ION Hails Success of Change in Programming Strategy

WEST PALM BEACH, December 21: ION Media Networks’ flagship i
Network, formerly PAX TV, has reported a 21 percent ratings gain in total
households as compared with the first half of this year, following a shift in
its programming strategy towards feature films and classic TV shows from the
Hollywood studios.

“Our improving ratings performance validates the recent
efforts we have made to broaden the programming appeal of our TV network, for
which we have received positive viewer and advertiser feedback,” said Brandon
Burgess, the president and CEO of ION Media Networks. “We are focused on
delivering continued gains in the coming broadcast seasons, as we bring
additional partners and content into our strategy.”

Highlights for the period include the sitcom Mama’s
Family, which joined the schedule in
mid-August and posted a 32 percent increase in households for the 8 to 9 p.m.
time period. In addition, with classic TV marathons and theatricals, the
network’s weekend prime-time average is up 49 percent.

“Our programming approach has focused on increasing our core
audience, while still appealing to our current base of loyal viewers,” said
Stacey Nagel Galper, ION’s SVP of programming and strategic planning. “We’ve
seen immediate gains with the pick-up of perennial favorites such as Mama’s
Family and look forward to building on this
success with the debut of RHI Entertainment’s award-winning content on our
network in July 2007.”

The qubo kids’ block,
which launched September 15 and airs Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., has also
performed well. On December 8, it delivered increases in Kids 2-11 of 157
percent versus the premiere week and 43 percent versus the previous week. Kids
6-11 increased 107 percent over premiere week and 71 percent from the previous
week. In addition, qubo has
outperformed the Saturday morning kids’ programming it replaced on NBC,
increasing by 57 percent in Kids 2-11 for the November sweep compared with
NBC’s November 2005 average.