New York, NY, June 7, 2006 – Coming off of a record breaking month, WE continues its programming momentum with the premiere of six new original programs during the month of June including: Supersize Surgery, I Do…Let's Eat, Bridezillas, USA Today/WE Weight Loss Challenge, Dad's Dream Day, and Celebrity RSVP. The expanding programming slate further cements WE's mission to provide its viewers with original content that is fun, relevant and engaging.
Original programming has garnered record ratings success for WE. May 2006 ranked as the best May in the history of the network for HH ratings and HH delivery. To date in 05/06, WE has +275% more original telecasts during Prime M-Su 8p-11p than in the same time period during the 04/05 season. In addition, the 05/06 season is pacing to be the best in WE's history for Prime M-Su 8p-11p delivery of HH, W18-34, W18-49, W25-49 and W25-54.
"We are excited to start off the summer with a line-up of strong original programming on WE," stated Kim Martin, WE's Executive Vice President and General Manager. "With four new series, including the return of our hit series Bridezillas, and two new specials, these programs encompass all of the areas our viewers have indicated they are interested in – relationships, pop culture, and personal style. Coming off of our strongest May ever for the network, we look forward to continuing the successful momentum."
Following are further descriptions on each of the series and specials premiering in June on WE:
SUPERSIZE SURGERY
Premiere: Tuesday, June 6 at 10 pm ET
For 9 months WE follows the amazing physical transformations of a group of radically overweight men and women for whom surgery is the last option. Post-surgery our food addicts are forced to endure a no-solids diet for 3 months to get the results they so badly want. Seven episodes of the half-hour series have been acquired from iD Distribution.
I DO…LETS EAT
Premiere: Wednesday, June 7 at 8 pm ET
This half-hour series offers a thorough presentation of a variety of wedding cuisine of diverse cultures. Each episode features one couple's wedding, with an inside look at the banquet, the chef, and the demands and pressures which they all face leading up to and including the main event. WE acquired the 26-episode series from Australia-based Beyond Entertainment.
BRIDEZILLAS
Premiere: Sunday, June 11 at 10 pm ET
Bridezillas takes a comedic look at how brides-to-be go from sweet to certifiable while planning their big day. The rising popularity of the series has managed to bring the term "bridezillas" into mainstream pop culture as an expression for those women who have gone from engaged to enraged. In season three, grooms-to-be become targets for the stress induced fury of these brides. The 18 episodes of Bridezillas season three are produced by September Films and run one hour each.
USA TODAY/WE WEIGHT-LOSS CHALLENGE
Premiere: Monday, June 12 at 10 pm ET
Six highly motivated individuals will be profiled on WE, in USA TODAY and on USATODAY.com, as they make the necessary sacrifices to achieve significant weight-loss. The first article introducing the six participants will coincide with the network premiere, and subsequent articles will focus on the individual participant to be profiled in the show that week. Eight weekly episodes — including a one-hour premiere introducing the six participants and their respective weight-loss plans, six half-hour episodes profiling each of the six participants, and a one-hour wrap up finale announcing the weight-loss results – were produced by USA TODAY.
DAD'S DREAM DAY
Premiere: Saturday, June 17 at 8 pm ET
In the one-hour special, the cameras follow an extraordinary Dad who has devoted his life to helping others as he is surprised and rewarded with a day filled with pampering, a home makeover, reunions with friends and a celebratory event held in his honor. Dad's Dream Day is produced by Nancy Glass Productions.
CELEBRITY RSVP
Premiere: Monday, June 19 at 10:30 pm ET
This half-hour special, hosted by David Evangelista and former supermodel Monika Schnarre, follows a world-renowned event planner and their team as they produce the opening party for the international art show "Art Basel" in Miami Beach. Celebrity RSVP is produced by A Great Event Entertainment, Inc.
**Source: Nielsen Media Research, Prime M-Su 8p-11p daypart average for May 2006 (05/1/06-05/28/06) vs May 2005 (04/25/05-05/29/05), May 2004 (04/26/04-05/30/04), May 2003 (04/28/03-05/25/03) and May 2002 (04/29/02-05/26/02); 04/05 STD 09/27/04-05/29/05 vs 05/06 STD 09/26/05-05/28/06 Live HH, Women 18-34, Women 18-49, Women 25-49, and Women 25-54 Audience during Prime M-Su 8p-11p. WE Originals based on Prime M-Su 8p-11p telecasts 04/05 STD 09/27/04-05/29/05 vs 05/06 STD 09/26/05-05/28/06.
About WE
WE is the only cable network dedicated to helping women connect to one another and the world around them. With quality original programming including the hit series "Bridezillas," unique movie packages like "Three Men and A Chick Flick," topical specials and its public affairs initiative WE Empowers Women, the network supports women and appeals to their interests in pop culture, relationships and personal style. WE is a subsidiary of Rainbow Entertainment Services and is currently seen in over 59 million homes.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands including popular national and regional television channels AMC, fuse, The Independent Film Channel (IFC), WE, and three FSN affiliated regional sports networks managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. The company also manages Mag Rack and sportskool, two original on-demand networks; VOOM HD Networks, the largest and most diverse suite of high definition channels available anywhere; IFC Entertainment, its film distribution, production and exhibition division; Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division; and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.