Backchannelmedia

Business Wire

ION Media Networks, Inc. (AMEX:ION) today announced the launch of ION Life, the country's first broadcast television network dedicated to content promoting active lifestyles, personal growth and wellness. ION Life debuted on Monday, February 19th as a 24/7 digital broadcast network on ION Media Networks' television station group. In addition, ION Life presents a weekly one-hour branded program on the company's flagship network, ION Television, reaching over 93 million homes.

"The launch of ION Life marks another step in our plan to build value for our nationwide TV platform by developing a portfolio of multiple brands and digital networks across different demographics and content genres," said Brandon Burgess, President and CEO of ION Media Networks. "Following the recent highly-rated debut of 'qubo,' our branded multi-platform network for kids, 'ION Life' serves adult viewers with quality TV content centered around active and healthy lifestyles."

ION Life has initially launched with a slate of programming featuring topics such as health, fitness, nutrition and wellness. The 24/7 digital network will expand its offering to include competitive and lifestyle sports, travel, competitive events, shopping and "best of" guides.

"We are pleased to launch ION Life as a 24/7 network based on the positive viewer and advertiser feedback for this format and genre," said Marc Zand, who oversees ION Media's digital TV expansion. "We look forward to expanding the network's content to offer families a balance of entertainment and information that helps them lead healthier lives."

"We see ION Life as a new platform for collaborating with key advertisers and sponsors," added Bob Mons, Senior Vice President of Sales for ION Life. "The new digital network, together with its analog programming block, provides an innovative way to reach a niche of valuable viewers focused on the wellness and personal improvement categories."

Longer-term development goals for ION Life will include additional content partnerships and acquisitions and plans to expand the ION Life brand to other platforms, including online at www.ionlife.tv, on-demand and mobile.

ION Life's weekly analog programming block and 24/7 digital broadcast channel currently feature programming offered by leading providers of informative health content, including NBC Universal's "Dateline NBC," "The Today Show" and "NBC Nightly News"; Information Television Network's "Healthy Body, Healthy Mind" and "Cutting Edge Medical Report"; Breakthrough Entertainment's "Patient Files" and "Little Miracles"; "Today's Health with Faith Daniels"; and additional programs showcasing internationally renowned wellness authorities, including Dr. Nicholas Perricone and Dr. Andrew Weil.

About ION Media Networks

ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation's largest broadcast television station group and ION Television, reaching over 90 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. ION Television currently features popular television series and movies from the award-winning libraries of Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Television, CBS Television and NBC Universal. In addition, the network has partnered with RHI Entertainment, which owns over 4,000 hours of acclaimed television content, to provide high-quality primetime programming beginning July 2007. Utilizing its digital multicasting capability, ION Media Networks has launched several new digital TV brands, including qubo, a television and multimedia network for children formed in partnership with Scholastic, Corus Entertainment, Classic Media and NBC Universal, as well as ION Life, a television and multimedia network dedicated to health and wellness for consumers and families. For more information, please visit www.ionmedia.tv.