Third Season of Martha Bakes To Premiere on PBS Beginning April 5th

Third Season of Martha Bakes To Premiere on PBS Beginning April 5th

-- Ball, King Arthur Flour, and Nordic Ware will serve as sponsors

NEW YORK, April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) today announced that the third season of the ever-popular teaching program, Martha Bakes, will premiere on PBS stations nationwide beginning April 5, 2014 (check local listings). The program will be presented in association with WETA Washington, D.C., the flagship public broadcaster in the nation's capital. Jarden Home Brands (makers of Ball brand preserving products), King Arthur Flour, and Nordic Ware will serve as sponsors.

The third season of Martha Bakes follows a strong second season that averaged more than 900,000 weekly viewers throughout its initial run and was seen in more than 96% of U.S. households, with ratings about ten percent higher than its first season. In each 30-minute episode of the third season of Martha Bakes, which was produced by MSLO, Martha will demonstrate more classic baking techniques and basics using her signature step-by-step, how-to teaching process. Episodes will include everything from puddings, French favorites and Bundt cakes, in addition to holiday breads, bar cookies and crackers and flatbreads.

"The success of Martha Bakes and Martha Stewart's Cooking School strengthens the fact that there is indeed a rise in popularity of home baking and cooking, and that is gratifying to see," said Ms. Stewart. "I'm very happy that we are able to contribute so much excellent food content to such enthusiastic audiences, and that we have three wonderful new partners to help us do so."

"Martha Stewart's made-from-scratch creations - sweet and savory, everyday and holiday - continue to inspire home chefs to bring the bakery into their own kitchens," said Donald Thoms, Vice President, PBS Programming. "We're honored to offer a third season of Martha's delectable recipes, as well as her indispensable tips and techniques for making the best, and best-looking, baked goods."

"We are thrilled that the breakaway hit in our lifestyle portfolio for the past two seasons is returning for a third. Its success is 'baked in,'" said Dalton Delan, Executive Vice President, Chief Programming Officer for WETA Washington, DC. "Martha has a great home on public television, and it just keeps growing."

Of the three Martha Bakes sponsors, two are first-time PBS underwriters--Jarden Home Brands, maker of the iconic Ball jars and canning products, and Nordic Ware, the bakeware and cookware company that invented the Bundt® pan--and King Arthur Flour is a longtime PBS underwriter. "Not only is Martha Bakes the only new television program devoted solely to baking instruction, each episode is beautifully shot and the recipes are presented clearly and coherently," said Tom Payne, Marketing Director for King Arthur Flour. "Martha's passion for baking, like ours, is genuine and she has a knack for making things look doable. Our hope is that this program will encourage people to try baking something new or to take their existing skills to the next level."

"Martha Stewart is a longtime supporter of the Ball brand, and we're thrilled to be working with her on Martha Bakes," said Steve Hungsberg, Senior Brand Manager at Jarden Home Brands. "The art of canning is very easy to learn, and Ball gives home preservers all the tools they need to get started."

"While celebrity chefs come and go, Martha Stewart's status as a preeminent culinary expert has withstood the test of time," said David Dalquist, President of Nordic Ware. "In the minds of millions of consumers around the world, Martha continues to be regarded as an inspiring authority on all things created on the stovetop and especially in the oven. Nordic Ware is excited to continue its long standing partnership with Martha in 2014 by sponsoring Martha Bakes."

About Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) is a diversified media and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique lifestyle content and distinctive products. The Company reaches approximately 100 million consumers across all media platforms each month and has a growing retail presence in thousands of retail locations. MSLO's media brands, available across multiple platforms, include Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Everyday Food; the Company also offers books and utility Apps. MSLO's television and video programming includes "Martha Stewart's Cooking School" and "Martha Bakes" series on PBS, in addition to made-for-the-web video and a vast library of how-to content available online. Martha Live, a radio show hosted by Martha Stewart, airs every weekday on SIRIUS XM Channel 107. MSLO also designs high-quality Martha Stewart products in a range of lifestyle categories available through select retailers, including The Home Depot, Macy's, jcpenney, Staples (together with Avery), PetSmart, Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores. The MSLO family of brands also includes Chef Emeril Lagasse's media and merchandising properties. Additional information about MSLO is available at www.marthastewart.com.



About WETA Washington, DC

WETA Washington, D.C. is the second-largest producing station of new content for public television. WETA productions and co-productions include PBS NewsHour, Washington Week with Gwen Ifill, In Performance at the White House, The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, and documentaries by filmmaker Ken Burns, including the premiere this April of The Address. Sharon Percy Rockefeller is president and CEO. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at www.weta.org.

About PBS

PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 123 million people through television and more than 21 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

SOURCE Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

CONTACT: Kate Bittman, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. Corporate Communications, 212-827-8304, kbittman@marthastewart.com

Web Site: http://www.marthastewart.com


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