New York, N.Y., October 2, 2002 – MetroTV announced today that its fall line-up would introduce new programming that focuses on sports, movies, and original reality shows about life in New York. The change is consistent with MetroTV's brand promise, which is to provide programming that uniquely captures and reflects life in the New York metro area.
"MetroTV has and always will be about the experience of living and being in New York," said Greg Moyer, president of Rainbow Media Regional Programming and head of MetroTV. "As our brand matures, we are focusing our programming efforts on capturing an audience that cuts across the interests of men as well as women."
Starting in October, the following new programs will be featured on MetroTV (Time Warner Cable channel 70; Cablevision channel 16).
Friday and Saturday nights are destination central for New York sports fans as MetroTV presents the Metro Sports Weekend. Every weekend, the spotlight falls on exciting match-ups featuring the Rangers, the Islanders, the Devils and the Knicks or on selective nights, viewers will see episodes of "Star Boxing" or the award-winning documentary series, "Metro Sports Legends", which returns October 11th at 8 PM with a 2-hour premiere of "40 Amazin' Years", the history of the NY Mets.
New Programming:
"Naked New York with Bob Berkowitz", a new prime time weekday talk show, explores a wide range of issues including relationships, sexuality, morality and the emotional fabric of New York. It originates from MetroTV's new studios at 11 Penn Plaza in Manhattan and airs weeknights from 10-11 PM starting October 14th. Bob Berkowitz, a former CNN White House Correspondent and host of CNBC's "Real Personal" hosts the show.
"Strictly Personal", an original half-hour show airing weeknights at 11:30 PM, adds a new dimension to internet dating by letting single men and women from the New York metropolitan area introduce themselves, their likes and their dislikes, on television with viewers invited to contact them through NewYorkMetro.com. "Strictly Personal" premieres Monday, October 7th.
Another MetroTV original series premiering later this year is "NYPD: At Close Range", which gives unparalleled access into the heart of the world's busiest and most exciting police force, through the eyes of it's largest and longest serving ethnic group, the Irish Americans. All documentary series will air in primetime Sunday night.
Returning Series:
In addition to the new daily programming, MetroTV will feature a number of reality-based series in the fall of 2002 and spring of 2003, including the second season of "To Live and Date in New York," the original series that followed the lives of single women in New York and the challenges of dating here.
"Subway Q & A", the winner of two 2001 Emmy Awards returns to MetroTV as a half-hour series on weeknights at 11 PM. Hosted by Rick Collier, Subway Q & A asks New Yorkers to speak their minds on topics ranging from serious to silly.
MetroTV's prime time offerings also include vintage movies that highlight the action, energy and style for which New York is famous.
Bid New York also continues on MetroTV's air. Bid New York, a live interactive auction, allows viewers and collectors the opportunity to buy authentic and rare collectibles through the web and television. Bid New York offers the tri-state area a chance to "own a piece of history" by selling unique collectibles including sports memorabilia, animation and comic art, New York street and subway signs, vintage posters, graffiti and vintage fashion accessories.
Full Frontal Fashion Goes National:
MetroTV's successful fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle show Full Frontal Fashion makes its debut nationally on MetroTV's sister network, WE: Women's Entertainment in January.
"Full Frontal Fashion has developed a following within the fashion community in New York and has been able to uniquely balance its editorial coverage to capture the interests of fashionistas," said Moyer. "We think that WE: Women's Entertainment is the perfect platform to extend the reach of fashion programming nationally and to really thrive among the women who are the foundation of the WE brand."
Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc.'s MetroChannels (MetroTV, MetroStories and Metro Traffic & Weather) is the first and only suite of television networks devoted entirely to the experience of living in the New York metropolitan area. MetroTV is the only local channel providing original programming focusing on fashion, culture and lifestyle. MetroStories provides documentary programming devoted to telling the stories of the people and places that make the New York metropolitan area world-famous. Metro Traffic&Weather is the tri-state's first and only 24-hour local traffic, transit, and weather channel.
WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT is a service of AMC NETWORKS. WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT gives women a chance to relax and a way to recharge through entertainment that connects them on an emotional level. WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT features the largest collection of women's interest films, inspiring original series and topical specials. The network currently has 47 million subscribers.
Rainbow Media
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) and NBC. Rainbow owns and manages AMC, WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT, Bravo, IFC (The Independent Film Channel), muchmusic usa, Mag Rack, Rainbow Sports Networks, News 12 Networks, and MetroChannels as well as the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow is a fifty-percent partner in Fox Sports Net and has a strategic partnership with MGM (NYSE:MGM), which owns a 20% stake in four of Rainbow's national networks: AMC, WE: Women's Entertainment, Bravo and IFC.