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ION Media Networks Helps Initiate Open Mobile Video Coalition to Drive Mobile Digital Broadcast TV

Posted on: Friday, 13 April 2007, 18:00 CDT

ION Media Networks, Inc. (AMEX:ION) is a founding member of the Open Mobile Video Coalition, an alliance of leading television broadcasters to accelerate the development of mobile digital broadcast television ION announced today.

To form the Coalition, ION has helped bring together a group of top broadcasters that include Belo Corp., Fox Television Stations, Gannett Broadcasting, Gray Television, ION Media Networks, the NBC & Telemundo Television Stations, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Broadcasting Company to drive innovation and accelerate adoption of mobile digital television technologies. ION's expertise, innovative approach and unparalleled broadcast distribution network -- the largest in the nation, reaching 90 million homes -- will help fulfill the Coalition's mission of promoting the development of products, services, content and standards enabling mobile digital broadcast television.

"This is a very exciting time to join this visionary group leading the charge on mobile digital television," said Brandon Burgess, CEO of ION Media Networks. "The industry is on the cusp of unlocking the full potential of the digital broadcast spectrum, and this group of leaders has the vision, the resources and the commitment to make it happen. Everyone stands to win - broadcasters, content creators and consumers."

ION's involvement in the Coalition comes on the heels of several key developments for the company in the mobile digital broadcast television space, including:

Launched qubo, a digital television and multimedia network for children formed in partnership with Scholastic, Corus Entertainment, Classic Media and NBC Universal

Launched ION Life, a digital television and multimedia network dedicated to health and wellness for consumers and families

Supported demos of crucial digital broadcast television technology by Samsung and Rohde Schwarz as well as LG and Harris at NAB 2007

"Broadcast TV spectrum is prime real estate for mobile digital video," said David Glenn, President of Engineering at ION Media Networks. "We are looking forward to working with the broadcast industry, technology innovators, and manufacturers to develop the best solutions to effectively deliver mobile digital broadcast television."

Coalition member companies collectively represent over 280 stations across the country, reaching more than 95 million households each week. Membership in the Coalition is open to all U.S.-based television broadcasters, and they are cordially invited to join. The Coalition seeks to provide a unified, technology-neutral voice for television broadcast spectrum owners, encouraging development of IP enabling mobile uses for the digital, terrestrial broadcast spectrum.

In addition to enabling a clearer picture and better sound quality, digital broadcasting enables TV stations to broadcast multiple streams of programming, creating the potential for an explosion in content and consumer choice available across a wide variety of in-home and mobile devices.

About ION Media Networks

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

About the Open Mobile Video Coalition

The Open Mobile Video Coalition is a voluntary association of television broadcasters whose mission is to accelerate the development of mobile digital broadcast television in the United States. Membership in the Coalition is open to all U.S.-based television broadcasters. Members are committed to fostering open competition in the development of products and services related to television.

Please visit the Coalition at the Web at: http://www.openmobilevideo.com.

Source: Business Wire

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