New Orleans, LA – May 18, 2008 – In the midst of what has been a banner year, Rainbow Media announces a series of new programming and multi-platform initiatives at the 2008 Cable Show focused on further solidifying its position as one of cable television's true innovators.
Rainbow's unprecedented year of growth is wide-ranging and all-encompassing, extending across all of its entertainment brands and across all platforms. Its momentum has been propelled by record ratings growth at both AMC and WE tv, substantial increases in VOD and online usage, especially at IFC network, and record-breaking performance of the Company's IFC In Theaters theatrical and VOD film distribution platform. In addition, Rainbow's recent acquisition of Sundance Channel adds another highly-respected brand to its current line-up of distinctive national networks.
At the 2008 Cable Show, Rainbow Media will showcase its continued emphasis on transforming its national networks-which now includes Sundance Channel-into high-definition, multi-platform entertainment brands which feature compelling original content. A pioneer in the VOD space, Rainbow also continues to expand its on-demand platforms and distribution, creating more value for its distribution partners as well as its viewers.
The following compilation of news items includes programming announcements, corporate marketing initiatives, panel appearances and booth activities.
RAINBOW MEDIA CABLE SHOW NEWS: DAY ONE
WE tv's BRIDEZILLAS TAKE THE CAKE
To kick-off WE tv's upcoming fifth season of Bridezillas, the break-out original series that has continuously generated some of the most-watched telecasts on the network, ten brides-to-be clad in full wedding dress garb will claw their way up a 15-foot slice of wedding cake in NYC's Times Square. The first bride to summit the cake and grab the bouquet will take home $25,000 to put towards her impending nuptials. WE tv street teams will also hand out tune-in cards and ring pops to the crowd. The stunt will take place Tuesday, June 3, and video of the event will be available for all to see at www.WEtv.com.
The fifth season of Bridezillas will take on the fiercest competition yet-the family of the bride. Bridezillas returns with more temper tantrums and hair-raising hissy fits than ever before, and the families aren't taking it anymore. When viewers tune-in to the Sunday, June 1 premiere at 9P/8C, they'll see the families fight back! Each episode will be available on demand the day following its linear channel premiere beginning June 2.
WE tv will continue to promote the series throughout June in Chicago, where Bridezillas will invade trolley cars on Michigan Avenue, along with their families, on Thursday, June 19. Lucky onlookers who get caught in the ruckus will win prizes off the Bridezillas' registries.
[See information below about WE tv's Sunday, May 18 Cable Show booth event celebrating the fifth season of Bridezillas.]
IFC NABS ANOTHER CELEB FOR Z ROCK
IFC has tapped another celebrity for a guest appearance in its newest comedy Z ROCK. Heavy metal singer and Skid Row ex-frontman Sebastian Bach will appear as himself in one or more episodes of the upcoming original series.
Z ROCK will debut on-demand and in HD on IFC Free on Thursday, August 28, before premiering on-air on Sunday, September 7 at 11:30 PM ET/PT. IFC Free is IFC's high-definition VOD channel on which new episodes of original series are available on-demand, before they premiere on the linear network.
Mr. Bach will join Z ROCK's already-announced roster of guest appearances, an eclectic line-up that includes comedy icon Joan Rivers, Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction), John Popper (Blues Traveler), comedian Gilbert Gottfried, and members of IFC's The Whitest Kids U'Know cast Darren Trumeter, Sam Brown and Timmy Williams, as well as a recurring cameo by comedian Greg Giraldo.
Z ROCK is a scripted comedy loosely based on the real lives of three band members – and starring the band itself – who perform as both Z02, a hard-rocking trio striving to make it as a serious rock n' roll band, and The Z Brothers, a musical act catering to upscale children's birthday parties.
Starring Paulie Z, David Z and Joey Cassata, Z ROCK is a co-production of Starz Media, MarkMark Productions and IFC. The series will also feature three comedians playing recurring roles, including Lynne Koplitz as the band's manager, Jay Oakerson as the quirky manager of Southpaw the venue the band regularly plays at, and Allison Becker, Joey's longtime girlfriend. The series is executive produced by Mark Farrell and Mark Efman of MarkMark Productions; Andrew Gottlieb; and IFC's Debbie DeMontreux, Evan Shapiro, and Rachel Smith. Bob Held and Lynn Lendway are co-executive producers.
