More Markets for Bounce TV: LIN TV Corp. to Carry Nation's First Broadcast Network for African Americans in Indianapolis, Hartford/New Haven, Norfolk, Dayton and Mobile/Pensacola

ATLANTA, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LIN TV Corp. ("LIN Media"; NYSE: TVL) will carry Bounce TV (http://bouncetv.com), the first-ever over-the-air broadcast television network designed exclusively for African-American audiences, in five markets when the network launches this fall, it was announced today.  As part of the multi-year agreement, Bounce TV will be seen on LIN TV Corp. stations in Indianapolis, Hartford/New Haven, Norfolk, Dayton and Mobile/Pensacola.

"We believe that launching Bounce TV utilizes our digital spectrum in a strategic and meaningful manner," commented LIN Media Executive Vice President Scott M. Blumenthal. "Bounce TV will be a great vehicle for our stations to serve this underserved audience while delivering the critical Adult 25-54 African American demographic to our advertisers."

The deal is the second major distribution agreement for the newly-announced Bounce TV, coming on the heels of the network's foundation agreement with Raycom Media.  Raycom stations will carry Bounce TV in 26 markets including Cleveland/Akron, Charlotte, Cincinnati, West Palm Beach, Birmingham, Memphis, Louisville and Richmond.  Bounce TV expects to be in at least 50% of U.S. television households at launch with more distribution agreements to be announced shortly.

"We are aligning Bounce TV with the best broadcasters in the television business and are thrilled to welcome the LIN stations to the Bounce TV family," commented  Bounce TV distribution chief Jeffrey Wolf.  "Smart broadcasters are looking to use spectrum to grow their local brands in new and profitable ways; Bounce TV's differentiated content targeted for an extremely underserved audience will help them do just that."

The Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) supports LIN TV's decision to carry Bounce TV.  "In carrying Bounce TV, LIN TV is giving their local stations and their advertisers the ability to serve and reach the underserved African American television viewer in a very targeted and efficient manner," said TVB President Steve Lanzano.  

Bounce TV will target African Americans primarily between the ages of 25-54 with a programming mix of theatrical motion pictures, live sporting events, documentaries, specials, inspirational faith-based programs, off-net series, original programming and more.  Bounce TV will air twenty four hours a day, seven days a week as a digital terrestrial network designed for carriage on the digital signals of local television stations.  The Founding Group is led by Martin Luther King III, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Andrew "Bo" Young III, Rob Hardy and Will Packer, co-founders of Rainforest Films, one of the top African American production companies in the world.

Bounce TV just acquired the television rights to more than 400 African American-skewing motion pictures in four individual, multi-year licensing agreements, including: Jamie Foxx's 2004 Academy Award-winning performance as Ray Charles in Ray; Denzel Washington's Academy Award-nominated role in The Hurricane; The Bone Collector, which pairs Washington with Angelina Jolie;  Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Mo' Better Blues; The Nutty Professor I and II, starring Eddie Murphy; Bowfinger starring Murphy and Steve Martin; Michael Jackson and Diana Ross headlining The Wiz; the 1995 comedy Major Payne with Damon Wayans; Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005), the 1976 classic Car Wash and more.    

Live sports and events will be part of the Bounce TV schedule and the network also has a multi-year rights agreement with Urban Sports Entertainment Group (USEG) to televise both football and basketball games from the nation's largest African American athletic conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA.)  

About LIN Media

LIN Media, along with its subsidiaries, is a local multimedia company that owns, operates or services 32 network-affiliated broadcast television stations, interactive television station and niche web sites, and mobile platforms in 17 U.S. markets. LIN Media's online advertising business, RMM, leverages unique technology, new product innovation and customized interactive and mobile advertising solutions to deliver measurable results to local, regional and national clients.   LIN TV Corp. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TVL". Financial information about the company is available at www.linmedia.com.

SOURCE Bounce TV