"TELEVISION IGNORES MIDDLE AMERICA..."

FORMER ECHOSTAR AND TBS DEALMAKER SET TO LAUNCH NEW 24/7 CABLE NETWORK, THE AMERICA CHANNEL™;

July 7, 2003 – Orlando, Florida – Coinciding with a study which reveals that 58% of television viewers believe television does not reflect the real America, a former EchoStar and CNN dealmaker, Doron Gorshein, announced today plans to launch a new 24/7 non-fiction, entertainment cable network, The America Channel ™;, in the second quarter of 2004. “The America Channel ™; will elevate storytelling to a new and entertaining level, focusing on the people, places and things that fall through the cracks between New York and Los Angeles, the heartland of America that represents the majority of the viewing public.” Over the last 18 months, Gorshein, the network’s Chairman and CEO, has assembled a team which includes Waller Capital Corporation, Vanguard Media Corporation and Brad Marks International. The network expects to launch with over 3 million subscribers with conservative targets of 20 million subscribers within 36 months after launch and more than 50 million subscribers at network maturity.

According to the market research survey which was recently completed by leading research firm, SmithGeiger LLC, for The America Channel, 47% of multichannel television viewers say “it is difficult to find something on television that really speaks to me.” The study of 600 cable and satellite subscribers between the ages of 18 and 64 also reveals a number of sentiments across the country that are consistent with the promise of The America Channel ™;. The majority of Americans place a tremendous importance on feeling a connection with other Americans from around the country (88%) and on feeling part of a community (84%). A majority of respondents (63%) would like to know more about the everyday lives of Americans around the country.

“The market research clearly indicates that television ignores what is fundamentally important to middle America,” said Gorshein. “Consumers want more connection with their communities and with other Americans – they want real stories about real people. They also want more content about the diverse tapestry of America – and about how America is perceived globally. Most importantly, they want it delivered in an entertaining fashion.”

The America Channel’s ™; program schedule and its overall theme of real American stories address the demands of the marketplace, as evidenced by the 63% of respondents who said that they would be ‘likely to watch’ TAC ™; after hearing a full description of the channel and its programming lineup. The America Channel’s prime time programs include:
· American Stories – a series that highlights real stories of ordinary people who manage extraordinary accomplishments, such as a poor immigrant who becomes a millionaire or a single mother who becomes a big city mayor;
· America From Afar – a program that takes a stark look at what the media in other countries are saying about America, its leaders, its events and its people;
· Campus Report – a series in which The America Channel ™; lends its cameras to college students who document the trials, tribulations and triumphs of today’s real college life;
· Road Trip – a series in which two explorers, a man and a woman in their early twenties, set off across the country in a bright green Hummer H2, stopping to uncover unique communities, stories and people;
· Occupational Hazard – a show that invites viewers to a spend a day in the life of Americans with unusually dangerous or offbeat jobs and then challenges those individuals to “beat the clock” in delivering their “personal best” for the camera;
· Faces of America – a series of in-depth profiles of the diverse communities and social, ethnic, religious and political groups that form the rich tapestry of American society; and
· Personal Quest – a reality series that follows a small group of young Americans, week after week, as they each strive to make their own American dream come true.

“What we found in our survey is that even with the broad array of choices, television viewers are looking for a better way to feel connected to what is happening across America that goes beyond the news” said Seth Geiger, President of SmithGeiger LLC. “The America Channel ™; has an opportunity to fill an important and underserved niche that viewers overwhelmingly feel will improve their current pay television service. In fact, two out of three said that a network like The America Channel ™; would improve their cable or satellite service; and 23% said they would consider upgrading to a digital tier in order to get it. The network also shows up as an influencer in subscribers' decisions to retain digital service.”

The network has been specifically designed to thrive in a digital environment, with its low cost and efficient business model, reduced scale of operator and sponsor revenues, and healthy diet of compelling, original programming. The network is designed to reach profitability with around 25 million subscribers.

The America Channel ™; has met with numerous advertising agency heads, and is in talks with noteworthy agencies who handle blue chip brands. Gorshein believes that Coca-Cola’s recent $15 million strategic investment and advertising deal with College Sports TV (CSTV) in April demonstrates a dynamic and fertile advertising market. Since CSTV announced the Coke investment, Gorshein notes the receptivity from agencies and their clients to develop creative options with TAC ™; “has increased substantially, exceeding our expectations.”

Rick Milenthal, Chairman of Ten United advertising agency, commented, “The America Channel ™; concept is wonderful – especially for some of America’s heritage brands. It represents out-of-the-box thinking, delivering to clients new and unique opportunities where the risk is low and the advantages are substantial.” Ten United represents such brands as Hoover, Comet, Prell and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Rick Newberger, Managing Director of media advisory firm Vanguard Media Corporation, has been instrumental in the development and launch of several new channels over the last decade, including The Golf Channel, The Sci Fi Channel and what is now Tech TV. "To be successful," said Newberger, "a new network launching in 2004 has to have a powerful, unique concept that resonates deeply with the audience. It needs to have original programs as its core, and its business model needs to be designed from the ground up to be compatible with the type and scale of distribution and revenue that can be realistically achieved. The America Channel ™; has all of that; in my opinion it is one of those rare 'natural' channels that everyone is going to want."

“The America Channel ™; is in the process of meeting with key distribution partners in the cable and satellite universe to negotiate carriage,” said John Waller, Chairman of Waller Capital Corporation. Waller Capital, the leading investment banking boutique for the cable television industry, is the network’s strategic and financial adviser.

The America Channel ™; has been in talks with top talent in the entertainment community regarding ways feature stories can be depicted with a high level of artistic storytelling and journalistic documentary integrity. Stuart Sender, Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker (2003 for “Prisoner of Paradise”), noted, “The America Channel’s™; idea is to push television to a new level of expectation and quality.”

Gorshein was at Turner Broadcasting in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s through Operation Desert Storm. He presided over the international licensing of CNN and its related news services throughout most of the world and negotiated deals in countries with little prior access to Western media, including in the Middle East and Asia. “In these countries, people’s sense of the world changed. The impact of media permeated everything – even how they spoke. Today, I read numerous newspapers from around the world and monitor American television programs. There is clearly a void in the media marketplace. As television consumers we have different, extended needs in 2003.”

At EchoStar, Gorshein managed the operations of the legal department during a period of dramatic subscriber growth. He handled a variety of strategic transactions, including investments, distribution deals and acquisitions.

Ron Fleming, co-chair of the emerging companies practice at Pillsbury Winthrop LLP, TAC’s ™; legal advisors and one of America’s premier law firms, noted "We have worked with Gorshein since his dealmaking days at EchoStar, and from our very first transactions with him, saw the passion, drive and vision that are prerequisites for success in the venture arena. He has surrounded himself with a world-class team of media advisors and gone the extra mile to do everything right. His drive and energy are infectious, and not coincidentally, these are the ultimate American character traits and themes that will be depicted in The America Channel™."

Brad Marks, Chairman and CEO, Brad Marks International, the pre-eminent entertainment/media/technology head hunting firm whose clients include Charter, Fox, Time-Warner, Viacom, Disney and others, is spearheading the search for additional top management for the new network. “In the near future, The America Channel ™; expects to announce hires in key high-profile positions,” Marks said. “We believe The America Channel ™; has a unique brand that will attract top industry talent.”

For more information regarding The America Channel ™; or for artwork including the logo, photos and program art, please contact Davis Communications Group, Inc. at
(818) 710-8198 or visit The America Channel ™; Web site at www.americachannel.us.