It’s a weekend series expanding to a daily strip: The Raycom Media and ITV Studios America’s lifestyle series will be expanding, as Debmar-Mercury has been signed to distribute in association with Bill Marcus’ 30 Steps distribution company as a daily syndicated strip for Fall 2011.
Hosted by Bill Rancic and produced by ITV Studios America under the aegis of ITV Studios America President and CEO Paul Buccieri, the lifestyle newsmagazine show with local appeal utilizes the news resources of affiliates nationwide. Currently airing on 43 stations in all 36 Raycom Media markets representing 12.6% of the country, “America Now” airs on stations including: WOIO in Cleveland, WBTV in Charlotte, WXIX in Cincinnati, WMC in Memphis and WAVE in Louisville.
“‘America Now’ has proven its worth on weekends and now, working closely with industry sales veteran Bill Marcus, we are able to roll it out as a weekday strip to stations hungry for a lifestyle magazine series with strong local production elements,” Debmar-Mercury Co-President Ira Bernstein said.
Since its debut as a weekend series in October 2010 “America Now” has dominated key time periods, grown from its lead in and matched the audience of early fringe viewers.
