SANTA ANA, Calif., March 15, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- ACME Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACME) announced today that it has signed a network affiliation agreement with FOX's MyNetworkTV for KASY-TV, ACME's current UPN television station affiliate serving Albuquerque-Santa Fe, the nation's 46th largest television market.
Debuting in the Fall of 2006, MyNetworkTV is a viable primetime alternative that will offer audiences new and compelling content, while providing station owners with an attractive advertising inventory split and appealing affiliation terms through a model that carries no reverse network compensation. MyNetworkTV's schedule of quality primetime programming will be Monday through Saturday from 8:00-10:00 p.m., and will continue to uphold and enhance the local traditions of its affiliate stations through increased local advertising inventory.
Doug Gealy, ACME's President and COO, commented, "Today's agreement with MyNetworkTV is a win-win for both our audience and our shareholders. MyNetworkTV will bring exciting new content to the Albuquerque-Santa Fe market while also immediately increasing the value of KASY through a favorable economic affiliation model and increased local inventory. Roger Ailes, Jack Abernethy, Dennis Swanson, Bob Cook and their team have a long tradition of launching successful television ventures and we feel that MyNetworkTV is a natural fit for KASY."
Mr. Gealy added, "With this agreement we have completed new network affiliations for our entire station group and couldn't be happier with the results. Today's agreement, coupled with our recent affiliation agreement with The CW Network, enhances the value of our entire station group and improves our competitive position in our local markets. We will continue to manage our stations for growth, applying our operating skills and continued cost control measures, while supplementing our efforts with the improved programming and advertising inventory that our new network affiliations provide."
About ACME Communications, Inc.
ACME Communications, Inc. owns and operates nine television stations serving markets covering 3.7% of the nation's television households, making the Company the fourth largest affiliate group of The WB Television Network. The Company's stations are: KUWB-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (which is subject to a sale to Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc.); KWBQ-TV and KASY-TV, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM; WBDT-TV, Dayton, OH; WBXX-TV, Knoxville, TN; WTVK-TV, Ft. Myers-Naples, FL; WIWB-TV, Green Bay-Appleton, WI; WBUI-TV, Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, IL and WBUW-TV, Madison, WI. All of the Company's stations, except KASY-TV, a UPN affiliate, are WB Network affiliates. ACME's shares are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol: ACME.