NEW YORK, May 06, 2002 – Mag Rack, Rainbow Media’s unique video-on-demand (VOD) service, announced today the debut of two new VOD niche magazines — Yoga Retreat and Fame and Faith. With the addition of the new programs, Mag Rack now offers a total of 24 specialty categories that offer authoritative content in an on-demand format, unlike anything else available to viewers.
” Mag Rack continues to expand its offerings to consumers and demonstrate that the power of VOD comes through not only control of what you watch and when you watch it, but that it offers programming unavailable anywhere else on television,” said Matthew Strauss, executive vice president and general manager of Mag Rack. “Our video magazines and powerful new programming reflect our commitment to providing the consumers with a wide variety of programming that delves deeply into areas of interest.”
Following is information on the new programs and additional program offerings:
- Yoga Retreat: Yoga Retreat will offer viewers a well-rounded monthly selection of diverse yoga work-outs providing regimens for practitioners of all fitness levels. In addition to a central yoga session, each episode will also offer yoga for kids and yoga for seniors, as well as short segments offering tips on breathing, meditation and relaxation techniques. Yoga Retreat is consistent with the image of fitness moving away from “sweat until it hurts” to include “spiritual/emotional well-being.” Yoga Retreat debuts on June 1.
- Fame and Faith: Fame and Faith features in-depth interviews with celebrities and newsmakers to explore how their various faiths — Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, etc. — have contributed to their careers. From actors like Martin Sheen and Faye Dunaway to singers like Jerome Hines and Bobby Vinton to politicians like Geraldine Ferraro and Patrick Buchanan, Fame and Faith provides a fascinating look through one-on-one, in-depth interviews at how faith and spirituality have given their lives meaning, direction and inspiration. Jane Metzler, award-winning journalist of MSNBC/CBS radio’s, “Imus in the Morning” hosts Fame and Faith. Her unique interviewing style prompted Sheen and Dunaway to comment that their conversations with Metzler were “the best, most intimate interviews they have ever done on television.” Fame and Faith debuts on May 1.
In addition, Mag Rack also announced two new in-depth feature programs on previously launched video magazines. American Catholic offers “Church In Crisis: Restoring Trust,” a special one-hour program focusing solely on the priest sex abuse crisis now facing the Catholic Church. SportsCamp debuts “Basketball,” an instruction series targeted to kids, their coaches and parents that is taught by prominent high school coach Bob Hurley, Sr.
- American Catholic’s “Church In Crisis: Restoring Trust”:
“Church In Crisis: Restoring Trust” analyzes the problem that has rocked the Church at its very core. It takes a thoughtful, probing unbiased look at the history of the sex abuse crisis, examines what has and has not been done and what needs to be done by presenting unique perspectives on how the Church can survive this crisis and restore trust in the future. Former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican and former Mayor of Boston, Ray Flynn, discusses the Vatican view of the crisis and a panel of leading Catholic media experts will provide another unique perspective. The program also features parents affected by the sex abuse crisis. “Church in Crisis: Restoring Trust” debuts on May 1. - SportsCamp’s “Basketball”:
“Basketball” will be highlighted on SportsCamp, the VOD magazine sports series targeted to kids, their parents and coaches, beginning in June. “Basketball’s” featured instructor will be Bob Hurley, Sr., the prominent, longstanding high school coach of St. Anthony’s in Jersey City, New Jersey. Hurley will walk viewers through instructional segments on shooting, ball handling, passing, rebounding and defense and then host a Q&A with former Yankee catcher and program host Fran Healy. Hurley has coached for over three decades, winning five state titles, and is the father of Bobby Hurley, Jr., who led Duke to two NCAA championships. “Basketball” debuts on June 1.
“As we expand the content that we offer in each of our video magazines, we think that the one of the benefits we can offer viewers is in-depth exploration of topics that are timely and relevant to the world around them,” added Strauss. “The video magazine segment ‘Church in Crisis: Restoring Trust’ is reflective of precisely that kind of content.”
Just like at a newsstand, customers can choose from Mag Rack’s selection of “video magazines” that offer authoritative content about subjects that are personally relevant. Mag Rack is being marketed to cable operators, supporting the effort to rollout digital set-top boxes and drive VOD adoption by giving customers maximum programming choice and control. Video magazines available at Mag Rack include American Catholic, Art of Basketry, Best of Mag Rack, Better Golf Club, BirdSight, Classic Cars, Club Vegetarian, COOK with the PROS, Destination: Nature, History of Art, Inside Weddings, Maximum Science, Mission: Space, Modern Parent, Motorcycle Freedom, Healthy By Choice, Photography Close Up, Shakespeare, SportsCamp, Take On Life, The Bible and You, and Wine World. By the end of 2002, Mag Rack expects to offer as many as 40 video magazines.
About Rainbow Media
Mag Rack is owned and managed by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. A subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) and NBC, Rainbow manages American Movie Classics, WE: Women’s Entertainment, Bravo, The Independent Film Channel, MuchMusic USA, Rainbow Sports Networks, News 12 Networks, and MetroChannels as well as the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. In addition, Rainbow is a fifty-percent partner in FOX Sports Net. Mag Rack is one of the assets included in Cablevision’s Rainbow Media Group tracking stock (NYSE:RMG). MGM (NYSE:MGM) owns a 20% stake in four of Rainbow’s national networks – AMC, Bravo, IFC, and WE: Women’s Entertainment.