AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION ANNOUNCES 2005 PROGRAMMING EXCELLENCE AND SAVVY SCHEDULER AWARDS AT FALL MARKETPLACE

PRESS RELEASE



(BOSTON, Mass. — November 22, 2005) - American Public Television (APT) held its annual Fall Marketplace meeting in Palm Springs, California from November 9 through 12 for public television programmers, producers, talent and managers. During this meeting, APT presented more than 100 potential programs for the 2005/2006 television season, highlighted significant achievements from the past year and announced the APT MVP 2005 and the Programming Excellence winners. Finally, the last day of Fall Marketplace was dedicated to a Create Workshop, which introduced APT’s lifestyle/how-to digital channel launching in January 2006.

The APT Programming Excellence Awards identify innovative, thought-provoking and engaging programs and producers that made a difference in public television. In all, five awards were handed out. Highlights included a Programming Excellence Award for Nashville Public Television’s special, The Appalachians – one of APT’s top-rated programs among programs broadcast on the most stations. Produced by Evening Star Productions and presented by Nashville PTV, it aired on an impressive 176 stations. Another Programming Excellence Award went to California Dreamin’ – The Songs of the Mamas and the Papas – a highly successful fundraising program from APT Premium Service which raised approximately $1.5 million – just from 55 reporting licensees. It was one of APT’s top programs – airing on the most stations in both primetime and full-day. The third Programming Excellence Award went to A La Carte Communications’ America’s Test Kitchen from Cooks Illustrated (ATK) – a popular public television program with the highest carriage among APT’s lifestyle programs and one of the highest for all PTV programs, among primary metered markets. The fourth Programming Excellence Award was presented to BBC Worldwide’s Battlefield Britain. This eight-part series, spanning 2,000 years of battles fought on British soil, engages CGI-generated soldiers recreating famous British conflicts. Battlefield Britain shared two feats: beyond movies, it was one of the most-carried and highest-rated primetime programs from APT. The final Programming Excellence Award went to Devillier Donegan Enterprises’ Panama Canal: The Eighth Wonder of the World – the top-rated APT program among all public television titles for the past year. Panama Canal ranked eighth among all PTV titles, only beaten by shows such as Antiques Roadshow and the Jack Johnson special.

Along with these five Programming Excellence Awards, APT presented two Savvy Scheduler Awards for programmers who have used APT programming to attract the most additional viewing. APT awarded one Savvy Scheduler Award to Ron Santora, director of broadcasting at WNED, Buffalo/Toronto. Santora is an aggressive scheduler of APT Syndication programs, with his keen choice of APT programs frequently earning ratings in the twos, threes and fours. About 25% of WNED’s primetime hours are filled by APT programs, averaging a 1.81 household rating in primetime. The second Savvy Scheduler Award went to Bill Thrash, director of programming at Oklahoma ETA/KETA. The APT programs broadcast on Oklahoma ETA averaged a 1.62 full-day rating. In primetime, Oklahoma’s average household rating for APT programs was a 2.03 – an 11% increase over the station’s average rating in primetime.

Runners up for the Savvy Scheduler Award include WYES/New Orleans, which has an APT rating average 38% higher than its regular full-day station average, and KRMA/Denver, which has an APT average primetime rating 8% higher than its regular primetime average.


American Public Television
For 44 years, American Public Television (APT) has been a prime source of programming for the nation’s public television stations. APT distributes more than 10,000 hours of programming including JFK: Breaking the News, Simply Ming, Globe Trekker, Rick Steves’ Europe, Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home, Battlefield Britain, Jungle, America’s Test Kitchen, Lidia’s Family Table and classic movies. APT is known for identifying innovative programs and developing creative distribution techniques for producers. In four decades, it has established a tradition of providing public television stations nationwide with program choices that enable them to strengthen and customize their schedules. Press should contact Donna Hardwick at 617-338-4455 ext. 129 or via email to Donna_Hardwick@APTonline.org. For more information about APT’s programs and services visit www.APTonline.org.