"America Now" expands team, adds affiliates

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America Now, the 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. 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, VP/Programming, will lead the team of five sales reps to expand its outreach. Starting this month, the show has a new primetime clearance on WADL in Detroit.


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.

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.

•    In Memphis (WMC), America Now out-delivered daytime talk veterans including Live! with Regis and Kelly and The Doctors.