Oxygen's BEST INK to Return for Season Two

Oxygen Media announced the pick-up of a second season of the popular competition series BEST INK, which exposed viewers to the artistry of tattooing and the stories behind the ink. The premiere of the series hit a milestone by becoming the network's best competition series premiere since "Hair Battle Spectacular" in 2010. In its 10pm time period, "Best Ink" increased that time period average over the prior year (2012 vs. 2011) by double and triple digit growth in all key demos with +110% in A18-49, +86% in W18-49, +53% in W18-34, and +59% in total viewers, according to Nielsen.

The tattoo industry was a previously unexplored space for Oxygen," commented Rod Aissa, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Oxygen Media. "But our audience immediately loved it, and with "Best Ink" we've been able to capture the drama and culture of the tattoo scene while weaving compelling stories through the tapestry of ink. We're looking forward to continuing to celebrate this amazing art form with the best and brightest tattoo artists from across the country.

In its freshman season, "Best Ink" pitted ten of the best male and female tattoo artists from around the country against one another. In every episode, the tattoo artists competed in two challenges: the "Flash Challenge," which tested their overall artistic and creative skills, and the "Ink Challenge," in which they produced bona fide masterpieces on skin. In the riveting finale, Los Angeles tattoo artist London blew the competition away in the final "Ink Challenge" with a creative collection of tattoos inspired by love. London took home the grand prize of $100,000 and a cover story in Tattoo magazine.

Promising more in-depth stories coupled with another round of fierce competitions, the second season of "Best Ink" will premiere on Oxygen in 2012. The series is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, a Banijay Group company, with Jonathan Murray, Gil Goldschein, and Rico Martinez serving as executive producers and Erin Cristall, Rene Rainey, and Peter Woronov serving as co-executive producers.

About Bunim/Murray Productions

Bunim/Murray Productions is the leading producer of innovative entertainment content. The Emmy Award-winning company is widely credited with creating the reality television genre with its hit series The Real World (26 seasons for MTV). Bunim/Murray continued to innovate with the first reality game show, Road Rules (MTV), in 1995; the first reality sitcom, The Simple Life (E!), in 2003; and the first reality soap opera, Starting Over, in 2003. Bunim/Murray's current programming includes The Bad Girls Club, Love Games and Best Ink (Oxygen), Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kourtney & Kim Take New York, Khloe & Lamar and the upcoming Mrs. Eastwood & Company (E!), The Real World and The Challenge (MTV) and Project Runway and Project Runway All Stars (Lifetime). Bunim/Murray Productions has launched additional entities including M Theory Entertainment, BMP Films and M Music. BMP Films produced Pedro (MTV) and the Emmy Award-winning Autism: The Musical (HBO). Based in Van Nuys, CA, Bunim/Murray Productions was founded in 1987 by Jonathan Murray and the late Mary-Ellis Bunim. The company joined Banijay Group in 2010.