NEW YORK, April 18, 2006 – Nine stations, including four Pappas Telecasting Companies-owned outlets, have officially signed on as MyNetworkTV affiliates, increasing the primetime general entertainment broadcast television network’s clearances to 105 markets, or 65% of the United States.

 

New network affiliates include: 

Regarding the new affiliates, Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations, commented, “With well over half of the U.S. cleared, MyNetworkTV is rounding out its national clearance in key markets with such important group owners as Pappas and the nine new affiliates we’re announcing today.”

 

Harry J. Pappas, Chairman and CEO of Pappas Telecasting Companies, said, “17 years ago, we took a gamble on a fledgling enterprise, the FOX Network.  We affiliated the three TV stations we then owned with FOX, despite the fact that many pundits said a fourth network couldn’t possibly succeed.  Were they ever wrong!  Our relationship with FOX has been mutually-beneficial. Now, we are affiliating four of our TV stations with FOX’s newest enterprise, MyNetworkTV.  When you consider Rupert

 

Murdoch’s consistent track record of success, it’s easy to understand why we’re betting on News Corp. again with MyNetworkTV - a bet that Pappas Telecasting expects to pay off handsomely for all involved.”

 

Milton Grant, Owner/President of Huntsville Television Acquisition Corp., stated, “My money is on the table with Rupert Murdoch. We know what the man and his team accomplished for FOX television stations by bringing us ‘American Idol,’ ‘House,’ ‘24,’ NASCAR, and the NFL I know they will make MyNetworkTV a success.”