Thunderbird Films Inc. - News - Crime Watch Debuts to Ratings Success

News

	Wed Sep 20, 2006 Crime Watch Debuts to Ratings Success
	Syndicated Block Delivers 1.7 AA% Procedural Series #1 in 10 Markets Los Angeles, CA - September 20, 2006 - Following in the successful footsteps of Da Vinci's Inquest, the critically acclaimed crime drama block-Cold Squad and Stone Undercover-has debuted a syndication success story, delivering a 1.7/4 weighted metered market average with 112 telecasts in its weekend premiere, according to the latest Nielsen data. The syndicated series' U.S. distributor, Program Partners, also announced today that the series debuted #1 in its time-period in 10 metered markets, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, Okalahoma City, Albuquerque, Knoxville and Richmond. Power Market Highlights: New York, WABC, Friday (1.4/8), Stone Undercover ranks #1 in the time period, builds 14% on its Cold Squad (1.3/7) lead-in. Stone Undercover improves the time period over one year ago: CH7 late movie (+40% in rating/+33% in share). Chicago, WLS, Saturday (1.4/6), Stone Undercover ranks #1 in the time period beating Showtime at the Apollo and Girls Behaving Badly head-to-head. Stone Undercover improves the time period over year ago: Entertainers/West Wing (+27% in rating/+50% in share). Atlanta, WSB, Sunday (1.6/10), ranks #1 in the time period beating movie, NCS Overnight, and Stargate Atlantis head-to-head. Cleveland, WUAB, Sunday (1.6/4), Cold Squad retains 100% of its Magnum PI lead-in and improves the time period over one year ago by +167% in rating/ +300% in share. 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. Program Partners is marketing Cold Squad and Stone Undercover as an outgrowth of its worldwide distribution agreement with Thunderbird Films. # # # Media Contact: Melissa Ford/Priority Public Relations - (661) 964-0333; melissa@prioritypr.net