Syndicated Strip America Now Gets New Distribution

BURBANK: Bellum Entertainment has taken on distribution for the ITV Studios America and Raycom Media daily newsmagazine show America Now.

Bellem Entertainment, led by Mary Carole McDonnell, has hired Boots Walker as the VP of sales. She and Boyd McDonnell, the VP of programming, will lead the team of five sales reps to expand the reach of the show.

Starting this month, America Now has a new prime-time clearance on WADL in Detroit. The series airs weekdays in 45 markets. America Now is hosted by Leeza Gibbons and Bill Rancic.

“We have been so gratified by the positive response to America Now, and we feel extremely fortunate to begin 2012 with such great news to announce,” said Paul McTear, the president and CEO of Raycom Media. “We’re excited about what adding Detroit to our markets signals, and confident that adding Bellum to our team will succeed in bringing the show to even more viewers.”

“We look forward to introducing more markets to America Now, which has become a go-to source for interesting, relevant stories and useful advice,” added Paul Buccieri, the managing director of ITV Studios International and president and CEO of ITV Studios America.

“It is clear that audiences have embraced the refreshing format of America Now and we are thrilled to be able to expand the show’s national outreach,” Walker commented.