HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
IC Punch Media, Inc. (OTCQB: PNCH) announced today the official
launch date for the new VU Television Network will be September 23rd 2013.
VU Television Network is currently developing National
programming and content consisting of launch related specials,
reality series, comedy, local entertainment news, drama and family
friendly movies along with children's programming for morning
weekday and weekend time periods.
VU Television Network will launch in 15 major cities across the
U.S. in September offering original programing combined with Local
Entertainment News and event offerings in every city.
"The main differentiator for VU Television will be our local
presence in each city. While the majority of networks that
have launched over the past few years have only been able to offer
national cable programing, VU Televisions will tap into the power
of our www.icplaces.com websites to enhance and attract more
audience numbers." said Steven
Samblis, CEO of IC Punch Media, Inc. "Over the past eight
years, through our icplaces.com websites, we have built a large
contingence of local partnerships and viewers in each city. These
include local concert and event partners in each market, along with
restaurant partners, business partners, theaters, both large and
small, Hollywood studios and Out
of Home Network partners. We will now harness these relationships
and deliver it to our stations in each and every city, giving us a
true local presence combined with an amazing line up of original
programing and content.
The break-out star of local programing for VU Television in each
city will be a weekly half-hour entertainment news show "Happening
This Week in...!!" The show will bring local viewers their own
one-stop entertainment-hub to know everything going on that week in
their city. We will feature upcoming concerts and events coming to
town each week. The show will tell people how to purchase tickets
for the various events, even if they are sold out. We will offer
local restaurant reviews, sent in by people around the city using
the icplaces.com "Instant Restaurant Review" app, which will be
re-launching in August of 2013. "Happening" will also
announce and hold local movies screenings with give-away prizes and
events on air and in partnership with local businesses in each
city. This is a truly unique distinction in launching a new TV
Network where we will be actually running each local affiliate
station in the designated cities. It will allow VU Television
to build local marketing partnerships to enhance their brand and
build their domestic audience through this established programming
platform.
New IC Punch Media President Appointed.
The company has also brought on veteran TV syndicator and
producer, Gayle Dickie as the
President of IC Punch Media, Inc. and the newly created VU
Television Network.
In her role as President Gayle will oversee the network's
day-to-day operations of their multi-platform broadcast, cable,
OOHD and streaming content distribution channels. The company
will create original content as well as establishing strategic
partnerships on an ad-revenue share basis.
Dickie started her career working for the former presidents of
Twentieth Century-Fox and Orion Pictures, moving into television
syndication in the late 80's when few women were offered executive
positions. Successfully selling television programs to 210
television stations domestically for companies including Viacom,
Mattel Toys, and Tribune's TPE, Dickie was the sales powerhouse
behind the original creation of "DragonBall Z" to Haim Saban and Saban Entertainment, which
started an empire for Funimation Entertainment, now the leading
company for home video sales of Japanese Animation in the United States. As head of Business
Development for Entertainment & Media for Covansys, Inc., she
was responsible for sales of business intelligence to major
TV/Film/Studio/Music companies providing end-to-end solutions and
custom development software applications to Warner Bros., Fox
Filmed Entertainment, Universal, DreamWorks, MGM, Sony, Paramount,
E!Networks, Disney and DirecTV. As a creative consultant
evaluating various film and television projects, Gayle has raised
private equity/financing for multiple independent films and
television shows, forming strategic alliances with various
producers, directors and writers in the US and Canada and Pan Asia.
"Gayle Dickie's vast
relationships and extensive background in programming, syndication,
broadcast and technology makes her the perfect person to lead our
network during this unprecedented time of multi media platform
entertainment," said IC Punch Media, Inc. CEO Steve Samblis.
Dickie's first appointment is James
Allen Bradley, as EVP of Production and Operations.
Jim's the perfect partner to produce original content on time and
on budget with a solid producing background in TV and film. James
has produced and or directed over 15 feature films and over 100
hours of Television. Working with such celebrated talent as
Kate Bosworth, Chris Evans, Billy Ray
Cyrus, Ron Pearlman, Cuba
Gooding Jr., Ray Winstone,
Michelle Rodriguez, John Malkovich, Kevin
Costner and countless others. As an executive
producer, Jim raised private equity and subsequently directed
50 episodes of "THE HOLLYWOOD
JUDGE SHOW" which will be appearing on VU this fall.
Jim started his career at All Post, Inc., a video
post-production company in charge of post-production services for
television shows such as "SEINFELD" and "WILL AND GRACE." The next
two years, Jim moved up to post-production supervisor for Artist
View Entertainment, a foreign sales company founded in 1991. Then
in 1998, having honed numerous skills in the television arena, Jim
chose to go back to film production as a trouble shooting line
producer and Executive for Motion Picture Bond Company, a
specialized insurance company that guarantees completion of
production for investors, banks, distributors and unions. With
diverse and concentrated expertise, Jim has had the opportunity to
direct feature films including "THE NEWCOMERS" starring
Chris Evans, Paul Dano, Jeff
Fahey and a young Kate
Bosworth. Jim's television show, "Better Homes &
Gardens" won the Daytime Emmy Award in 2000 for "Best Service Show"
on which he was supervising producer. Having worked on over
20 feature films including the Academy Award winning film, "Dances
With Wolves", Jim's valued experience spans decades of involvement
in quality entertainment.
For the newly created position of EVP of Sales and Marketing
Partnerships, Dickie names Meredith
Walters, a seasoned sales and marketing executive with over
25 years experience in broadcast television, cable and digital
media industries. Meredith is considered an innovative sales
leader with diverse career experiences at the top networks in
Television and Cable, including FOX, UPN, NBC, and COX Media.
Throughout her career in Television and New Media, Meredith was
instrumental in the launch and introduction of several networks
such as FOX, MSNBC, UPN, NETZERO and OOH digital network, SOLUTREA
to the advertising marketplace.
During her long tenure in broadcast television, Meredith was
responsible for over $ 500MM in advertising revenue. In her
position as National Sales Manager at UPN 44, Meredith was part of
the launch of the cutting edge UPN network and was responsible for
over $31 MM in national revenue.
During her tenure at NBC, Meredith developed advertising revenue of
over $15 MM and co-created the "Chris
Matthews College tour" show. This show was also a one of a kind
integrated sponsorship program incorporating a specialized content.
This show is still on the NBC cable networks today.
"I've known Meredith for over 20 years and couldn't wait to
bring her on board. She's innovative in her sales approach
and brings a diverse broadcast and cable background including the
OOHD platforms."
"I couldn't be more thrilled to work with these talented and
solid executives," states Dickie, who has been working closely with
Samblis and Bradley, strategizing a significant launch to take
place September 23, 2013.
About IC Punch Media, Inc.
IC Punch Media, Inc. is a transmedia entertainment complex that
produces entertainment content for distribution across multiple
mediums. The company trades on the OTCQB: Symbol PNCH.
(http://www.icplaces.com )
Through multiple long term partnerships, clips and full episodes
of the company's shows are available to people outside the
traditional set top box. This exposure serves as both a profit
center and marketing component promoting the TV Network, its line
up and the company's new media specific programming across multiple
platforms.
IC Places Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These
forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and
expectations of management and are subject to a number of
uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the
company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results
of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of
risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects
and cause actual results to differ materially from those described
in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and
other documents filed by the company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
IC Punch Media, Inc.
407-442-0309 Ext2
info@icplaces.com
SOURCE IC Punch Media, Inc.