New York, NY – March 9, 2004 – Mag Rack, Rainbow Media Holdings’ video-on-demand
(VOD) service, today announced that it will launch "Pilates", the
first on-demand video magazine of its kind, bringing the hugely popular fitness
routine that combines strength, endurance and flexibility to television viewers
at home. "Pilates" is set to debut on Mag Rack on March 11.
Dedicated exclusively to the fitness practice developed by Hubertus Pilates
in the early 1900s, "Pilates" will offer a new selection of routines
every month. Each monthly program will combine a new selection of mostly floor
mat exercises, allowing viewers to enjoy workouts from home twenty-four hours
a day. Both beginner and advanced Pilates students benefit from hours of programming
hosted by expert Pilates instructors.
From May 6 through June 3 "Pilates" will join forces with Mag Rack’s
"Yoga Retreat" and "Personal Trainer" to launch BIKINI ABS,
the first fitness campaign designed exclusively for on-demand.
BIKINI ABS will focus on strengthening the abdominal region of the body-just
in time for viewers to get in shape for that string bikini or Speedo. The program
will maximize the flexibility benefits of yoga, weight loss and cardio from
one-on-one training, and the core toning and strengthening of Pilates. BIKINI
ABS runs until June 3 and features programming from a broad range of classes,
including "Yoga for Abs," "Bellydance Quickie Abs," "Hula
for Abs," "Firm & Fit" and "Quick Fix: Tight Abs."
"It’s hard to deny America’s obsession with fitness and the success of
Mag Rack’s titles in this category speaks for itself," says Jesse Raiford,
Director of Production Operations, Mag Rack. "Our first BIKINI ABS campaign
gives our viewers a wide variety of exercise options that are frequently updated
to keep their workouts fresh and exciting. Our viewers see the value of our
programming as easy and affordable, and an opportunity to strengthen and exercise
in the privacy of their own home and on their own schedule."
Developed as a form of physical therapy, Pilates training consists of over
500 exercises, all initiated from the muscles in the abdomen, lower back, hips
and buttocks. The growing popularity of Pilates has been attributed to endorsements
by celebrities, athletes and the general public as a successful method for increasing
physical strength and flexibility, as well as improving emotional wellness.
Mag Rack’s on-demand technology offers the ability to pause, rewind, fast forward
and replay fitness lessons, bringing instructional exercise programming to new
heights as viewers master certain workouts at their own pace.
About Mag Rack
Mag Rack is the first service designed exclusively for on-demand television,
launched by Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC in 2001. Mag Rack engages enthusiasts
with a wide selection of "video magazines" about subjects that are
personally relevant such as "Yoga Retreat," "Motorcycle Freedom"
and "Guitar Xpress." The service offers customers special interest
programming not widely found on other channels with advanced DVD-like ability
to fast-forward, rewind or pause the program. Mag Rack’s value to cable operators
reaches beyond excellent programming to also serve as an expert resource for
marketing, branding and affiliate sales. For more information, visit www.magrack.com
.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC:
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings
LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Rainbow Media
owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel)
and WE: Women’s Entertainment; as well as the on-demand services: Mag Rack,
Uncensored On Demand, World Picks On Demand and World Picks Networks. Rainbow
Media’ s other businesses include its regional programming services – MetroChannels,
News 12 Networks and Rainbow Sports Networks – in addition to the Rainbow Advertising
Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow Media is also
a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net.