PRESS RELEASE:
UPtv SETS OUT TO CHANGE THE FACE
OF TV ENTERTAINMENT WITH NEW EMOJI-FOCUSED
BRAND CAMPAIGN AND SLATE OF PROGRAMMING
AIMED TO UPLIFT VIEWERS
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| image via: CBC - Heartland Season 12 |
The network’s programming slate includes over 20 premiere movies; acquisition of the Australian hit
800 Words; a new season of fan favorite family drama
Heartland; as well as new seasons of its reality series Expecting, Our Wedding Story and Crazy Beautiful Weddings; and new episodes of the hit series
Bringing Up Bates
ATLANTA – April 24, 2019 – UPtv, the television home for uplifting and positive programming, is setting out to change the face of TV entertainment with a
slate of new movies and series, alongside its launch of a fresh emoji-driven brand campaign.
“Consumers use emojis to share their emotional responses to television on social media every day,” said Scot Safon, UPtv’s chief marketing officer, “We’re embracing the idea and having fun using emojis, backed by the promise of shows and movies that will uplift you every day.”
Uplifting and positive programming are essential elements for a target audience that UPtv calls Upsiders—people searching for optimistic, uplifting programming. UPtv identified the Upsiders as part of its extensive Family in Mind research initiative, which has to-date spoken with nearly 16,000 audience members over a five-year period. UPtv’s research included a segmentation analysis that explored the emotional benefits of entertainment and revealed Upsiders as an under-served TV audience seeking high-quality, uplifting TV entertainment in a safe viewing environment. The network’s new emoji campaign was built around these same emotional benefits, and it has resonated strongly with these audiences in preview testing. Also resonating with this audience segment is UPtv’s new programming line-up.
“We’re thrilled to introduce our audience to a variety of uplifting stories that will stay with you,” said Amy Winter, general manager and evp, UPtv. “From fan-favorite series, life’s biggest moments reality series, blockbuster hits and powerful original movies, we will deliver on the promise to share positive and optimistic content that might make you laugh or cry, and will always make you feel good about the time spent with us.”
Later this year, an all-new season of the longest running family drama in Canadian history Heartland will premiere as well as a family series out of Australia, 800 Words . 800 Words is a family drama that follows recent widower George Turner’s decision to start afresh in the New Zealand coastal town of Weld. The Aussie invaders quickly become the center of attention in this delightful small town populated by weird and wonderful locals. A new season of the groundbreaking baby series Expecting , where there are no producers and all footage is captured by the couples, launches this Thursday, April 25 at 9 p.m. ET, and two creative series in the wedding space, Our Wedding Story and Crazy Beau tiful Weddings , will launch second seasons Thursday, July 11 at 9 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET, respectively. UPtv’s hit series Bringing Up Bates will return with new episodes this September. The first half of season eight, which premiered in January, was the strongest season ever in HH’s and the 2nd strongest ever in P25-54 (Cov AA%). Additionally, season eight is beating last season in all demos1.
Fresh off of UPtv’s month-long Easter celebration with 20 titles that included a combination of powerful biblical stories, uplifting contemporary premieres and blockbuster faith movies,
more premiere movies are on the way for this year. Titles set to air this year include
After the Storm (June); A Very Country Wedding (July); The Art of Falling in Love (August); and Love, Alaska (October).
These will be produced with Brain Power Studios and are based on existing Harlequin novels or will have a Harlequin book written based on the movie script. Harlequin, a leading international publisher, currently releases over 100 books a month in 34 languages. These titles will be part of the network’s uplifting movie category rolling out every Saturday night throughout the year and includes beloved theatricals, originals and acquired premieres.
In addition to UPtv’s uplifting movies throughout the year,
Christmas will return this November with
new premiere movies and a holiday offering filled with
over 500 hours of fun and festive programming, as well as the annual GilMORE the Merrier ultimate viewing event, UPtv’s 153 hour Gilmore Girls binge-a-thon over Thanksgiving week.
UPtv’s Premiere Movies:
After the Storm - June
In the aftermath of a hurricane that’s destroyed her home, and most of her home town, a young teacher reconnects with a childhood crush to rebuild her home and her community.
Starring: Madeline Leon ( Ponysitters Club ), Bo Yokely ( Nappily Ever After ), country star Craig Morgan
A Very Country Wedding - July
In this sequel to A Very Country Christmas , Zane and Jeannette’s wedding is delayed due to Zane’s crazy tour schedule. The two must overcome paparazzi and rumors to find their way back together.
Starring: Greyston Holt ( A Puppy for Christmas ), Bea Santos ( Murdoch Mysteries ), Greg Vaughan ( Days of Our Lives ), Michelle Morgan ( Heartland ), country star Deanna Carter
The Art of Falling in Love - August
A well-known artist with a mysterious bucket list gets a commission to paint a mural on a new hospital wing in a charming community. When she finds herself falling for the handsome architect designing the addition, she must decide if she can trust him with her list, and the painful memory behind it, or if he’ll break her heart and prove that it’s better to be alone than to be close to someone who will leave.
Starring: Kimberly-Sue Murray ( My Perfect Romance ), Josh Dean ( Blindspot ), Kelly Bishop ( Gilmore Girls )
Love, Alaska - October
When a young doctor inherits her uncle’s practice in her small home-town of Love, Alaska, she returns there to find something things are the same; like the town’s annual Love festival, and some things have changed; like her childhood friend Finn who has grown into a handsome, if not troubled, man.
Starring: Sarah Podemski ( Tin Star ), Victor Zinck Jr. ( Date My Dad ), Lanette Ware ( Taken ), Martin Roach ( Inspector Gadget )
1 (Nielsen L+7 blended, excludes repeats and specials)
About UPtv UPtv is television’s trusted destination for uplifting shows you can watch together. With boxoffice hit films and network series like Gilmore Girls, Fresh Off the Boat, Home Improvement and America’s Funniest Home Videos, alongside originals like Bringing Up Bates , Expecting and Our Wedding Story , UPtv’s programming celebrates life’s biggest moments. In addition, UPtv’s award-winning pro-social initiative, “Uplift Someone,” has inspired almost 200 million people to uplift others through its social videos. Based in Atlanta, UPtv is a division of UP Entertainment, LLC, and partners with the Aspire network on sales, marketing and other operational services. And UPtv Entertainment’s UP Faith & Family subscription streaming service has quickly become the fan fa vorite for its all - ages lineup of family and faith affirming movies and series.
Twitter on @Uptv and Instagram at UP_TV.
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