ITV's AMERICA NOW to Expand With New Distribution

AMERICA NOW, the hit daily newsmagazine show co-hosted by Leeza Gibbons and Bill Rancic from ITV Studios America and Raycom Media, is expanding with a new distribution team, it was announced today by Paul McTear, President and CEO of Raycom Media and Paul Buccieri, Managing Director of ITV Studios International and President and CEO of ITV Studios America. Mary Carole McDonnell's Bellum Entertainment has taken over the distribution for the series. Boots Walker has joined Bellum as Vice President of Sales. She and Boyd McDonnell, Vice President of Programming, will lead the team of five experienced sales representatives to expand its outreach. Starting this month, the show has a new primetime clearance on WADL in Detroit.

"We have been so gratified by the positive response to America Now, and we feel extremely fortunate to begin 2012 with such great news to announce," said McTear. "We're excited about what adding Detroit to our markets signals, and confident that adding Bellum to our team will succeed in bringing the show to even more viewers."

"We look forward to introducing more markets to 'America Now,' which has become a go-to source for interesting, relevant stories and useful advice," Buccieri said.

"It is clear that audiences have embraced the refreshing format of 'America Now' and we are thrilled to be able to expand the show's national outreach," Walker commented.

Airing weekdays in 45 markets, America Now ranks among the top first-run syndicated shows premiering this past fall, second only to Anderson Cooper and often beating some of the other top-run syndicated programs that are well-known and seen throughout the country.

During Fall 2011, America Now consistently drew strong viewership in many of its markets. Seven weeks after its launch, the show found terrific success in cities including Birmingham, Ala., Richmond, Va., Charlotte, N.C. and Memphis.

· In Birmingham (WBRC), the show earned a bigger rating than network daytime shows including The Talk and The Chew, as well as talk show veterans such as The Rachael Ray Show, Ellen and The Doctors.

· In Richmond (WWBT), America Now outranked talk veterans like Jerry Springer and The Doctors, as well as Anderson.

· In Charlotte (WBTV), America Now drew more viewers than the second and third hours of the Today Show and The Talk.