Orlando, Fla. (April 12, 2016) Bolder Broadcasting Inc. and WESH-TV announce the expansion of Growing Bolder® and Surviving & Thriving® to WESH-TV and WESH.com in the Central Florida market.
“We’re building the world’s first active aging lifestyle brand,” says Bolder Broadcasting CEO Marc Middleton. “This is a great opportunity for us to expand our local footprint, not only on television but also online, with a broadcast partner that we’ve known and admired for many years.”
The move marks a homecoming for journalists Middleton, Bill Shafer and Wendy Chioji. Each host and contribute stories to both programs and all three spent decades at WESH. Growing Bolder is Rebranding Aging™ by sharing the stories of men and women who are smashing stereotypes and proving that when it comes to living big, bold lives, it’s not about age, it’s about attitude. The weekly 30-minute program will air Saturday mornings at 7:00 a.m. on MeTV, beginning May 14th. MeTV can be found free over the air on Channel 2.2, on Cox Cable channel 112, Brighthouse channel 468 and Comcast channel 216.
The three-time Emmy Award nominated Surviving & Thriving shares the stories of men, women and children who thrive in the aftermath of life’s most serious setbacks. “Surviving & Thriving is unlike anything else on TV,” says Executive Producer Jackie Carlin. “It’s upbeat, entertaining and delivers the kind of hope and inspiration every family needs.” WESH will air Surviving & Thriving as quarterly 60-minute specials beginning this summer.
“We’re excited to bring Growing Bolder and Surviving & Thriving to the WESH broadcast family,” says WESH President and General Manager Jim Carter. “They are both high quality programs built on great storytelling with an important message that will inspire viewers of all ages.”
Growing Bolder is hosted by award-winning broadcast veterans Marc Middleton and Bill Shafer and features veteran news correspondents Wendy Chioji and Secily Wilson, Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, renowned neurosurgeon Robert Masson, M.D., longevity expert Roger Landry, M.D., and an all-star team of inspirational experts.
Surviving & Thriving will reunite Chioji, a three-time cancer survivor, and Jim Payne who will co-host the quarterly specials. Chioji worked opposite Payne on the WESH anchor desk before moving to Park City, Utah in 2008. “I still have many friends at WESH,” says Chioji, “and I’m excited to reconnect with WESH viewers who welcomed me into their homes for two decades.”
WESH is also adding a special Growing Bolder section to WESH.com that will feature both Growing Bolder and Surviving & Thriving content. “We think we can bring great value to WESH’s online and mobile engagement efforts,” says Executive Producer Katy Widrick. “We have a particularly strong social media presence. Our weekly reach on Facebook averages more than 15 million and our weekly engagement is more than 1.5 million, which is greater than most major national networks.”
In addition to Growing Bolder and Surviving & Thriving television, Growing Bolder publishes a bi-monthly magazine distributed by Walgreens, maintains a network of web sites anchored by GrowingBolder.com and produces a weekly 60-minute radio program that airs Sunday mornings at 7:00 a.m. on WMFE-FM. “It is number 1 by share of available audience for all weekend programs on WMFE and the number 1 non-music program for that period,” says WMFE Program Director Patrick Dalton.
“We’re excited to be “returning home” to WESH and Hearst Television says Middleton. “We’re looking forward to a great collaboration that will not only benefit local viewers but help connect local sponsors and advertisers with our large and loyal audience.”
Contact:
Jackie Carlin, Executive Producer
407-488-9558 | jackie@boldermediagroup.com
About Bolder Broadcasting Inc.
Bolder Broadcasting is based in Central Florida and is among the world leaders in active lifestyle, health and wellness content creation and delivery. Launched in 2006 as the nation’s first-ever social networking community for the 45+ market, it has since grown to a multi-platform media network, with a portfolio that includes TV programs, radio programs, a bi-monthly magazine, a powerful social media footprint and a network of community websites, anchored by http://GrowingBolder.com. Bolder Broadcasting is the only company in the U.S. producing custom-branded, internet delivered video content channels for the healthcare and retirement community industries. In addition, Bolder Broadcasting operates Bolder Docs, a documentary film unit whose first film was the Emmy Award nominated Conquering Kilimanjaro, and the Bolder Branding Agency, which provides branded video production services and editorial style video stories for corporate, healthcare and retirement living clients.
About WESH-TV
WESH-TV, the NBC station serving Central Florida is owned by Hearst Properties Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hearst. WESH 2 broadcasts on digital channel 2.1 and on WESH.com. WESH 2 produces 58 hours of local news per week including 17 hours that air on sister-station WKCF/CW18. WESH has won four of the most prestigious broadcast journalism awards: the duPont Columbia, the Peabody, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade “Best of Show.”
About Hearst Television
Hearst Television, a national multi-media company, owns and operates 31 local television stations and two local radio stations, serving 32 U.S. cities and reaching approximately 19% of U.S. television households. The TV stations broadcast 60 video channels, featuring local and national news, weather, information, sports and entertainment programming, and local community service-oriented programs. The stations also host and operate digital on-line and mobile platforms that extend the company’s brands and content to local, national and international audiences. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry’s premier companies, and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst Corporation. Hearst Television’s Web address is www.hearsttelevision.com
The post Growing Bolder® and Surviving & Thriving® Coming to WESH-TV
Cross-platform partnership involves WESH-TV, its MeTV digital sub-channel and WESH.com
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