News Releases
NEW YORK, NY - (February 14, 2013) – The search for America’s ‘Next Great Family Band’ begins this month on a new reality television show from Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com).
The series, ‘Next Great Family Band,’ is a 30-minute weekly show produced by Meredith Video Studios. The show will premiere February 17 on COZI TV, a network developed by the NBC Owned Television Stations division of NBCUniversal. The new series features 15 family bands from across the country, each hoping to follow in the footsteps of iconic family bands like The Jackson 5, The Jonas Brothers, Hanson and The Osmonds.
“It is the family dynamic that makes ‘Next Great Family Band’ very unique,” said Seth Feldman, the show’s creator and producer and Vice President of Branded Entertainment for Meredith Video Studios. “In addition to seeing these bands rock out on stage, fans will get to know band members during family meals, homework sessions and carpool time.”
Three music industry experts will critique and mentor the bands. The panel of experts includes Kimberly Locke, whose success on American Idol led her to a series of number one hits; Phoenix Stone, a former Backstreet Boy and up-and-coming country artist; and drummer Samantha Maloney, who has played for bands such as Motley Crew and Hole.
Social media will play an impactful role in the show as viewers are encouraged to comment on their favorite bands on Facebook, Twitter and the show’s website. Based off of viewer’s comments, the industry experts will each choose a band to mentor the second half of the season. The three final bands will perform in a grand finale at the end of the season.
“We are excited to add ‘Next Great Family Band’ to the COZI TV lineup,” said Meredith McGinn, Vice President of Multi-Station Local Programming for NBC owned television stations. “‘Next Great Family Band’ is the perfect show for the entire family to sit down and watch together, making it the ideal complement to COZI TV’s iconic TV series and hit movies.”
‘Next Great Family Band’ is Meredith Video Studios’ first foray into music-television. It has had tremendous success with The Better Show, a daily nationally syndicated television show, as well as both scripted and un-scripted Branded Entertainment series.
“We’re very excited to be partnering with NBC and COZI TV,” said Kieran Clarke, Executive President and General Manager of Meredith Video Studios. “Great music, talent and family story-telling will undoubtedly connect with viewers across the country.”
COZI TV is currently available to nearly 38 million homes in the largest markets in the country, including the multicast channels of the 10 NBC Owned Stations in New York (WNBC), Los Angeles (KNBC), Chicago (WMAQ), Philadelphia (WCAU), San Francisco Bay Area (KNTV), Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS), Washington, D.C. (WRC), Miami-Fort Lauderdale (WTVJ), San Diego (KNSD) and Connecticut (WVIT), among many other stations. For more information about COZI TV, please visit www.cozitv.com. Updates about COZI TV are also available via Facebook at www.facebook.com/cozitv and Twitter @CoziTV.
About Meredith Corporation
Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com) is one of the nation’s leading media and marketing companies. Meredith features multiple well-known national brands – including Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, Allrecipes.com and EveryDay with Rachael Ray – and local television brands in fast-growing markets.
Meredith Local Media Group owns or operates 13 television stations that reach nearly 10 percent of U.S. television households: WGCL-TV (CBS), Atlanta; WPCH-TV (TBS), Atlanta; KPHO-TV (CBS), Phoenix; KPDX-TV (MYN), Portland, OR; KPTV (FOX), Portland, OR; WFSB-TV (CBS), Hartford-New Haven, CT; WSMV-TV (NBC) Nashville, TN; KCTV (CBS), Kansas City, MO; KSMO (MYN), Kansas City, MO; WHNS-TV (FOX), Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC-Asheville, NC; WNEM-TV (CBS), Flint-Saginaw, MI; KVVU-TV (FOX), Las Vegas, NV; and WSHM, (CBS), Springfield, MA.
About NBC Owned Television Stations
NBC Owned Television Stations is the division of NBCUniversal that includes 10 local television stations and their websites and digital platforms, as well as a group of out-of-home properties, a production company and COZI TV (www.cozitv.com). The 10 stations produce and deliver compelling and unique local news, information and entertainment programming to viewers in the communities they serve, which include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Miami, San Diego and Connecticut, with a goal of connecting to their audiences anytime and anywhere.
Contact: Lauren Burt, Manager of Corporate Communications, 515-284-3125, lauren.burt@meredith.com
Shawn Feddeman Cronin, NBC Owned Television Stations, 212-413-5884, shawn.feddeman@nbcuni.com