| MUMBAI:
Fox’s new primetime television network MyNetworkTV has secured affiliate agreements
with Sinclair Broadcast Group to launch the network on 5 September 2006. The
announcement was jointly made today by Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy
and Sinclair Broadcast Group president and CEO David Smith. A total of 17 stations
covering 11.9 per cent of the US owned or operated by Sinclair will officially
become MyNetworkTV affiliates. These include WTTA/Tampa, WCWB/Pittsburgh,
WRDC/Raleigh, WUXP/Nashville, WCGV/Milwaukee, WSTR/Cincinnati, WBSC/Greenville,
KRRT/San Antonio, WABM/Birmingham, WTVZ/ Norfolk, WNYO/Buffalo, WUPN/Greensboro,
KVWB/Las Vegas, WFGX/Mobile, WMMP/Charleston, SC, WDKA/Paducah and WNYS/Syracuse.
These Sinclair stations join Fox Television Stations’ WWOR/New York, KCOP/Los
Angeles, WPWR/ Chicago, KDFI/Dallas, WDCA/Washington, D.C., KTXH/Houston, WFTC/Minneapolis,
KUTP/Phoenix, WRBW/ Orlando and WUTB/Baltimore. “Sinclair is operated by
some of the smartest people in the business. Their decision to become MyNetworkTV
affiliates further endorses our approach to provide local broadcasters with network
programming and a business model required to succeed in today’s converging digital
marketplace,” said Abernethy. Smith added, “We are excited once again to be
part of the birth of a new network. We believe that over time this new network
model will become a standard in the industry. The advantages MyNetworkTV provides
to our stations are compelling, with both a creative programming model for our
viewers and a favourable inventory split. We are especially excited about the
Internet opportunities that will exist at the local level within this new paradigm.” MyNetworkTV
will program 12 hours of original programming Monday through Saturday. Station-friendly
by design, MyNetworkTV will enable broadcasters with significant operational flexibility
and a seamless flow of original primetime programming. The network’s pro-station
strategy also intends to strengthen consumer recognition and increase viewership
with powerful marketing initiatives conceived to unify the network’s brand on
both the national and local levels. | 
