ION Television Announces Expanded Programming Schedule
Network Expands Programming Schedule to 5 p.m. Each Weekday
"The Steve Harvey Show," "Family Feud" and "Quantum Leap" Debut on April 7
"Total Theatre Thursday" to Air Big Movies Thursdays Starting April 10
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- ION Media Networks, Inc. today announced an expanded entertainment schedule on ION Television beginning April 7th. Three new series � "The Steve Harvey Show," "Family Feud" and "Quantum Leap" � along with a selection of blockbuster films will join the lineup, extending the schedule by an additional hour of entertainment programming from 5 to 6 p.m.
"These programming additions create a fun and diverse summer schedule, on a path to positioning the network for broad audiences this fall," said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, ION Media Networks. "We're committed to upgrading and expanding our lineup as part of our promise to clients and distributors to create a network with a leading audience value proposition."
New to ION Television's schedule will be the hit sitcom, "The Steve Harvey Show," from Sony Pictures Television. In this multiple NAACP Image Award-winning series, comedian and nationally-syndicated radio talk show host Steve Harvey stars as Steve Hightower, a music teacher at a large, diverse Chicago high school. With his sidekick, Cedric (Cedric the Entertainer), Steve deals with hilarious complications involving his students and his boss, Regina (Wendy Raquel Robinson).
For fast, fun game show action, ION Television will debut the 2006-2007 season of "Family Feud," hosted by one of People Magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive," John O'Hurley, best known for originating the role of J. Peterman on "Seinfeld" and for his first season stint on "Dancing with the Stars." "Family Feud" pits two families against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to survey questions posed to 100 people. The show was acquired from Fremantle Media North America.
ION Television's lineup will add science fiction, drama and action with "Quantum Leap," a five-time Emmy Award and two-time Golden Globe Award-winning program that appeals to a wide range of viewers. The humorous, yet often poignant plot involves scientist Sam Beckett, played by Scott Bakula, leaping from one point in time to another, righting wrongs and fixing people's problems. ION Television has obtained all 96 episodes of the hit show from NBC Universal.
On Thursday nights, powered by deals with studios such as Warner Bros, ION Television will launch "Total Theatre Thursday" over the summer, an array of hit motion pictures like "Blade Runner," "Dirty Harry," "Risky Business" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." These blockbuster Hollywood movies feature some of the biggest stars of the industry, including Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford and Jack Nicholson.
With the addition of these three new series and big screen favorites, beginning April 7th, ION Television's lineup will be: "The Wayans Brothers" from 5 to 6 p.m. Mon-Thurs, "The Steve Harvey Show" from 6 to 7 p.m. Mon-Thurs, "Family Feud" from 7 to 8 p.m. Mon-Thurs, "Mama's Family" from 8 to 9 p.m. Mon-Wed, "Quantum Leap" from 9 to 10 p.m. Mon-Wed, "The Drew Carey Show" from 10 to 11 p.m. Mon-Wed and "Total Theatre Thursday" from 8 to 11 p.m. Thursdays. "Baywatch" will now be seen at 6 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
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.tv.
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