FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TRAVEL CHANNEL AND TIME INC.’S SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
INK PARTNERSHIP TO PRODUCE NEW FIVE-PART SERIES OF SPECIALS
‘Sports Illustrated®: The Making Of Swimsuit 2015’ (wt) Scheduled to Anchor the Network’s ‘Beach Week’ Programming Event in February 2015
CHEVY CHASE, MD/NEW YORK (September 30, 2014) – Travel Channel and Time Inc. have formed a partnership in which Sports Illustrated will produce a five-part series of one-hour specials for the Network titled "Sports Illustrated®: The Making of Swimsuit 2015” (wt). The specials, which will feature a behind-the-scenes journey through the creation of the upcoming Sports Illustrated Swimsuit multi-platform edition, is slated to anchor the Travel Channel's “Beach Week” multi-platform programming event, currently scheduled for February 2015. This marks the third consecutive year that Travel Channel and SI have teamed up, with previous efforts delivering one-hour standalone specials about the making of SI Swimsuit 2013 and 2014. The announcement was made by Travel Channel President Shannon O’Neill and Brendan Ripp, Sports Illustrated Publisher.
"Developing strong partnerships across platforms continues to be a priority for us. Our ongoing relationship with Sports Illustrated is a great example of how two complementary brands can come together organically,” said O’Neill. “Our earlier partnership on the one-hour specials proved to be a success among our beach-loving travelers, so the expansion to produce the five-part series is a natural next step for us. The specials will serve as the perfect anchor for Travel Channel’s ‘Beach Week,’ a celebration of everything we love about our favorite beaches. And we know our viewers will enjoy this fascinating and exciting travel series packed with iconic backdrops and locations – spotlighting not only beautiful people, but truly beautiful places as well.”
“We are delighted to partner with Travel Channel for this unprecedented five-part series. The Network and its audience of passionate travelers is the ideal place to showcase the adventurous spirit of SI Swimsuit,” said Ripp.
“Our organization is devoted to creating premium video content and SI Swimsuit is front and center in that effort,’ said Paul Fichtenbaum, Time Inc. Sports Group editor. “Our Swimsuit video production team generates hours of breathtaking footage; often capturing it under the most challenging conditions and we’re delighted to offer Travel Channel viewers a window into that effort.”
“Sports Illustrated®: The Making of Swimsuit 2015” (wt) will be produced by Sports Illustrated Productions; Executive Producers for Sports Illustrated are: Paul Fichtenbaum, Ian Orefice and MJ Day. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Dale Roy Robinson.
ABOUT TRAVEL CHANNEL: Travel Channel (http://www.travelchannel.com) is a multiplatform travel lifestyle brand with the core mission of providing inspiring and compelling programming that takes viewers beyond their everyday destinations, making the unfamiliar familiar, whether it's around the world or around the block. A dual feed network that is also available in HD, Travel Channel is the world’s leading travel media brand, and is available in over 94 million U.S. cable homes. Owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), Travel Channel has offices in Chevy Chase, MD, and New York, NY. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) also owns and operates HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.
ABOUT TIME INC.: Time Inc. (NYSE: TIME) is one of the largest media companies in the world reaching more than 130 million consumers each month across multiple platforms. With influential brands such as TIME, PEOPLE, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Real Simple, Wallpaper, Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine, Time Inc. is home to celebrated events and franchises including the FORTUNE 500, TIME 100, PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive, Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year, the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and the Essence Festival.
ABOUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (www.SI.com/Swimsuit) is one of the most ambitious and respected media franchises in the world. The annual production reaches more than 64 million adults; more men 18 to 34 than the Super Bowl. The franchise is a case study for media evolution as from the core print product comes a portfolio of wildly popular products and extensions in print, mobile, social, TV, digital and events. Since debuting in 1964 Swimsuit has become a pop-culture phenomenon and an established launching pad for successful careers in TV, fashion, business and film including those of Kathy Ireland, Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Chrissy Teigen and Kate Upton.
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Media Contacts:
For Travel Channel:
Caryn Davidson Schlossberg, Caryn.Davidson@travelchannel.com, 212.835.3360
Stephanie DePietro, Stephanie.DePietro@travelchannel.com, 212.835.3380
Amelie Tseng, Amelie.Tseng@travelchannel.com, 212.835.3359
FerenComm on behalf of Travel Channel:
Nicole DiFrancesco, nicoled@ferencomm.com, 212.983.9898
For Sports Illustrated:
Scott Novak scott_novak@timeinc.com, 212.522.2687