IFC FILMS OPENS TO "CAPACITY" ON JULY 4th, IN THEATERS AND ON-DEMAND
On July 4th, IFC Films will release Diminished Capacity, a star-studded comedy featuring Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda and Virginia Madsen. IFC Films will release the title nationally via its IFC in Theaters "day and date" distribution platform, on which the film will launch simultaneously in theaters and on VOD, reaching 50 million cable subscribers from Cablevision, Comcast, Charter Communications, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications.
IFC Films announced in February that it acquired all North American rights to Diminished Capacity, which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
IFC in Theaters is an innovative distribution platform which makes independent films available to a national audience in theaters and on-demand, on the same day. Releasing two titles a month, IFC in Theaters creates a national art house for independent film, many of which would otherwise go without national distribution. The successful program has featured many critical and festival favorites, including the two most recent Cannes Palme d'Or winners, from 2006 and 2007, as well as numerous Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated films.
Directed by Terry Kinney and based on a novel by Sherwood Kiraly, Diminished Capacity follows Cooper (Broderick), a Chicago newspaper editor who suffers a concussion followed by short-term memory loss. He travels home to Missouri to visit his aging Uncle Rollie (Alda), who is exhibiting signs of senility. When Uncle Rollie shows Cooper a near-mint-condition Frank "Wildfire" Schulte baseball card, the two men-along with Cooper's high school sweetheart, Charlotte (Madsen)-drive back to Chicago hoping to sell the antique card at a memorabilia convention. Kinney's film is a bittersweet comedy about people coming together and memory falling apart, exploring the value of memories and who we are without them. The film is produced by Celine Rattray, Galt Niederhoffer, and Daniela Tapling Lundberg from Plum Pictures along with Tim Evans.
CABLE SHOW BOOTH EVENTS: RAINBOW BOOTH #1329
HAVE YOUR WE tv CAKE AND EAT IT TOO
Cablers strolling the show floor on opening day from 4:00 – 5:30pm can get a taste of WE tv's upcoming premiere of the fifth season of its breakout original series Bridezillas by visiting the WE tv booth for their very own WE tv mini wedding cake and glass of champagne, which they can enjoy while watching high-definition sneak peeks of the new Bridezillas season 5-The Family Fights Back-premiering Sunday, June 1 at 9P/8C and on demand beginning June 2.
WIN A DELL HD LAPTOP
Two lucky Cable Show attendees will be able to experience the brilliance of AMC, IFC, WE tv and VOOM HD's original programming in high-definition on a new HD laptop, courtesy of Rainbow Media. Rainbow will raffle off two Dell Precision M6300 HD laptops at this year's Cable Show. Visitors to Rainbow's booth #1329 must drop off their business cards at the booth kiosk. Raffle drawings will be held on Monday, 5/19 at 3:45pm and Tuesday, 5/20 at 2:30pm; selected attendees must be present at the drawings to win.
RAINBOW MEDIA NATIONAL SHOW EXECUTIVE PANEL PRESENCE:
WHO: Josh Sapan – President and CEO, Rainbow Media
WHAT: Television Week "60 Years of Cable: Where do we go from here?" One-On-One Keynote Interview with Chuck Ross, VP/Publisher & Editorial Director
WHEN: Sunday, May 18th 12:00pm – 1:15pm
This special luncheon keynote interview will celebrate cable's innovative past, plus-even more importantly-address where cable needs to go to continue to be innovative and thrive in what's become a hyper-competitive marketplace. Josh Sapan, president and CEO of Rainbow Media, will sit down with Chuck Ross, Publisher & Editorial Director of Television Week for a one-on-one discussion.
WHO: Todd Green – Senior Vice President, Affiliate Marketing, Rainbow Media
WHAT: Television Week "60 Years of Cable: Where do we go from here?" luncheon panel
WHEN: Sunday, May 18th 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Immediately following the one-on-one interview with Mr. Sapan and Mr. Ross, Mr. Green will participate in a panel discussion with industry leaders about the cable industry's 60-year history of unprecedented growth in both subscribers and the number of networks it has launched. Today, with HDTV programming, the launch of new networks, local telephone service, high speed internet access and DVR capability right from the set top box, cable television has truly become the centerpiece of America's home entertainment. During this special luncheon the panel will discuss where cable needs to go to continue to be innovative and thrive in what's become a very competitive marketplace.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through its IFC Entertainment division, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a theatrical feature film distribution company; IFC First Take/IFC in Theaters, a day and date theatrical feature film/VOD initiative; the IFC Center in New York City; IFC Productions, a feature film production company; and IFC Entertainment, which owns and operates a film library. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company, and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.