Concurrent with the premier of its fall lineup, ION Television announced the launch of its “Positively Entertaining” rebranding which debuted Monday. The network’s on-air transition to broader, high quality content, including such off-network hits like “Boston Legal,” “ER” and “NCIS,” coincides with the upgraded on-air look-and-feel and new consumer positioning tagline.
Additionally, ION Television welcomes new advertisers like Honda, Walgreens, Western Union, Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Edward Jones and Red Lobster to its client roster. The network reach continues to grow with distribution rollouts by Comcast, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Bresnan, Mediacom and Buckeye, as well as niche cable operators like MidContinent, Broadstripe, Comporium and Sky Angel. And ION Television has also re-launched its website, IONTelevision.com, which now features unique, value-added opportunities for advertisers with streaming video, enhanced content and more.
The impact of ION Television’s May upfront presentation has grown substantially and contributed to the increase in ad sales post-upfront. This fall, ION Television welcomes Walgreens, Western Union, Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Edward Jones and Red Lobster to its client roster. In addition, the network is introducing a new advertiser within the automotive category with the recent sign-on of Honda.
ION Television continues to sign cable, telecommunications and satellite distribution deals in local markets across the country. New rollouts by national distributors, such as Comcast, the nation’s largest multiple service operator, continue to increase momentum and expand the network’s total reach. Upcoming launches will include the continued rollout by Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Bresnan, Mediacom and Buckeye, as well as niche cable operators like MidContinent, Broadstripe, Comporium and Sky Angel. Additionally, ION Television recently announced a station affiliation agreement with WRCX–TV in Dayton, the nation’s 62nd largest TV market, which represents approximately 511,000 households.
ION Television extends its breadth beyond television and is launching a newly revamped and rebranded website, www.iontelevision.com. The site will feature numerous new features from streaming video, interactive games, video mash-ups, cast/show information, show trivia, forums and blogs.
ION Television’s strategy will focus heavily on expanding its programming offerings in coming television seasons, targeting a strong mix of quality major network TV series, as well as signature originals produced specifically for ION Television. Several key content additions have already been secured, such as the successful “Ghost Whisperer” and “Criminal Minds” franchises, which will infuse the lineup in fall 2009.
