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BRAVO INCREASES PROGRAMMING HOURS BY 45%, UNVEILS NEW SLATE INCLUDING 12 RETURNING FRANCHISES AND FOUR NEW SERIES AND SPECIALS
Network Announces A Fourth Night Of Programming On Mondays
MoviesWithoutPity.com Launches Today
NEW YORK � April 15, 2008 � Over the past year Bravo has shown explosive growth by every measure � on-air, online, in mobile, in revenue, in distribution and in upfront dollars. Building on the momentum of 2007's Emmy Award-winning record breaking year, Bravo kicked off 2008 while continuing its growth with an historic Peabody, multiple award nominations for its diverse and quality programming and a record breaking quarter in 1Q08, according to Nielsen Media Research. Today, the network announced a fourth night of programming on Monday night and unveiled a robust slate of 12 returning series, including the previously announced "Work Out" and four new programs � increasing the network's programming hours by an impressive 45 percent and bringing more Bravo, more often, to more places. The announcements were made by Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo Media and Oxygen Media, and Frances Berwick, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Bravo Media.
With quality unscripted programs, Bravo continues to deliver the most affluent, educated, and engaged audience in all of cable entertainment. On pace to reach 90 million homes this year, the network added an astounding 110 new advertisers in 2007, grew broadcast upfront dollars by 30 percent, and posted double digit revenue growth last year. For the first time ever, Bravo broke the top 10 ranking for women 18-49 in first quarter 2008, landing at number nine.
"Bravo's continued historic growth is not just about any one show, it's a consumer-immersed environment," said Zalaznick. "Bravo Media has evolved into a global multi-media company in which we engage with our viewers at every consumer touch point in an effort to be more Bravo, more often, in more places."
Bravo celebrated first quarter of 2008 with a 38 percent increase year-over-year in adults 18-49 and 30 percent in total viewers, delivering the highest quarter in the network's history. In 2007, Bravo saw 12 different original programs top the one million viewer mark, and, continuing that momentum in 2008, all six of the network's original series airing in first quarter � "The Real Housewives of Orange County," "Top Chef," "Project Runway," and the three freshman series, "Make Me A Supermodel," "The Millionaire Matchmaker" and "The Real Housewives of New York City" � surpassed the one million viewer mark.
"Bravo has seen a huge ratings surge over the past year, and the momentum we build with every returning original series is phenomenal," said Berwick. "Last year we successfully entered the Thursday night arena with a new lineup of originals. And building on that success, we're now officially turning the lights on on Monday nights this summer," said Berwick.
With triple digit growth, Bravo's online offerings � BravoTV.com, BrilliantButCancelled.com, OutzoneTV.com and TelevisionWithoutPity.com � continued to increase as the network's digital properties topped 128.7 million average monthly page views in the first quarter of 2008, marking the digital suites' best performance to date and a 273 percent increase over first quarter 2007 (128.7MM vs. 34.5MM).
Today, Bravo launched MoviesWithoutPity.com, the movie site with attitude for the passionate film fan and the newest addition to Bravo's digital portfolio of assets, which will add movies to Television Without Pity's content mix. In keeping with the site's unique sensibility, it will feature "reviews you haven't seen," where the film reviews will be written by editorial staff who've seen the trailer or poster for a film, but not the movie itself. The site also includes a daily movie commentary with movie news and happenings, a daily "DVDs Unwrapped" blog, in which new and classic releases are reviewed, and weekly recommendations for what to see in theaters.
Recently, Bravo re-launched Television Without Pity, with improved navigation and functionality and new features that include an online video program titled "Week Without Pity," and "TWoP Wiki," a new section where users can help create the ultimate TV encyclopedia � by real fans, for real fans. Additionally, Television Without Pity will be launching a fan fiction area, where fans will be able to write the endings to their favorite shows. Over the past year, Bravo Digital has amassed an impressive number of award nominations including a 2007 Emmy Award nomination, a 2007 min Best of Web Award for BravoTV.com � which is also a current Webby nominee for Best Personal/Culture Blog.
