Roma Downey, Mark Burnett & MGM to Launch Faith & Family Broadcast Entertainment Network Light TV

Roma Downey, President of LightWorkers Media, a division of MGM and Mark Burnett, President of MGM Television and Digital, in partnership with FOX stations and affiliates, will launch LIGHT TV, a first-ever, 24 hour/7 day per week faith and family broadcast entertainment network in December 2016.

LIGHT TV will debut in all top markets including New York, NY (WNYW); Los Angeles, CA (KTTV); Chicago, IL (WFLD); Philadelphia, PA (WTXF); Dallas (KDFW) - Houston (KRIV), TX; San Francisco, CA (KTVU); Washington, D.C. (WTTG); Atlanta, GA (WAGA); Orlando (WOFL), FL; Phoenix (KSAZ), AZ; Minneapolis (KMSP), MN and Charlotte (WJZY), NC.

The network will feature wholesome family and faith-based entertainment programming, leveraging MGM's storied library of thousands of hours of premium film and television content, including titles such as "FOX's "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader" and cherished favorites like "Rocky," "Hoosiers," "Red River," "Little Man Tate," "The Nutcracker," "Lilies of the Field," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "The Black Stallion," "All Dogs Go To Heaven," "Pink Panther," "Fame," and "Mr. Mom." LIGHT TV will also air marquee acquisitions including acclaimed series "Highway to Heaven" and "Heartland."

"This is the beginning of our new, multi-platform faith and family network, where the demand is greater than ever for family friendly entertainment. This is the last unclaimed vertical. As we have already seen from the success of THE BIBLE Series and our 20 million social followers this audience is looking for inspiring and uplifting programming that they can watch in a trusted and safe environment on any platform," said Downey.

"With the combined experience of myself and Roma, plus MGM's family-friendly library, LIGHT TV will become an ideal platform to reach the enormously, underserved family audience," says Burnett.

"MGM continues to build on our strategy as a multicast network leader by adding LIGHT TV to our group of networks," said John Bryan, President, Domestic Television Distribution, MGM. "We're excited to partner with FOX and deliver positive, uplifting and free entertainment to families everywhere."

A multicast network leader, MGM currently offers several branded channels in the U.S., including MGM HD - the first studio-owned and operated movie channel launched in 2007 - which is currently carried in the U.S. by many of the leading cable satellite and telephone company distributors; THIS TV, launched in 2008 as one of the original multicast networks features MGM films, local news and sporting events, as well a block of programming dedicated to children's viewing. In partnership with Tribune Broadcasting, THIS TV has more than 130 affiliates and is in more than 85% of the US market; COMET, the first-ever 24 hour/7 day per week, free Science fiction multi-channel network, in partnership with Sinclair Television group, reaches over 65MM homes (70 % of the U.S and available online at CometTV.com.) Its audience has continued to grow each quarter since launching in October 2015. IMPACT, America's first VOD service dedicated exclusively to action programming, is available on numerous platforms including Comcast's Xfinity and Sony Vue.

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