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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 291-06
August 15, 2006

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND WNBC GENERAL MANAGER FRANK COMERFORD ANNOUNCE WNBC WILL BROADCAST NYC TV PROGRAMMING

Five NYC TV Shows to Air Weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to Noon on Channel 4

Unprecedented Agreement Will Promote New York City Attractions and Businesses

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and WNBC Channel 4 President and General Manager Frank Comerford announced today that WNBC will broadcast more than 100 episodes of NYC TV programming this fall, the first agreement of its kind in City history.  The agreement combines the New York Emmy Award-winning content of NYC TV with the sizeable audience of WNBC, giving the City invaluable airtime to promote local attractions, businesses and cultural institutions, along with roughly four minutes of advertising time per day.  WNBC will broadcast five NYC TV series on its flagship WNBC, and an additional two shows on its recently launched digital broadcast channel, WNBC-4.4.  Deputy Mayor for Administration Edward Skyler, Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT ) Commissioner Paul Cosgrave, NYC TV General Manager Arick Wierson and Director of Special Projects Seth Unger attended the announcement at WNBC studios in Rockefeller Center.

“I am extremely proud of the progress made by Arick and Seth – and everyone at NYC TV – in building a station worthy of the greatest city in the world,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “In less than five years, the official City station has grown from Crosswalks – which didn’t even have a programming schedule – to the Emmy-award winning NYC TV.  This agreement with WNBC, which will give us an even greater opportunity to promote the City and its attractions, is just the latest in a long line of accomplishments for the station offering ‘Everything New York.’  I would like to thank Frank Comerford and everyone at WNBC for working with us to create this exciting opportunity.”

“The agreement with NYC TV further solidifies WNBC’s long-standing commitment to providing the best in local programming, news and information to the community in which we serve and is also in line with WNBC’s continuing mission to team up with multiple New York organizations to promote localism,” said President and General Manager Comerford.  “This rewarding partnership, the first of its kind between a public and private entity, unites two great stations for one common cause: highlighting our fine City.”

As part of the agreement, Channel 4 will broadcast 113 episodes of five NYC TV shows – “$9.99,” “Blueprint NYC,” “Cool in Your Code,” “Eat Out NY,” and “New York 360°.”  The shows will run weekdays in the 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. time slot starting September 4th and continue through mid- December.  The programming hour, to be called “NYC TV on NBC,” replaces the show “Martha,” which is moving to 10:00 a.m.  WNBC will also broadcast 120 episodes of the five aforementioned series and two other shows – the series “Secrets of New York” and the special “Seven Secrets of Grand Central” – on its digital broadcast channel WNBC-4.4.

The City will receive approximately four minutes of commercial time per hour to air advertisements, different portions of which will be used to run public service announcements, promote NYC TV programming, and sold to sponsors.  The NYC TV programming will promote local attractions, businesses and cultural institutions.  Businesses and museums featured on NYC TV see dramatic increases in visitors, and the additional exposure on Channel 4 will increase those benefits.

“NYC TV is not just an important window into our government, it’s an amazing resource focused on promoting New York City,” said Deputy Mayor Skyler.  “This partnership will benefit the stations and the scores of businesses and attractions featured in NYC TV programming.”

“I am thrilled that WNBC has decided to air NYC TV programming this fall,” said DoITT Commissioner Cosgrave.  “NYC TV has revolutionized the idea of what municipal television can be, and the WNBC agreement is further proof of that.  With such rapid, leading-edge growth in just three years, I anticipate additional breakthroughs going forward.”

“High-quality, low-cost, and extremely local – that’s what NYC TV is all about,” said General Manager Wierson.  “We’re the number one producer of New York City lifestyle and entertainment programming, and now our content will be available to an even greater audience.”

“Those who have discovered NYC TV know it offers a cornucopia of exciting and vibrant shows starring New York City,” said Director of Special Projects Unger.

“Our agreement with WNBC ensures that even more television viewers in the region can experience our great City’s attractions, cultural institutions, parks and businesses.”

