Code Networks Announces Launch of Broadband Channel CODE.TV, the First Television Network for Affluent Urbanites

Code Networks Announces Launch of Broadband Channel CODE.TV, the First Television Network for Affluent Urbanites

www.code.tv

Want to know if that new sushi restaurant is worth its weight in sashimi? Curious about that legendary St. Barth's nightclub's new home in New York City? Feel like splurging on the latest fashions but don't know where to start? Interested in finding a place to take your child for Pilates? With CODE.TV it's only a click away. Code Networks is founded by former MTV executives, partners, Morgan Hertzan and Joseph Varet. The company is made up entirely of former MTV Networks' staff.

NEW YORK, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Code Networks is proud to announce the launch of CODE.TV, the first television network for affluent 25-49 year olds, a free on-demand broadband channel available exclusively at http://www.code.tv/. CODE.TV will launch on June 12, 2006, featuring local culture and lifestyle programming for New York City and the Hamptons, with Los Angeles and other city-specific channels to follow. CODE.TV gives viewers the latest insider information from chic, hip, expert hosts who take them inside the action and entertainment of each city's hottest and most exclusive new destinations.

Each weekday CODE.TV will release a new hosted video segment about the latest upscale New York City and Hamptons hotspots, available for viewing free and on demand at http://www.code.tv/. CODE.TV programming gives its audience first-look, exclusive insider information about all the spaces, places, and faces the city will be buzzing about tomorrow. Users can meet the players, take a tour, and get all the dish they need to keep abreast of the New York and the Hamptons scenes; CODE.TV is there 24/7 to help sophisticated urbanites separate the must-dos from the wannabes. CODE.TV is the first outlet to bring the luxury urban lifestyle alive with video and is advertiser-supported, with content that is strictly editorial. CODE.TV's hosts and producers select and review all destinations featured on the network.

Each CODE.TV segment is hosted by an expert, from professional chef Sara Gore to full time mother Wendy Fentress to avid athlete and outdoorsman George Oliphant. The CODE.TV hosts bring the best of New York and the Hamptons to life each day.

CODE.TV will capitalize on the explosive growth of broadband video, reported by comScore as of March 2006 to reach more than 77 million Americans each month, by harnessing the revolutionary possibilities of broadband for distributing tailored TV to niche audiences.

"We wanted to create something that has the excitement and impact of television while satisfying every successful young New Yorker's need to be ahead of the curve," said CODE.TV executive producer Morgan Hertzan. "We are creating the ideal content for broadband by focusing on the social currency of this young affluent audience. We are the first to present urban luxury lifestyle editorial as video, and now our audience can get to know these places, and the people behind them, in a much deeper, more visual way."

Code Networks CEO Joseph Varet said, "CODE.TV was created to connect with affluent Americans under the age of fifty, with all-original programming that's uniquely relevant to them. This is arguably the world's most desirable audience, yet they have never before had their own TV network. For the first time, broadband technology allows us to serve this incredibly valuable super-niche audience with high-quality video programming. There are hundreds of magazines, websites, and email newsletters where you can read about new luxury lifestyle destinations, but it's far more compelling to experience them first-hand through our entertaining and informative video profiles."

"CODE.TV is a great example of how Internet TV is opening up the television market with new channels and online media opportunities," said Jeremy Allaire, Chairman and CEO of Brightcove, an Internet TV service dedicated to harnessing the inherent power of the Internet to transform the distribution and consumption of media. CODE.TV has partnered with Brightcove, to distribute its broadband video programming. "We're pleased to be working with the CODE.TV team, what they are creating will fill a void in the current media landscape, and is the perfect example of the possibilities of broadband TV. As former MTV Networks executives, the CODE.TV team brings the market knowledge and scale needed to make this a great success."

From Madison Avenue to Mercer Street, the East Village to East Hampton, CODE.TV gives you exclusive first-look access to the places that matter now. By merging the omnipresence of the Internet with the exciting pace and style of television, CODE.TV brings the young and affluent viewer the information they want and care about.

About CODE.TV Founders:

Joseph Varet, CEO, was most recently responsible for all aspects of business development and strategic planning for new television and broadband networks at MTV. Among the channels that Joseph developed are MTV World (a suite of subscription foreign-language music video channels for bicultural US audiences) and a forthcoming culture/lifestyle broadband network. Joseph also created and launched the MTV Games videogame studio. Previously, Joseph was CEO of The Groove Alliance, a publisher of branded online videogames for Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros, Microsoft, Mars, FedEx, Michelob, and others. He has also worked in strategy and new venture development at Fox Television and digital media agency KPE. A native New Yorker, Joseph received a BA degree from Harvard College and a MBA from Columbia Business School. Joseph serves on the Board of Directors of The Northside Center for Child Development and the Contemporaries Executive Committee of the Whitney Museum.

Morgan Hertzan, Chief Creative Officer/Executive Producer, was most recently Executive Producer for new television and broadband networks at MTV, where he oversaw all aspects of creative development and production for MHD (MTV's high definition music channel), MTV World, MTV Puerto Rico, and MTV 44 1/2 (MTV's permanent video billboard in Time Square). Morgan previously created, launched, and supervised production of mtvU (MTV's college television network), which reaches over 7 million students at 700 US colleges and universities. Prior to joining MTV, Morgan was an Associate Producer at CBS News' "60 Minutes." A native New Yorker, Morgan received a BA in Broadcast Journalism from American University. Morgan serves as Co-Chair of the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Center for Children with Blood Disorders at NYU Medical Center.

Source: Code Networks

CONTACT: Lisa Dallos for Code Networks, +1-212-582-9795,
lisa.dallos@freud.com

Web site: http://www.code.tv/

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