Following are the new, returning and in development programming announcements for Bravo:
RETURNING SERIES:
FLIPPING OUT (Season 2)
Premieres Summer 2008
Everyone's favorite obsessive-compulsive house-flipper, Jeff Lewis, returns to Bravo this summer in the second season of the hit show, "Flipping Out." The series follows Lewis, one of Los Angeles' most colorful creative renovators and real estate speculators and his diverse and often disgruntled team as they flip several multimillion-dollar houses at one time. With the soft market teaching flippers new lessons as home sales decline, there's never a dull moment for Lewis and his intriguing cast of characters. After joining the Bravo line-up in the third quarter of 2006, "Flipping Out" marked double-digit increases for its Tuesday 10 p.m. time period, up 62 percent among adults 18-49 and up 37 percent in total viewers. "Flipping Out" is produced by Authentic Entertainment, with Lauren Lexton and Tom Rogan serving as executive producers.
KATHY GRIFFIN: MY LIFE ON THE D LIST (Season 4)
Premieres Thursday, June 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Bravo will debut the fourth season of its acclaimed Emmy-winning unscripted series "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" on Thursday, June 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and moves to its regular time period on Tuesday, June 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Returning to the series are Griffin's "peeps" � her assistant Jessica, her assistant's assistant Tiffany, her tour manager Tom and her beloved mother, Maggie. Keeping with Bravo's hallmark of increasing viewership with each original franchise cycle, last season's "D-List" earned record viewership for the brand, up 80 percent among adults 18-49 and up 71 percent among total viewers compared to season two. "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" is produced by Picture This Television. Marcia Mul�, Bryan Scott, Lisa M. Tucker and Kathy Griffin serve as executive producers.
MILLION DOLLAR LISTING (Season 2)
"Million Dollar Listing" follows the lives of three of Los Angeles' hottest, young, and aggressive real estate magnates in the making as they make a fortune selling multi-million dollar properties in the most exclusive neighborhoods � Hollywood, Malibu and Beverly Hills. The series follows some of the area's top agents � Josh Flagg, Madison Hildebrand and Chad Roberts � over the course of nine months as their paths cross and they compete and expose the intense work that it takes to move the hottest listings in the City of Angels. Compared to the prior year's Tuesday 9 p.m. time period average, Million Dollar Listing was up 191 percent among adults 18-49 and up 138 percent among total viewers in its first season. "Million Dollar Listing" is produced by World of Wonder for Bravo. Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato serve as executive producers.
THE MILLIONAIRE MATCHMAKER (Season 2)
Bravo's latest docu-drama hit, "The Millionaire Matchmaker," returns for a second season of dating match-ups and mishaps with the straight-shooting, sharp-tongued third-generation matchmaker, Patti Stanger, founder of a Los Angeles-based elite matchmaking service that helps wealthy men find the women of their dreams. With a fierce passion for her work, Stanger remains determined to find love for each and every one of her clients. In its premiere season, the series averaged 986,000 total viewers and had four episodes crack the one million viewer mark. "The Millionaire Matchmaker" is produced by Intuitive Entertainment and Bayonne Entertainment ("Minding the Store"). Kevin Dill, Mechelle Collins and Rob Lee serve as executive producers.
PROJECT RUNWAY (Season 5)
Premieres July 2008
"Project Runway," the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated hit series returns for a fifth season on Bravo. Host supermodel Heidi Klum returns along with Tim Gunn, Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc., who will once again act as a mentor to the contestants as they navigate weekly fashion challenges. The fourth season marked double digits increases in adults 18-49 from the prior season and marked a full season average of 3,883,000 total viewers. "Project Runway" is co-produced by The Weinstein Company and Miramax Films. Magical Elves' Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz and Rich Bye, Heidi Klum, and Full Picture's Desiree Gruber and Jane Cha serve as executive producers.
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY (Season 2)
With only six episodes under its belt, "The Real Housewives of New York City" have garnered water cooler buzz and the viewers to match. With an average of over a million viewers per week this season, the series has increased its delivery week by week in every key measure, as it heads into the season finale tonight. The series features a privileged and powerful set of New York socialites as they juggle their careers and home lives with busy calendars packed with charity fund-raising galas, the social whirl of the Hamptons, and interviews for elite private schools. These driven and ambitious women show everyone what it takes to make it in the upper echelon of society, where money and status are an essential way of life. The Real Housewives of New York City" is produced by Ricochet Television Inc. Jennifer O'Connell and Nick Emerson serve as executive producers.
