Chef Emeril Lagasse and ION Television Break Bread With New Original Series

NEW YORK, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Building on its 2009 momentum, ION Television today announced its first original non-scripted series, "The Emeril Lagasse Show," a new weekly, entertainment television show featuring celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. The original, primetime series will be recorded before a live studio audience and will capture Emeril's passion for people, entertainment, music, food and celebration. The hour long program will air on Sundays at 8pm beginning March 28th.

"The Emeril Lagasse Show" will feature one of America's most popular chefs as he has never been seen before. Each week, Emeril will welcome celebrity guests, musicians and entertainers to break news and break bread as Emeril shares his world, his friends and his passions with the studio audience and viewers at home. A house band will be on set, playing live music and interacting with Emeril, guests and audience. The show also will include entertaining and surprising field pieces that will be shot in and around New York City where the show will be taped. TV veteran Karen Katz and After Five Productions, which executive produced Lagasse's long-running Food Network series, "Emeril Live," will be executive producer of "The Emeril Lagasse Show".

"The Emeril Lagasse Show" will be produced with innovative marketing opportunities that will appeal to advertisers from a broad range of categories. The show will be supported through traditional marketing and social media including Facebook where consumers can become a fan at Facebook.com/Emeril.

"We are excited to bring Emeril's 'Positively Entertaining' persona and larger-than-life superstar-chef status to ION Television. His brand will be a dynamic addition to our general entertainment network and a treat for our audience," said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, ION Media Networks.

"Emeril is a terrific talent whose passion for food coupled with his natural showmanship will attract a broad range of viewers. We're thrilled to be working with ION Television, a network that shares our commitment to fresh ideas, quality and innovation. This new show is an important step in further extending the Emeril Lagasse brand," said Charles A. Koppelman, Executive Chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO), which acquired the assets related to Mr. Lagasse's media and merchandising business in 2008.

"I'm excited to be live on ION Television nationwide, bringing the high energy, interaction and every day celebrations to audiences across the country. I look forward to sharing my passion for interesting people, fascinating places, good music and, of course, great food," said Emeril Lagasse.

"Emeril's culinary prowess is matched by his great personal charm and appeal. I'm delighted that his new program will showcase all that he has to offer," stated MSLO Founder Martha Stewart.

A popular chef and successful restaurateur, Emeril has a strong track record as a national TV personality, has hosted over 1,500 shows on the Food Network, and is the food correspondent for ABC's "Good Morning America." His show "Essence of Emeril" can be seen on Food Network, and "Emeril Live" appears on both Fine Living and Food Network. His recent appearance on "Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef America Event" was Food Network's highest-rated, most-watched night in Food Network history with 7.6 million viewers. He is the host of "Emeril Green," an original series exploring fresh and seasonal ingredients on Discovery's Planet Green.

In addition to his television presence, Emeril has a new, live, call-in radio program, "Cooking with Emeril," which airs twice weekly on Martha Stewart Living Radio on SIRIUS XM. He also has a new column in MSLO's Everyday Food magazine where the chef and his six-year-old son, E.J., provide delicious family-friendly recipes. Emeril is the author of 14 bestselling books, including the recent Emeril 20-40-60: Fresh Food Fast (HarperStudio).

Emeril Lagasse has been active in the food world since his teenage years in Fall River, Massachusetts, where he worked at a Portuguese bakery and mastered the art of bread and pastry baking. Upon graduating from high school, he turned down a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music to pursue a career as a professional chef. He earned a degree from Johnson and Wales University, which later awarded him an honorary Doctorate, and traveled to France where he polished his skills and learned the art of classic French cuisine. Returning to the United States, Lagasse practiced his art in fine restaurants in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, before heading south to the Big Easy. In New Orleans, he established his start at the legendary Commander's Palace restaurant, where he was executive chef for seven and a half years. Lagasse is now the chef-proprietor of 13 restaurants across the country. The recognition and awards he has garnered has made him known to food-loving Americans everywhere.

Since its recent formation and launch, ION Television concluded 2009 with record year-over-year growth in households, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, posting 49%, 65%, and 74% growth in those demographics, respectively. ION Television has become one of the fastest growing U.S. television networks, taking the Q4 2009 top spot among fully distributed broadcast and cable networks. And with a strong 2009 year-end performance, ION Television entered the list of the top 15 entertainment networks in the U.S. cable universe for the first time.

About ION Television

ION Television (www.iontelevision.com) is a general entertainment network which reaches over 96 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. Launched in 2006, ION Television features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning libraries of CBS Television, NBC Universal, Twentieth Television and Warner Bros. Parent company, ION Media Networks, Inc., owns and operates the nation's largest broadcast television station group. Using its digital multicasting capability, ION Media Networks has launched the digital TV brands qubo, a channel for children focusing on literacy and values, and ION Life, a channel dedicated to active living and personal growth. It also has launched Open Mobile Ventures Corporation (OMVION), a business unit focused on the research and development of portable, mobile and out-of-home transmission technology using over-the-air digital television spectrum. For more information, visit www.ionmedia.com.

About Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) is a diversified media and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique lifestyle content and distinctive products. The Publishing segment encompasses four magazines, including the company's flagship publication, Martha Stewart Living, periodic special issues and books. The marthastewart.com website provides consumers with instant access to MSLO's multimedia library, search and find capabilities, recipes, online workshops, community and personalization, as well as wedding-planning tools powered by WeddingWire and digital invitations with pingg.com. The Broadcasting segment produces such programming as the Emmy-winning daily, nationally syndicated television series, "The Martha Stewart Show," and Martha Stewart Living Radio on SIRIUS channel 112 and XM Radio 157. In addition to its media properties, MSLO offers high-quality Martha Stewart products through licensing agreements with carefully selected companies, including the Martha Stewart Collection exclusively at Macy's, Martha Stewart Everyday at Kmart, the Martha Stewart Living line of home-improvement products at The Home Depot, Martha Stewart Crafts with EK Success at Michaels and independent retailers, Martha Stewart for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, the forthcoming Martha Stewart Pets line at PetSmart and more. In 2008, Emeril Lagasse joined the Martha Stewart family of brands; MSLO acquired the assets related to Lagasse's media and merchandising business, including television programming, cookbooks, and emerils.com website and his licensed kitchen and food products. For additional information about MSLO, visit www.marthastewart.com.

SOURCE Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.