AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION’S FALL MARKETPLACE CONCLUDES:
NEARLY 100 PROGRAMS OFFERED,
INDUSTRY LEADERS RECOGNIZED,
RATINGS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANNOUNCED

BOSTON (Nov. 26, 2008) – American Public Television (APT) unveiled nearly 100 new programs, celebrated its ratings successes throughout the 2007-08 TV season and honored several prominent public television programs and personalities at its annual Fall Marketplace on Nov. 15, 2008 in Houston, Texas. This four-day event drew nearly 250 attendees – primarily public television programmers, general managers and producers.

APT President and CEO Cynthia Fenneman opened the event with a keynote speech, highlighting the company’s essential role within the public television system and the strength its programming brings to public television station schedules. Fenneman announced that APT presented 54 of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles on primary stations in metered markets during the 2007-08 TV season, including five of the top 10 and 11 of the top 20 titles.

The conference featured previews of nearly 100 new programs available for U.S public television schedules. The vast collection of titles spanned a variety of genres ranging from drama and nature to science and children’s programming. Featured titles included: RICK STEVES’ ROMANTIC’S EUROPE and RICK STEVES’ EUROPEAN TREATS, two new pledge specials from travel expert Rick Steves; LOST IN AUSTEN, an entertaining miniseries that puts an ingenious modern-day twist on Jane Austen’s romance classic Pride and Prejudice; DESTINATION WORLD, a new collection of breathtaking high-definition travel documentaries; MIDSOMER MURDERS, a celebrated, classic series of English murder mysteries; DICKENS’ SECRET LOVER, a fascinating documentary about the private life and loves of the Great Expectations novelist; DUDU FISHER: IN CONCERT FROM ISRAEL, a spectacular concert performance from acclaimed Israeli singer and Broadway star David “Dudu” Fisher; and two new specials from Richard Bangs, the “father of modern adventure travel”: RICHARD BANGS’ ADVENTURES WITH PURPOSE MOROCCO: QUEST FOR THE KASBAH and RICHARD BANGS' ADVENTURES WITH PURPOSE NORWAY: QUEST FOR THE VIKING SPIRIT.

Fall Marketplace 2008 also drew several of public television’s most popular hosts, including chefs Lidia Bastianich, Steven Raichlen, Andreas Viestad, and Sara La Fountain, as well as travel hosts Rick Steves and Darley Newman. P. Allen Smith stopped by to sign books and promote the newest series of his acclaimed gardening show, P. ALLEN SMITH’S GARDEN HOME. Sam and Matthew Nelson, sons of teen idol Rick Nelson, also appeared to promote the release of a new collection of episodes from the show that made their father famous—OZZIE AND HARRIET REVISITED. Award-winning journalist Martin Savidge came to Houston to publicize the new international news show WORLDFOCUS at a hosted evening reception. Lonnie Jordan, lead singer of the hit band War, appeared at a lunch sponsored by the band’s new special WAR: LIVE AT THE GROVE. Spiritual guru Deepak Chopra also visited to promote his new program, SECRETS OF ENLIGHTENMENT WITH DEEPAK CHOPRA.

APT also announced several industry awards during Fall Marketplace. Industry leader David Liroff received APT’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his ongoing and distinguished career in public media. Renowned author and television personality Lidia Bastianich was honored with the 2008 MVP Award, celebrating a special person, program or entity for outstanding contributions to public television.

In addition, APT recognized six programs that have excelled in station schedules with 2008 Programming Excellence Awards. These awards are determined by a combination of importance, content, ratings, carriage and production excellence. This year’s winners included WORLDFOCUS, COOK’S COUNTRY FROM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN, AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED, SPAIN…ON THE ROAD AGAIN, RICHARD BANGS’ ADVENTURES WITH PURPOSE NEW ZEALAND: QUEST FOR KAITIAKITANGA, MIKE DOUGLAS: MOMENTS AND MEMORIES, and HERE HE IS...THE ONE, THE ONLY…GROUCHO.

APT Fall Marketplace 2009 will take place from Nov. 11-14, 2009 at the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers, Fla.

About American Public Television
With more than 10,000 hours of programming in its library, American Public Television (APT) has been a prime source of programming for the nation’s public television stations for 47 years, distributing more than 300 new program titles per year. In 2006, APT launched Create – the TV channel featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming. Known for its leadership in identifying innovative, worthwhile and viewer-friendly programming, APT has established a tradition of providing public television stations with program choices that strengthen and customize their schedules, such as such as Rick Steves' Europe, Worldfocus, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, Sara's Weeknight Meals, America's Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Doc Martin, Broadway: The Golden Age, Lidia's Family Table, Rosemary and Thyme, P. Allen Smith's Garden Home, The Big Comfy Couch, Celine Dion: A New Day, Queen Rock Montreal, Monarchy With David Starkey, Spain...on the road Again, and other prominent documentaries, dramatic series, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. For more information about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.