Date: 01-23-2008
ION Media Networks, Inc., Star Media, and Omnicom’s OMG Entertainment & Sports unit have struck a new distribution deal to broadcast programs for African-American audiences. The deal actually started on January 14 with reruns of The Wayans Bros. show. McDonald’s, State Farm, and Proctor & Gamble have already signed on as advertisers for the initiative. ION Media will use the syndication marketplace and the TV libraries of Warner Bros. to program urban and diverse content. The partners plan to reinvest the net proceeds from this venture into an original programming fund to create new African-American and diverse content for ION. “Depending on demand, we may also consider establishing a dedicated, 24/7 multi-cultural spin-off network, using our digital broadcast capacity,” said Brandon Burgess, chairman and CEO of ION Media Networks.
