KCETLink Media Group Unveils Robust 05-6 Program Schedule

CONTACT:

Ariel Carpenter

acarpenter@kcet.org

747-201-5243

With Upward Trend in Ratings, KCETLink Media Group

Unveils Robust 2015-16 Program Schedule

Focused On Key Partnerships and Global Storytelling Strategy

Three UK Crime Dramas Added To Lineup Plus New Season of DOC MARTIN; Renewals of Three Award-Winning Flagship Productions Round Out New Schedule; Two Documentaries Make National Broadcast Premieres; Digital Content Jumps from Online to On-Air

BURBANK, Calif. - October 5, 2015 - Gripping new documentaries from around the world, critically acclaimed content that captures the spirit of Southern California, and the return of top-rated British dramedy DOC MARTIN are among the distinctive programming offerings that viewers can expect during the 2015-2016 television season from KCETLink Media Group, the national independent, nonprofit, digital and broadcast network. KCETLink Media Group includes public television service KCET reaching six million households in Southern California and national satellite service Link TV available nationwide to almost 35 million subscribers of DirecTV (channel 375) and DISH Network (channel 9410).

The announcement of upcoming programming priorities was made today by KCETLink Media Groups President and CEO Michael Riley, who also revealed that KCETs whole day viewership increased 40%* in FY2015 compared to FY2014 while its primetime viewership increased 31%. This whole day figure represents a higher percentage increase than all public TV stations, independent TV stations and directly competing cable networks in the Los Angeles DMA. In addition, Mr. Riley noted that kcet.org, which has developed into one of the most valuable resources for information and news about Southern California, has averaged over one million monthly pageviews since the beginning of the year.

New original content and acquisitions from the network were officially revealed today, as well as additional commitments to the networks award-winning news series SOCAL CONNECTED and the critically acclaimed arts and culture multiplatform series ARTBOUND as well as the unique series that explores walkable urban spaces, CITY WALK. The new programming slate reflects a strategy designed to engage the public in the heritage of Southern California and explore what the region represents on a broader scale.

We are very encouraged by the ratings and happy to be able to grow the company from a place of greater stabilization with exciting projects on the horizon, said Mr. Riley, who joined the network from ABC Family in January. My main focus has been to prioritize our key franchises and leverage our video storytelling expertise through new strategic partnerships.

Securing new partners to leverage the networks video storytelling capabilities will help create a larger impact around KCETLink key areas of content, including environment, news & information, as well as arts & culture. Recently, KCETLink and the Los Angeles Times announced a collaboration called The California Conversation that brings together each organizations strengths to deepen engagement around key issues shaping the region. The California Conversation debuted on June 9 when Governor Jerry Brown discussed the drought crisis in California in an hour-long conversation at USC. The event was watched on TV by nearly 1 million viewers, and read by over 1.5 million people in print and online outlets, reaching nearly 20 million people through social and traditional media.

The network also announced the acquisition of three British crime-drama series for KCET during the 2015-2016 season that include the first three seasons of WHITECHAPEL, and the debut seasons of both SHETLAND and THE FIXER, which will continue to build on the networks extremely loyal fan base of popular UK-produced programming. KCETs highest-rated series DOC MARTIN was announced to return in January for a seventh season of the Martin Clunes starring dramedy after a jaw dropping cliff hanger wrapped up season six. DOC MARTIN season seven will be televised exclusively in the Southern California market on KCET.

Returning Wednesdays this fall is LINK VOICES, the weekly series of diverse, provocative documentaries that inform, inspire and challenge viewers to impact change. The global documentary series kicks off the second season with the powerful broadcast premiere of the Anthony Edwards executive produced Searching for Home: Coming Back From War directed by Eric Christiansen. The film is an emotional and unflinching look at returning veterans of all generations from various foreign wars and their search for the home they left behind--physically, mentally and spiritually. The important documentary makes its national television debut on KCET and Link TV on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2015. In addition, a series of online vignettes that profile veterans and their experience with war will launch on kcet.org in October and continue to roll out through the summer of 2016.

A second national broadcast premiere of LINK VOICES follows in December with the Outfest Grand Jury Documentary winner Born This Way addressing LGBTQ rights in Cameroon. The season two lineup promises to continue to introduce viewers to compelling, topical and daring storytelling.

Finally, KCETLink will be launching GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES on Oct. 13 at LinkTV.org, a digital first initiative that curates critically acclaimed short-form documentaries from around the world under a variety of topics that range from urbanism and gender identity to dance and womens issues, among many others. Acquired from more than 50 global organizations including the Thomson Reuters Foundation, content will initially live online and engage a broad audience. Based on their level of audience engagement, some of the programs will then be produced as pilots to air on Link TV. The new programming model will result in the return of M

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