms for the Company�s programs.
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