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ION Media Networks Revamps Television Network On-Air Brand to 'ION Television'

Posted on: Wednesday, 24 January 2007, 09:00 CST

ION Media Networks, Inc. (AMEX:ION) today announced that its flagship television network, reaching over 90 million U.S. homes, will be rebranded to "ION Television", consistent with the company's corporate brand identity. This move reflects the energy and vision behind the network's plans to expand its programming and viewership. The new brand will be introduced to viewers on air beginning Monday, January 29, 2007.

"We are energized about our network's progress including our vastly improved content as well as the digital and datacasting opportunities we are pursuing. Taken together, this multi-channel approach is helping to drive our brand transition toward ION," said Brandon Burgess, President and CEO of ION Media Networks. "Backed by popular, classic television series, movies and our new relationship with RHI Entertainment, we want to underscore the growth prospects of our flagship ION Television Network with a positive and fresh on-air identity."

The move from "i" to ION Television was driven by the network's decision to expand from independent programming to content for broader audiences across various age groups. In connection with the new on-air brand, the network will also move to "ION" as a consistent identification across all TV listings, including cable and satellite programming guides.

"We adopted our corporate 'ION' brand last February, based on the ubiquity of 'ION' within so many words in our business and plans -- including most notably televisION itself, as well as key TV success factors like 'motion', 'fiction', 'imagination', 'education', 'action', 'innovation', etc.," added Russell Frederickson, Head of ION Creative Services. "We like the depth of branding possibilities so much, that we decided to use ION as consumer-facing brand in our business portfolio going forward."

The network's new contemporary look and logo will be prominently featured on-air through a consumer-oriented promotional campaign over the next few months. Tagged "ION Television: Television in Motion," the on-air campaign will kick off with a series of promotions and image spots, as well a new on-screen network bug logo. The viewer campaign will launch on Monday, January 29th with "What's Your ION?," a web-based promotion that invites viewers to submit creative photos of themselves donning the new ION logo to be featured on the network's website, www.ionline.tv, and also on-air.

ION has seen significant gains in its primetime ratings this season, due in large part to its strategy to introduce popular movies and classic TV favorites through multiple content deals with its current partners, including Warner Bros., Sony, CBS Television and NBC Universal. In addition, the company recently announced a programming alliance with RHI Entertainment that will provide the ION television network with access to RHI's library of over 4,000 hours of award-winning content starting this July.

About ION Media Networks

ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation's largest broadcast television station group, reaching over 90 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. Our flagship network currently features popular television series and movies from the award-winning libraries of Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Television, CBS Television and NBC Universal. In addition, we have partnered with RHI Entertainment, which owns over 4,000 hours of acclaimed television content, to provide our network with high-quality primetime programming beginning July 2007. Utilizing our digital multicasting capability, we have launched several new digital TV brands, including qubo, a television and multimedia network for children formed in partnership with Scholastic, Corus Entertainment, Classic Media and NBC Universal, as well as a television and multimedia network dedicated to health and wellness for consumers and families. For more information, please visit www.ionmedia.tv.

Source: Business Wire

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