09-27-2016
(Albuquerque, NM) Tuesday, September 27, 2016— REELZ today celebrates its 10th anniversary after launching on September 27, 2006 to 28 million homes nationwide. Today, REELZ is one of the strongest of the independent networks in America as a result of its continually increasing commitment to compelling original programming and is available in 70 million homes on cable, satellite and telco systems across the country.
“We’re proud to celebrate 10 years on the air as one of the few remaining independent networks in America and we greatly appreciate our distributors for their support throughout the years,” said John deGarmo, SVP of REELZ Distribution. “Our viewers have spoken and are enjoying REELZ’s distinctive celebrity mix of original docu-dramas, pure documentaries and investigative storytelling. We look forward to building on the REELZ success story in 2017 with more original programming launches, including our high profile miniseries The Kennedys-After Camelot, and expanded Video On Demand to increase our value for distributors and their subscribers.”
Among REELZ’s key programming milestones was the world premiere airing of the eight-hour miniseries The Kennedys in 2011. The Kennedys went on to earn the network its first ever Primetime Emmy Award nominations (10) along with its first four Emmy Award wins, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Barry Pepper’s portrayal of Robert F. Kennedy. In 2013 the network earned another Primetime Emmy Award for the miniseries World Without End. REELZ also served as the home for the 2015 Miss USA Pageant after a whirlwind acquisition that ensured the pageant would celebrate its 54th year on television.
REELZ had several successful original series launches drawing from increased exposure brought in by the Miss USA telecast, including the premieres for its docu-drama series Murder Made Me Famous, investigative documentary series National Enquirer Investigates and the Behind Closed Doors documentary specials that have contributed to a primetime ratings increase of 15% from a year ago with A25-54 and +50% with W25-54 (through 2Q16).
Building upon its brand of Real Lives. Real Stories. Real Celebrities™, REELZ recently announced a fall programming slate packed with new original series and specials in addition to the return of viewer favorite original series. The fall slate is part of 163 total hours of original programming greenlit by the network during the summer of 2016 alone. New series include Rich and Acquitted, Hollywood Homicide Uncovered and Scandal Made Me Famous. New documentary specials include Titanic: Sinking the Myths, Karen Carpenter: Goodbye to Love, and, Reagan: From Movie Star to President. Rounding out new fall programming are such returning series as Autopsy: The Last Hours of… and Gangsters: America’s Most Evil.
Looking ahead to 2017, REELZ will premiere more new original programming including its miniseries The Kennedys-After Camelot in April. The Kennedys-After Camelot is based on the New York Times best seller, “After Camelot: Personal History of the Kennedy Family 1968 to the Present” by best-selling author and biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli. Jon Cassar (The Kennedys) and Katie Holmes are directing from scripts by Stephen Kronish (The Kennedys) and Sandra Chwialkowska (Lost Girl). The Kennedys-After Camelot project was brought to producer Muse
Entertainment by Keri Selig of Intuition Productions (The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe) who serves as an executive producer. Michael Prupas, Katie Holmes, Matthew Perry, Jon Cassar, Stephen Kronish, J. Randy Taraborrelli, Evan Tussman, Irene Litinsky and Jonas Prupas also serve as executive producers. Also serving as executive producers are Stan E. Hubbard, CEO of REELZ, and Jonathan Koch and Steve Michaels of Asylum Entertainment.
The Kennedys-After Camelot stars Katie Holmes as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Matthew Perry as Ted Kennedy, Alexander Siddig as Aristotle Onassis, Brett Donahue as John F. Kennedy Jr., Kristen Hager as Joan Kennedy, with Diana Hardcastle and Kristin Booth reprising their roles as Rose and Ethel Kennedy from the Emmy Award® -winning miniseries The Kennedys.
About REELZ—Real lives. Real stories. Real celebrities.™
REELZ is a leading independent cable and satellite general entertainment network that is home to factual entertainment, television events, miniseries, movies and series featuring big stories and big stars. Programming ranges from the critically acclaimed and award-winning The Kennedys to Autopsy: The Last Hours Of…, Celebrity Legacies, Celebrity Page, Hollywood Scandals, Murder Made Me Famous, the upcoming miniseries The Kennedys-After Camelot and much more that connects directly to the world of entertainment. REELZ also showcases top movie and entertainment expert Leonard Maltin who provides specific on-air recommendations for movies viewers can watch at home.
REELZ is available in 70 million homes on DIRECTV channel 238, DISH Network channel 299, Verizon FiOS TV channel 233, AT&T U-verse channels 799/1799HD and cable systems nationwide. Find REELZ in your area by visiting www.reelz.com. REELZ is a High-Definition network and if it is not available, or not in HD, on your cable or telco provider, we encourage viewers to call them and ask for it. Owned by Hubbard Media Group, REELZ is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM with national ad sales based in New York City with offices in Boston and Chicago. As one of the last truly independent television networks remaining in today’s media landscape REELZ has created the Independence Happens Here® website to help keep free thought and innovation alive by highlighting the importance of independent businesses. The website can be found at http://IndependenceHappensHere.com.