News
| Mon Mar 27, 2006 "Crime Watch" Network Adds 16 New Affiliates | |
| Program Partners' Procedurals Provide Primetime Play Los Angeles, CA - March 27, 2006 - Program Partners has announced that it has added 16 new affiliates to its growing "Crime Watch" network. The two-hour procedural block-which features the acclaimed series Cold Squad and Stone Undercover-will now be seen in the following additional markets, including Pittsburgh (WCWB/WPGH), Raleigh (WLFL/WRDC), Milwaukee (WVTV/WCGV), Greenville-Spartanburg (WBSC/WLOS), San Antonio (KRRT/KABB), Birmingham (WABM/WTTO), Buffalo (WNYO/WUTV), Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, (WUPN/WXLV), Richmond (WWBT), Mobile (WFGX/WEAR), Honolulu (KFVE/KHNL), Syracuse (WNYS/WSYT), Shreveport (KBXJ), Chattanooga (WDEF), Paducah (WDKA/KBSI) and Cedar Rapids (KGAN). The new affiliates include stations from the Sinclair Broadcast Group in 12 markets. "Fresh primetime programming is increasingly important," said Bill Butler, VP Group Programming & Promotion for the Sinclair Broadcast Group. "'Crime Watch,' from Program Partners, will give our stations the opportunity to program primetime with original programs. It also gives us other great options outside of primetime, too." "Crime Watch" has quickly secured affiliate agreements with a rapidly growing list of stations, including the previously announced New York (WABC), Los Angeles (KCOP/KTTV), Chicago (WLS), as well as Boston (WCVB), Washington DC (WDCA/WTTG), Minneapolis (WCCO, WFTC/KMSP), Miami (WFOR/WBFS), Seattle (KONG/KING), Tampa (WMOR), St. Louis (KMOV), Portland (KPTV/KPDX), San Diego (KUSI), Charlotte (WJZY/WWWB), Nashville (WSMV), Kansas City (KMCI/KSHB), Cincinnati (WKRC), San Francisco (KBWB), Dallas (WFAA), Atlanta (WSB), Detroit (WDWB) and Phoenix (KNXV). Participating station groups include the ABC owned, Allbritton, Belo, Clear Channel, FOX owned, Granite, Gray, Hearst-Argyle, Hubbard, Jefferson Pilot, Lin, Meredith, Media General, Minden, Mission, Post-Newsweek, Raycom, Scripps Howard, Sinclair, Viacom, Young and The CW 100+ groups. "With the continued dominance of procedural crime dramas and daily drama of new affiliation announcements as a backdrop, we continue to do brisk sales on 'Crime Watch,'" said Ritch Colbert of Program Partners. "The proven quality of our programs and the flexibility of our offering make the 'Crime Watch' commitment an easy one to make." Set to launch this fall, Program Partners created the "Crime Watch" initiative to provide stations with an ongoing pipeline of new procedural dramas. Cold Squad and Stone Undercover are known for their high quality production values, critical acclaim and industry awards. The two series are designed to air in prime-time on weekends, replacing down-trending movie showcases, or in late-night on traditional affiliates, in horizontal or vertical stacks, as a news lead-out or to expand existing procedural drama rotations. To give stations the utmost programming and scheduling flexibility, Program Partners will provide Crime Watch affiliates a choice of satellite feeds, with two different episodes of Cold Squad and one of Stone Undercover available each week. Cold Squad is a one-hour procedural that features a strong female central character, Sgt. Ali McCormick (Julie Stewart), leading a team of forensic investigators and pathologists who uncover and resolve long abandoned and forgotten cases. Considered a progenitor to the highly successful CBS Cold Case franchise, Cold Squad has aired to high acclaim on CTV with over 30 Gemini nominations, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress wins. Stone Undercover is a one-hour procedural based on the exploits of a pair of commercial crime fighters. Often compared to Moonlighting, the series revolves around the relationship between Tom Stone, an ex-cop, ex-oil rig worker and ex-con who goes undercover, and Sgt. Marina Di Luzio, his boss. Together they catch the bad guys who would normally get away -- criminals with influence and money, who think they're above the law. The series stars Chris William Martin (Felicity, The L Word) and Janet Kidder (Earth: Final Conflict). The veteran creative team also includes Stuart Margolis (The Rockford Files, Touched by an Angel) as co-star and director. Produced by Haddock Entertainment and Barna-Alper Productions, Da Vinci's Inquest is an award-winning prime-time procedural drama in the mold of the CSI and Law and Order franchises and is one of the most honored series in the history of Canadian television. Dominic Da Vinci (Nicholas Campbell) is the controversial coroner who-with the help of a compelling ensemble cast of forensic investigators, pathologists and homicide detectives-"speaks for the dead to protect the living." Program Partners is marketing Da Vinci's Inquest, Cold Squad and Stone Undercover as an outgrowth of its worldwide distribution agreement with Thunderbird Films. About Program Partners, Inc. Program Partners, Inc. is an innovative television company that collaborates with networks, sponsors and audiences on original programming. Led by a core group of entertainment executives, including founders Ritch Colbert and Josh Raphaelson, Program Partners provides distinctive programs with high production values, while fostering new creative alliances with advertisers, broadcasters and global co-production entities. For more info about Program Partners, Inc., visit www.programpartners.com. About Thunderbird Films, Inc. Vancouver-based Thunderbird Films, Inc. is recognized around the globe as a producer, distributor and financier of high quality television and films. Thunderbird Films' founding partners - Tim Gamble and Michael Shepard - have been responsible for internationally acclaimed scripted drama and action series, award winning theatrical features and movies-of-the-week produced for and aired on every major U.S. network as well as on major broadcast and cable outlets around the globe. Thunderbird Films' commitment to high production values and its unique focus on global, high-value territories for distribution as well as the economical benefits of its British Columbian location have distinguished the company among its competitors in the world marketplace. For more information on Thunderbird Films, visit www.thunderbirdfilms.net. # # # Media Contact: Melissa Ford/Priority Public Relations - (818) 338-3555; melissa@prioritypr.net | |
