PITTSBURGH, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- WQED Multimedia today announced a two-year network affiliate agreement with ValueVision Media, Inc. of Minnesota to broadcast its "ShopNBC" programming on WQEX TV beginning March 26, 2007. ShopNBC, the nation's most upscale home shopping network, will be a beneficial addition to WQEX. It offers a variety of products to consumers, live, including: jewelry, watches, cosmetics, electronics, apparel, and more. WQEX, as a "ShopNBC" affiliate, will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no commercial interruptions. However, in accordance with FCC requirements, every Monday from 6-8am and Tuesdays from 7-9am, WQEX will air children's programming and the best of OnQ Magazine. WQEX was formerly the home to "America's Store," the shopping channel owned by HSN of St. Petersburg, Florida. "This agreement as a shopping network continues the unique arrangement WQED Multimedia entered into three years ago when the FCC approved a commercial license for WQEX," said George L. Miles, Jr., president and CEO of WQED Multimedia. "This continues a revenue stream for us while maximizing the value of the station through this agreement with ValueVision. Just as we said in 2004 when WQEX received that commercial license, WQED Multimedia still retains the right to sell the station in the future and profit from that sale." The additional revenue stream helps WQED Multimedia, as a nonprofit broadcast operation, augment its fundraising efforts and further help to support its mission of providing not just programming on television and radio, but the development of new educational initiatives in the community and in schools, strengthen services for members, and keep pace with technological advances in the industry. The deal is also a collaboration between WQED and ValueVision Media, Inc. and may open the door to a number of merchandising and revenue building opportunities for WQED through its broadcasting, web and publishing divisions. "ValueVision is pleased to bring ShopNBC to hundreds of thousands of additional customers in the Pittsburgh market," said William J. Lansing, president and CEO of ValueVision Media, Inc. "ShopNBC has been carried on Comcast Cable for several years on digital channel 280, and now all Comcast subscribers, as well as subscribers to other cable systems in the market, will be able to see ShopNBC's wide array of quality products on channel 4 or 16, depending upon the particular area." Founded in 1990, ValueVision Media, Inc. is the parent company of ShopNBC, an integrated direct marketing company that sells its products directly to consumers through television, the Internet, and direct mail. Company headquarters, broadcast facilities, and customer service are in Minnesota. Fulfillment facilities are in Minnesota and Kentucky. The Company has been publicly traded since 1991 on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol VVTV. WQED Multimedia, honored with the Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award for Station Excellence and eight other Emmy Awards in 2006, provides quality products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within its community and around the world. It is the parent company of WQED tv13 (PBS), WQEX tv16, WQED fm89.3, WQEJ fm89.7/Johnstown, a publishing division that includes PITTSBURGH magazine, local and national television and radio productions, http://www.wqed.org/ and the WQED Education and Community Resource Center. DATASOURCE: WQED Multimedia CONTACT: Rosemary Martinelli of WQED Multimedia, +1-412-622-6433; or Amy Kahlow of ValueVision Media, +1-952-943-6717 Web site: http://www.wqed.org/

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