OWN RENEWS POPULAR SATURDAY NIGHT DOCU-SERIES "RAISING WHITLEY" FOR SECOND SEASON AND ORDERS NEW EPISODES OF "DEION'S FAMILY PLAYBOOK"
Los Angeles - OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is renewing popular Saturday night docu-series "Raising Whitley," featuring actress and comedienne Kym Whitley, for a second season and is ordering more episodes of "Deion's Family Playbook," following former pro athlete Deion Sanders.
"Raising Whitley," from Pilgrim Studios, hit a season high with its finale episode (March 8) with a .72 rating in the key demo of women 25-54 and 782,000 total viewers. "Deion's Family Playbook," from Edmonds Entertainment, Prime Time Media Ventures and Rogue Atlas Productions, has averaged a .64 rating for women 25-54 and 716,000 total viewers, making it the highest rated first season to- date of a series among all docu-series in network history.
The series have helped propel OWN's Saturday night average for women 25-54 up +75% in first quarter 2014 versus one year ago. In addition, OWN had three of the top five original cable series for African-American women 25-54 ("Raising Whitley," "Deion's Family Playbook" and "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's," which is currently airing in new episodes).
"These two shows have been solid performers for OWN on Saturday nights and we're excited to bring them back with all new episodes," said Erik Logan, president OWN. "Each week we get to see another side of celebrity life as they handle the daily ups and downs of raising their families with laughter and humor along the way, and the audiences keep growing as the stories unfold."
About Raising Whitley
"Raising Whitley" is a humorous and poignant docu-series following actress and comedienne Kym Whitley and her riotous collective of friends - whom she calls "The Village" - as they attempt to do something none of them has ever done before - raise a child together. "Raising Whitley" is produced by Pilgrim Studios and executive produced by Craig Piligian, Melodie Calvert and Kym Whitley.
About Deion's Family Playbook
"Deion's Family Playbook" is the fun-filled and compelling real-life story of Deion Sanders, the only pro athlete to ever play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. Few people know that Deion is a single father raising five kids of his own, while also helping to raise five other children who live with him, including the twins whom his mother cares for, his niece and nephew and a student in need whom he recently took into his home. Additionally, Deion is co-founder and football coach of Prime Prep Academy, a charter school that aims to make a lasting impact on the lives of children in underserved areas. With so much on his plate both at school and at home, Deion strives to keep all facets of his complicated, crazy and chaotic life in balance and under control. Help is on the way every other week when his girlfriend, Tracey Edmonds, a Hollywood producer who has two sons of her own, comes to visit. "Deion's Family Playbook" is produced by Edmonds Entertainment, Prime Time Media Ventures and Rogue Atlas Productions in association with Lionsgate Television. Executive producers are Eli Frankel, Tracey E. Edmonds and Deion Sanders. Co-Executive Producer is Rob Cornick.
About OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey's heart and creative instincts inform the brand - and the magnetism of the channel. Winfrey provides leadership in programming and attracts superstar talent to join her in primetime, building a global community of like-minded viewers and leading that community to connect on social media and beyond. OWN is a singular destination on cable. Depth with edge. Heart. Star power. Connection. And endless possibilities. OWN is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery Communications. The network debuted on January 1, 2011 and is available in 85 million homes. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com.
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