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY (Season 4)
Bravo returns to the real-life Peyton Place that is the exclusive gated community in Orange County, CA with the renewal of its hit docu-drama "The Real Housewives of Orange County" for a fourth season. The new season will feature the series' original housewives Vicki, Jeana and Lauri, as well as last season's newest addition, Tamra, and a new fantastic housewife sure to make waves. In season three, the highest rated cycle-to-date, the dynamic and botoxed ladies of Orange Country attracted an impressive season average of 1,498,000 total viewers and 1,160,000 adults 18-49. "The Real Housewives of Orange County" is produced by Evolution Film & Tape Inc. with partners Douglas Ross, Gregory Stewart and Kathleen French serving as executive producers. Series creator and Orange County resident Scott Dunlop also serves as executive producer.
SHEAR GENIUS (Season 2)
Premieres Summer 2008
Hosted by Golden Globe-nominated actress, designer and entrepreneur Jaclyn Smith, the second season of Bravo's hit creative competition series "Shear Genius" offers a behind-the-scenes look at the competitive and creative world of high-end hairstyling. Last season, "Shear Genius" averaged 1,091,000 total viewers with the season finale marking a series high of 1,461,000 total viewers and 975,000 adults 18-49. Joining the series as a new judge this season is famed celebrity hairstylist Kim Vo, who handles the tresses of some of Hollywood's biggest names including Kate Hudson, Kirsten Dunst and Teri Hatcher. Allure beauty editor Kelly Atterton returns as a judge and accomplished stylist Rene Fris once again serves as the competitors' mentor. "Shear Genius," produced by Reveille Entertainment, is Bravo's first original series shot in high definition. Mark Koops, Julie Laughlin and Howard T. Owens serve as executive producers.
TIM GUNN'S GUIDE TO STYLE (Season 2)
The second season of Bravo's "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style," hosted by Tim Gunn, will premiere later this year. Each episode will chronicle one person's fashion dilemmas and introduce the answer to all their troubles � Gunn himself, with his inimitable style, propensity for coaching and encyclopedic expertise in fashion. With his tutelage, deserving folks in need of some change will get the makeover of a lifetime from the man Entertainment Weekly called "a major arbiter of style." After joining the Bravo line-up in the fourth quarter of 2007, "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" marked triple digit increases for its Thursday 10 p.m. time period, up 113 percent among adults 18-49 and up 92 percent in total viewers versus fourth quarter of 2006. "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" is produced by Stone & Company Entertainment, with Scott Stone and Sarah-Jane Cohen serving as executive producers.
TOP CHEF (Season 5)
Bravo's Emmy-nominated hit series "Top Chef" returns for a fifth season, offering a fascinating window into the competitive, pressure-filled environment of world-class cookery and the restaurant business at the highest level. The series � hosted by Padma Lakshmi and presided by head judge Chef Tom Colicchio � features sixteen aspiring chefs who compete for their shot at culinary stardom and the chance to earn the prestigious title of "Top Chef." The current cycle, "Top Chef: Chicago," which had the highest season premiere for the series, is pacing to be Bravo's best "Top Chef" season ever, with a season average of 2,632,000 total viewers, double digit increases in adults 18-49 (18%) and total viewers (14%), and online is pacing 60 percent ahead of the third season. "Top Chef" is produced by Magical Elves. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz and Shauna Minoprio serve as executive producers.
TOP DESIGN (Season 2)
Premieres Third Quarter 2008
Bravo's hit creative competition series "Top Design" returns with a new look in high-definition, new producers � the Emmy-nominated Magical Elves � and a new host, celebrated fashion model and design aficionado, India Hicks. Top Design was Bravo's highest series premiere ever, averaging 1,387,000 adults 18-49 and 1,859,000 total viewers and the first season averaged 1,152,000 total viewers. The second season of the interior design competition series, follows professional designers as they live together in a decked-out loft, compete to create the "Top Design," and a chance to win a $100,000 cash prize and a four-page editorial showcase in Elle D�cor magazine. World-renowned designer Todd Oldham returns as the contestants mentor, along with acclaimed designer Jonathan Adler as head judge. Interior designer Kelly Wearstler and Editor In Chief of Elle D�cor Magazine, Margaret Russell, reprise their roles as judges for the series. Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz are executive producers.
