The Verdict's In: ``Boston Legal,'' from David E. Kelley Productions & Twentieth Television, to Join ION Television's Primetime

  
    
  
  
    
      ION Media Networks, Inc. (AMEX:ION) announced today that it has entered 
      into an agreement with Twentieth Television to air the David E. Kelley 
      hit television series, “Boston Legal,” 
      on ION Television, beginning this Fall. The agreement marks a milestone 
      in the network’s commitment to popular and 
      diverse entertainment.
    
    
      “‘Boston Legal’ 
      will be to ION Television what Denny Crane is to Crane, Poole & Schmidt – 
      bold, outrageous and positively entertaining,” 
      said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, ION Media Networks. “Smart 
      writing, with humor and heart, and an all-star cast, including James 
      Spader, Candice Bergen and William Shatner, makes this one of the best 
      shows on television. We are excited to bring ‘Boston 
      Legal’ to millions of fans on the ION 
      Television Network starting this Fall.”
    
    
      Led by an Emmy Award-winning cast, “Boston 
      Legal” tells the professional and personal 
      stories of a group of brilliant but often emotionally challenged 
      attorneys. Fast-paced and wildly comedic, the series confronts social 
      and moral issues, while its characters continually stretch the 
      boundaries of the law.
    
    
      In making the announcement, Bob Cook, president and COO of Twentieth 
      Television, stated, “We are excited that ION 
      Television will be sharing with their viewers this Emmy Award-winning 
      program, exemplifying the best in television writing and acting.”
    
    
      Back-to-back Emmy Award-winners James Spader and William Shatner play 
      Alan Shore and Denny Crane, unlikely kindred spirits among the brigade 
      of high-priced litigators at Crane, Poole & Schmidt. Five-time 
      Emmy-winner Candice Bergen plays Shirley Schmidt, a founding partner of 
      the firm, who helps bring order to the chaotic office. To help keep the 
      quirky office staff in tow, Schmidt calls in Crane nemesis and senior 
      partner Carl Sack (Emmy Award-winner John Larroquette) to Boston from 
      the New York offices. Rounding out the cast since the series’ 
      inception are Rene Auberjonois, Monica Potter, Mark Valley and Julie 
      Bowen.
    
    
      Created by David E. Kelley, “Boston Legal” 
      has regularly been a top 20 program on ABC and draws one of the most 
      affluent audiences in television. Kelley and Bill D'Elia are executive 
      producers. The series, which premiered October 3, 2004, airs on ABC and 
      is produced by David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth 
      Century Fox Television.
    
    
      “Boston Legal” has 
      won five Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award and a Golden Globe. Crane, Poole & 
      Schmidt will be open for business this Fall on ION Television.
    
    
      About ION Media Networks
    
    
      ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation's largest 
      broadcast television station group and ION Television, reaching over 94 
      million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast 
      television, cable and satellite distribution systems. ION Television 
      currently features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning 
      libraries of Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Television and CBS Television, 
      among others. ION Media has also partnered with RHI Entertainment, which 
      owns over 4,000 hours of acclaimed television content, to provide 
      weekend primetime programming consisting of exclusive original 
      programming and quality library titles. Utilizing its digital 
      multicasting capability, the company has launched several digital TV 
      brands, including qubo, a television and multimedia network for children 
      formed in partnership with several leading media and entertainment 
      companies, and ION Life, a television and multimedia network dedicated 
      to active living and personal growth. For more information, visit www.ionmedia.tv.
    
    
      About Twentieth Television
    
    
      A leader in the U.S. program production and distribution arena, 
      Twentieth Television provides a wide array of first-run, network and 
      off-network programming, as well as feature film packages, to the 
      syndication and cable marketplaces. First-run programs distributed by 
      Twentieth Television include the talk show, “The 
      Morning Show with Mike and Juliet,” the game 
      show “Temptation” 
      and the court shows “Divorce Court,” 
      “Judge Alex” and “Cristina’s 
      Court.” Off-net shows distributed by 
      Twentieth include “Family Guy,” 
      “24,” “COPS,” 
      “The Simpsons” and 
      the Fall 2008 launch of “Boston Legal.”
    
    
      About David E. Kelley Productions
    
    
      David E. Kelley Productions is one of the entertainment industry’s 
      most successful suppliers of network television programming responsible 
      for several critically acclaimed, award-winning series, such as The 
      Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Chicago Hope and 
      Picket Fences. Headed by multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, Peabody and 
      Humanitas Prize Award-winner David E. Kelley, the company currently 
      produces Boston Legal for ABC.