Classmates Series to Debut with 65 Episodes in 25 Major Markets and Reach 45% of Total U.S. Households
LOS ANGELES, CA AND RENTON, WA - Jul 1, 2003 - Twentieth Television and Classmates Online, Inc., operator of www.classmates.com, the leading online community that connects more than 35 million members with friends, family, military and work colleagues, through its subsidiary Classmates Media, Inc., today jointly announced the July 7 debut of Classmates, the television show. Classmates will feature real-life reunion stories of Classmates.com members captured live on camera. The 13-week test strip will air five-days-a-week on FOX owned-and-operated stations in 25 major markets, reaching 45% of total U.S. households.
"Lost loves, birth parent and child introductions, team reunions, old friends and second chances are just some of the amazing and inspirational real-life Classmates.com member stories captured on tape in the first 65 episodes of the Classmates television show," said Michael Smith, Chief Executive Officer and President of Classmates Online, Inc. and Classmates Media, Inc.
"We are thrilled to debut Classmates in 25 major markets at launch and being able to test and fine-tune broadcasts in different day parts including morning, early-fringe, access and late-fringe," said Bob Cook, President and Chief Operating Officer of Twentieth Television. "Station clearances for Classmates include New York's WWOR at 6 p.m., Los Angeles' KTTV at 10 a.m., Chicago's WFLD at midnight, Philadelphia's WTZF at 6 p.m., Boston's WFXT at 5:30 p.m., Dallas' KDFW at 10 a.m., Houston's KTXH at 10 p.m. and Detroit's WJBK at 6:30p.m."
"Among the most exciting elements of the Classmates shows are the untold stories that have not yet been submitted," added Smith. "Everyone who has attended school, had a job or served in the military can go onine to ClassmatesTV.com to register for free and submit their story of a reunion that they would like to see happen. The best stories will continue to be selected, filmed and featured on future episodes of Classmates."
Classmates Television Show Markets & Stations
The Classmates television show will air on 25 stations in major markets including the following cities on the following stations at launch. Check local listings for air times. The schedule of cities and television station clearances includes
| New York | WWOR/UPN |
| Los Angeles | KTTV/FOX |
| Chicago | WFLD/FOX |
| Philadelphia | WTXF/FOX |
| Boston | WFXT/FOX |
| Dallas & Fort Worth | KDFW/FOX |
| Washington DC | WTTG/FOX |
| Atlanta | WAGA/FOX |
| Detroit | WJBK/FOX |
| Houston | KTXH/UPN |
| Tampa | WTVT/FOX |
| Minneapolis & Saint Paul | WFTC/UPN |
| Cleveland & Akron | WJW/FOX |
| Phoenix | KUTP/UPN |
| Denver | KDVR/FOX |
| Orlando, Daytona Beach & Melbourne | WOFL/FOX |
| Saint Louis | KTVI/FOX |
| Baltimore | WUTB/UPN |
| Milwaukee | WITI/FOX |
| Kansas City | KDAF/FOX |
| Salt Lake City | KSTU/FOX |
| Birmingham & Tuscaloosa | WBRC/FOX |
| Memphis | WHBQ/FOX |
| Greensboro, H. Point & W. Salem | WGHP/FOX |
| Austin | KTBC/FOX |
Classmates is produced by Classmates Media, Inc., Pipeline Entertainment and Small Cages Productions, Inc. in association with FOXLAB and Twentieth Television, Inc., under the watchful eye of President of Program Development, Robb Dalton and Vice President of Production, Daniel Tibbets. David Armour serves as Executive Producer and showrunner, in concert with Executive Producers Matt Papish and Glen Freyer.
About Twentieth Television
A division of Fox Television, which is wholly-owned by The News Corporation Limited (NYSE: NWS), Twentieth Television produces and/or distributes programming and distributes feature film packages for the domestic syndication and cable marketplace. Twentieth brings a wide variety of product to the marketplace ranging from the smash off-network sitcom The Simpsons to the precedent-setting sales of ground-breaking dramas The Practice and Ally McBeal to cable (FX cable network). Twentieth continues to solidify its distinction as the number one supplier of off-network product with such popular shows as King of the Hill, Dharma & Greg, Angel, Malcolm in the Middle and The Hughleys. Over the years, Twentieth's first-run production has been at the forefront of the syndication business, creating the news magazine genre with A Current Affair and the reality genre with Cops. Its hit courtroom dramas, Divorce Court and Texas Justice are now in its fourth and second seasons, respectively. Texas Justice, last season's top-rated freshman strip, has paved the way for Twentieth's successful regional rollout strategy with Good Day Live which launched nationwide in January and EX-treme Dating set to launch nationally in June.
Media Contacts for Twentieth Television and FOXLAB:
Ivey Van Allen at
iveyv@fox.com, 310.369.3293
Shanta Ferguson at
prncessfergi@aol.com, 323.491.1977
About Classmates Online, Inc.
Classmates Online, Inc., founded in 1995 and based in Renton, WA, is a leader in online social networking. The company operates Classmates.com (www.classmates.com), connecting millions of members throughout the U.S. and Canada with friends and acquaintances from school, work and the military. Its Classmates International subsidiary also operates leading community-based networking sites in Sweden, through Klassträffen Sweden AB (www.stayfriends.se), and in Germany, through StayFriends GmbH (www.stayfriends.de). Classmates Online is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNTD). For more information about United Online and its Internet subscription services, please visit www.untd.com.
Press Contacts:
John Uppendahl,
Vice President of Public Relations & Community Affairs
john.uppendahl@classmates.com, 425.917.4933
Joanne Petitto,
Senior Public Relations & Community Affairs Manager
joanne.petitto@classmates.com, 425.917.4927
Online pressroom: www.classmates.com/cmo/about
