10 New Episodes Set to Premiere in Summer 2011
NEW YORK, NY – January 4, 2011 – WE tv has renewed its original series Downsized for a second season, ordering 10 all-new episodes set to premiere this summer. The show features the nine-member Bruce family of Arizona as they continue on their path to economic recovery after being hit hard by the recession. The series will air on Tuesday nights, continuing to build on WE tv’s strategy of creating a weekly Tuesday night destination dedicated to programming about the wild ride of family relationships, seen from a woman’s perspective.
"Downsized was one of our best performing series of the year, and resonated because so many of our viewers are either facing similar circumstances themselves or know someone who is dealing with the same challenges the Bruce’s are facing," said Kim Martin, president and general manager, WE tv and Wedding Central. "We’re really excited to bring viewers a second season of Downsized, a series that’s in keeping with our programming strategy of presenting stories about real women during life’s defining moments."
Downsized, which delivered an audience younger than the network’s prime time average, ranks as one of WE tv’s best performing original series for 2010. The series nearly doubled the network’s W25-54 delivery by +57% and W18-49 delivery by +56%, versus the prior year’s daypart average*. The series also received critical accolades: The New York Times said "It’s impossible not to root for the Bruce family." The New York Post gave the show three stars and Rachel Ray called it, "The most real reality show out there."
Season one of Downsized, which premiered November 6 – December 18, showcased Laura and Todd Bruce and their seven children making tough financial decisions as a family, after Todd’s once robust contracting business collapsed and their two homes entered foreclosure. Each week, the series documented how the family coped with leaving behind their comfortable lifestyle and learned to live within limited means.
The second season of Downsized will continue to portray the family’s struggle to adjust to a scaled-back lifestyle and overcome their financial woes, amid mounting medical bills and the two oldest children preparing for college.
Downsized is produced by WE tv and Pie Town Productions. Executive producers for WE tv are John Miller and Suzanne Murch.
*Source: The Nielsen Company, Live+SD, 11/6/10-12/18/10, Sat 9p-10p, premiere telecasts only. WE tv YTD prime average (12/28/09-12/18/10). Downsized compared to all new seasons of originals in 2010. Median age based on W2+.
About WE tv
WE tv (www.wetv.com) is the women’s network devoted to the wild ride of relationships during life’s defining moments. The original series, including Downsized, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? and hit wedding shows – Bridezillas and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera, among others- underscore the network’s brand position and tagline, Life As WE Know It, which signifies the connection that women share based on similar life experiences. Whether it’s the thrill of getting married, the drama of family chaos or the excitement of a second chance, the stories on WE tv allow women to see themselves, someone they know or someone they’d love to know. Owned and operated by Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, WE tv is available in over 77 million homes and is available in HD and on demand.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media owns and operates some of the world’s most popular and award-winning entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, Wedding Central and IFC Entertainment (IFC Center, IFC Films, IFC In Theaters, IFC Midnight and IFC Productions). Additional information about Rainbow Media’s multiplatform brands is available at www.rainbow-media.com.