NEW SERIES AND SPECIALS � IN PRODUCTION:
BRAVO'S A-LIST AWARDS
Premieres June 12 at 10 PM ET/PT
Bravo is dedicated to celebrating the creative process and showcasing some of the leading creative minds working today, and as the only channel to include virtually every popular field of the arts � beauty, design, fashion, food and pop culture � it's the most logical home for an event that celebrates these disciplines. "My Life on the D-List" star Kathy Griffin hosts Bravo's first ever "A-List Awards" honoring those people that have made an indelible mark in the arts, with a special star-studded red carpet pre-show hosted by Tim Gunn. The "A-List Awards" premiere on Bravo on Thursday, June 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT and the red carpet pre-show airs at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.
THE RACHEL ZOE PROJECT
Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, will star in the docu-drama "The Rachel Zoe Project", along with her trusted inner circle � husband Rodger and fashion team, Taylor and Brad, as they endeavor to take Zoe's business to the next level. In the series, the perfectly styled, go-to force among "it" starlets, fashion houses, beauty firms and magazine editors will give viewers a fly on the wall look at how she juggles constant deadlines, fashion shows and celebrity clients. "The Rachel Zoe Project" is produced by Original Media for Bravo. Charlie Corwin, Jamie Patricof and Rachel Zoe are executive producers.
DATE MY EX
Bravo has picked up eight episodes of "Date My Ex," a new reality dating series starring Jo De La Rosa and Slade Smiley, who appeared in the first two seasons of Bravo's hit docu-series "The Real Housewives of Orange County." The series will follow De La Rosa as she looks for love in Los Angeles, where she has moved to pursue a singing career. But as De La Rosa's suitors will find out, you don't get Jo without her ex-fianc�, Slade. The series is currently in production from Evolution Film & Tape, Inc. with partners Douglas Ross, Gregory Stewart and Kathleen French serving as executive producers.
REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY
The newest edition to Bravo's successful "Real Housewives" franchise brings big homes, big hair, new money and drama. Shot through Bravo's pop culture filter, welcome to New Jersey, home to five of the Garden State's most affluent ladies and the families they run. These best friends do everything over-the-top, from their decorating, to their dating and their fighting. "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" showcases the McMansions and lavish lifestyles of these women and all the drama that money can buy.
IN DEVELOPMENT:
DONATELLA
Donatella Arpaia is one of the most successful restaurateurs in New York, operating a number of renowned establishments in Manhattan, while constantly expanding her business. Crowned "the Hostess with the Mostest" by Zagat, this docu-series follows her as she deals with the constant challenges of staying on top in the cutthroat culinary world, keeps her demanding clientele happy and manages her diverse and eccentric staffers � while she triples her New York-based dining empire in a six month period.
MIAMI SOCIAL
Miami is an international cultural melting pot filled with the young, gorgeous and wealthy looking to live the good life. South Americans, East Coasters, native Floridians� everyone comes to Miami for the sun and fun � it's a city that specializes in people that work hard and play even harder. With "Miami Social," Bravo will follow a successful group of friends who are some of the most connected and interesting young professionals in South Beach, as they go from the city's night life to the board room and magazine offices where they lead their intertwined lives.
TABATHA'S SALON TAKEOVER
Tabatha Coffey, one of the charismatic contestants from the first season of "Shear Genius," will star in the new reality series "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" (wt), as she hits the road to takeover and improve the state of American hair salons, one beauty shop at a time. In the series, the perfectly styled, sharp-tongued Australian native brings her no-nonsense approach to a salon in dire need of a makeover. With just a week to work her magic, can she put these salons back on their feet or is it simply time to put up the closed signs for good? "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" is produced by Reveille for Bravo. Mark Koops and Sarah-Jane Cohen are the executive producers.
Source: Nielsen Media Research, Most Current Data: Live + 7 through 3/23/08, blended with Live + Same Day through 4/9/08. 1Q08 cable ranker includes ad supported cable entertainment networks, excludes pay, sports, news channels and networks that air in less than 50% of the daypart, AA(000). Women 18-49 ad supported cable entertainment rank based off of coverage ratings. Source: Bravo internal weblogs (Omniture). Top Chef Data is Most Current Data: Live + 7 through 3/30/08, blended with Live + Same Day through 4/9/08.
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBC cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com.
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