In addition to the New York media market, WNBC is broadcast in Puerto Rico and other areas across the United States without a local affiliate.  Total WNBC daytime programming from January to July averaged more than 490,000 viewers, according to Nielsen ratings.  To compare, NYC TV averages roughly 100,000 to 125,000 viewers in its nightly primetime broadcast. 

Below are descriptions of the five NYC TV shows to be broadcast on WNBC and WNBC-4.4:

“$9.99” – offers tips on free or inexpensive fun activities across the five boroughs, including parks, museums, restaurants, galleries and a whole host of interesting attractions that cost less than $10.  The show stars New York Emmy-nominated host Julie Laipply.

“Blueprint NYC” – takes viewers in and around the iconic structures and landmarks that grab the attention of visitors and native New Yorkers alike.  This Emmy-award winning program features landmarks such as City Hall, Coney Island, Gracie Mansion and many more.

“Cool in Your Code” – showcases what’s cool, new, undiscovered and different throughout New York City’s more than 200 zip codes.  Starring Emmy-award winner Wasiak and Shirley Rumierk and produced in conjunction with the Concept Farm, this innovative program was a recipient of several 2006 New York Emmy awards.
 
“Eat Out NY” – highlights the many savory New York City restaurants and the chefs who lead them.  Starring Emmy award-nominated host Kelly Choi, this partnership between Time Out New York and NYC TV is the ultimate epicurean adventure.

“New York 360°” – offers a behind-the-scenes look at the buzzing entertainment world – from film to television, and from music to theatre.  Hosted by Amy Palmer, “New York 360°” covers the latest trends in music, advertising, fashion, and publishing and provides a backstage peek at Broadway and television shows.  The shows airing on WNBC will feature a special new segment entitled “Made in New York,” produced in conjunction with Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting Commissioner Katherine Oliver.

Below are descriptions of the two additional shows that WNBC will air on its digital broadcast channel:

“Secrets of New York” – unveils some of the City’s best-kept mysteries, from the vast subway system to City Water Tunnel No. 3.  Hosted by Kelly Choi, this program was recently the recipient of a New York Emmy award.

“Seven Secrets of Grand Central” – offers a guided tour of the famed railway station.

Focusing specifically on local cultural, news, sports, entertainment and educational programming, WNBC-4.4 is available on Time Warner Digital Channel 732, Cablevision Digital Channel 110 in New York and New Jersey, and Channel 119 in Connecticut.

The agreement with WNBC is the latest milestone in NYC TV’s short but highly successful history.  NYC TV was created three years ago to replace Crosswalks as the City’s official television station, and now is the region’s fastest growing television network with innovative programming showcasing the vitality of New York City.  Channel 25’s primetime audience is 10 times greater now than it was in 2003.  Several programs are distributed nationally via cruise ships and in-flight programming on airplanes.  The station has been nominated for 34 New York Emmy awards, winning 14, and also has won 14 National Telly awards.  NYC TV has become a worldwide model for municipal television – cities such as Seoul, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston have looked to NYC TV to improve their own stations.

With its signature theme “Everything New York,” NYC TV Channel 25 showcases New York culture, from entertainment, fashion and music to food, history and landmarks.  NYC TV also operates four other channels.  City Drive Live (Channel 72 on Cablevision and 93 on Time Warner) provides local drivers with 24/7 live coverage of the City’s main roadways through the Department of Transportation’s network of traffic cameras.  Mayoral press conferences, City Council hearings, and other municipal services information are broadcast on Channel 74.  NYC TV Channel 73 features programming of special interest for the City’s diverse immigrant communities.  Off Track Betting live feeds are broadcast on NYC TV Channel 71.

WNYE-TV, the flagship channel of NYC TV, is broadcast on Channel 25 on Time Warner Cable, Comcast New Jersey, RCN and Dish TV, Channel 22 on Cablevision, and Channel 888 on DirectTV.  Additionally, NYC TV can be seen on WVVH-TV in Long Island on Cablevision’s Channel 78.  To learn more about NYC TV, please visit www.nyc.gov/tv.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser / Matthew Kelly   (212) 788-2958



GENERAL CONTACT:

Alison Rudnick (WNBC)   (212) 664-5422


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