Conde Nast Traveler and Travel Channel Create Programming Alliance with Lavish Primetime TV Series and 'Readers Choice Awards' Special

    NEW YORK, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Conde Nast Traveler and Travel Channel
 are joining forces to produce television programming that will be unique in
 the world of travel.  Thomas A. Florio, vice president and publisher of Conde
 Nast Traveler, and Jay R. Feldman, senior vice president and general manager
 of Travel Channel, announced today that this partnership will bring these very
 special programs to an unprecedented audience of affluent, worldly travelers.
     Conde Nast Traveler and Travel Channel will partner to produce CONDE NAST
 TRAVELER PRESENTS AMAZING DESTINATIONS, an original, primetime series
 premiering on Travel Channel on Monday, September 28.  The magazine's
 editor-in-chief, Thomas Wallace, will host the series, which airs Monday
 through Friday from 10-11 PM (ET/PT).
     CONDE NAST TRAVELER PRESENTS AMAZING DESTINATIONS will visit the world's
 finest cultural centers and scenic destinations in more than 40 richly
 produced, one-hour programs.  The shows are both inspirational and
 informative, offering grand vistas and historical perspectives.  Wallace will
 be the on-camera presence for CONDE NAST TRAVELER PRESENTS AMAZING
 DESTINATIONS.
     The two companies are also producing THE CONDE NAST TRAVELER READERS'
 CHOICE AWARDS; a lavish, 60-minute primetime special based on the magazine's
 popular Readers' Choice Awards issue published each fall.  This exclusive
 premiere, hosted by Tom Wallace, editor-in-chief of Conde Nast Traveler, and
 Michelle Garforth of the primetime series, "Travel Daily," is scheduled to air
 on Travel Channel on Thursday, October 15, from 10-11 PM ET/PT and will air
 seven times during the fourth quarter fall season.  It will visit a selection
 of the magnificent destinations, hotels, resorts, museums and cultural
 treasures featured in the Readers' Choice Awards issue.  Promotional tune-in
 advertising will begin on the Travel Channel two weeks prior to premiere date
 and in the October issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
     Published in October, Conde Nast Traveler's 11th Annual Readers Choice
 Awards issue is based on an annual poll of 40,000 readers and is the most
 recognized, authoritative and reliable survey of its kind reinforcing Conde
 Nast Traveler's commitment to "Truth in Travel."  Advertisers in the Conde
 Nast Traveler's 1998 Readers' Choice Awards issue will benefit from an
 exclusive cross-media package that includes In-Magazine Sweepstakes, TV spots
 on the Travel Channel and customized Passport On-Line web packages.
     Tom Florio said, "The Travel Channel partnership is Conde Nast Traveler's
 initial foray into expanding the brand into new mediums -- giving us the
 opportunity to reach new potential readers.  It reinforces our leadership
 position and provides our advertisers with new and exciting cross media
 opportunities."
     "Conde Nast Traveler has a stellar reputation and we're very pleased that
 our first programming partnership is with such a well-respected and
 beautifully produced publication," said Feldman.  "We look forward to working
 closely with them on both of these projects."
     The Conde Nast Publications Inc. is one of the world's premiere magazine
 publishers.  Its 15 titles include: Conde Nast Traveler, Vogue, Architectural
 Digest, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Bride's, Self, GQ, Vanity Fair, Gourmet, Bon
 Appetit, Details, Allure, House & Garden and Conde Nast Sports and Fitness.
     Travel Channel is the only television network devoted exclusively to
 travel.  It's a valuable source for travel ideas, dream vacations and
 money-saving information.  It takes viewers on journeys far and near to
 explore the people, places and cultures of our world.  Travel Channel is a
 service of Discovery Networks, a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., which
 owns and operates Discovery Channel, TLC (The Learning Channel), Animal
 Planet, Discovery Kids Channel, Discovery Science Channel, Discovery Home &
 Leisure Channel, Discovery Civilization Channel, Discovery Wings Channel and
 Discovery Health Channel.  The unit also markets and distributes BBC America,
 which launched in March 1998, and operates Travel Channel, which it jointly
 owns (70%) with Paxson Communications (30%).
 
 

SOURCE  Conde Nast Traveler