TLC Enters 2010-11 Upfront With Record Ratings and Robust Programming Slate

NEW YORK, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Now a top ten network for women, TLC is positioned as one of the fastest growing female networks in cable, posting double-digit growth 2009 vs. 2008 and delivering its highest ratings in five years.  And with 11 months of consecutive month-over-month delivery gains, the momentum continues as TLC announces an ambitious upfront slate showcasing over 47 new and returning series in 2010-11.  

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"The fact that TLC has 15 series delivering over one million viewers shows that our content is connecting," says Eileen O'Neill, president and general manager, TLC.  "Our audience comes to us for compelling real life stories and inspiring characters that they can't find anywhere else on television.  And next year, we're giving viewers more of what they love by bringing back beloved personalities, investing in returning favorites and unveiling unexpected new series."    

America's favorite Mom returns to TLC in TWIST OF KATE, a new series following Kate Gosselin as she steps into the lives of other women and moms, experiencing first hand their challenges and triumphs.  And audiences get to catch up with the kids in KATE PLUS 8, limited specials following the lively brood on some fun adventures.  New personalities joining the network are Sarah Palin who takes viewers on an epic journey of the real Alaska seen through the eyes of its most famous resident in SARAH PALIN'S ALASKA, and expert chef John Besh who helps aspiring cooks rework their recipes to win back the palates of their loved ones in INEDIBLE TO INCREDIBLE.

Additional new series and specials joining the network for the 2010-11 upfront season continue to grow categories important to our viewers -- from food to family to I Do's -- TLC is there to share life's most important moments.  Following is a peek of TLC's 2010-11 upfront schedule:

FAMILY

New Series/Pilots

CARPIO FAMILY PROJECT

A follow-up to the TLC special MULTITUDE OF MULTIPLES, this new series follows the Carpios, a family living in New York City that have 18-month-old sextuplets in addition to an 8-year-old son. We'll follow the family as they manage the chaos of six toddlers who recently started to walk in an all too small house.           (Q3 2010)

QUINTUPLET SURPRISE

You've seen large families on television before. They laugh, they cry, they play, they've adjusted. This isn't that. This is reality – the kind that comes like a swift, square blow to the stomach when you find out that you're not having one baby, but five. And that booming construction business you own? Well the economy's taken a dive like we haven't seen since the Great Depression, so suddenly even paying for diapers, let alone a mortgage, has become an uncertainty. Meet 34-year-olds Casey and Ethan Jones of Austin, Texas. The Jones' are now learning some brand new ropes in a new kind of life that includes their six-year-old daughter and their five newborn babies who were definitely part of the plan.  (Q3 2010)

TWIST OF KATE

In this new series, Kate Gosselin travels around the country to find out how other people juggle work, family and all the other challenges life throws at them.  In each episode, she'll walk a mile in someone else's shoes -- meeting real families in the middle of their own extraordinary challenges.  She'll try out their jobs... see what they're up against... and find out what they do to let off steam. Each family will have some unique circumstance that is a story in itself.  As Kate gets to know them she'll roll up her sleeves and see what she can do to help.  (Q3 2010)

KATE PLUS 8

Beginning this June, limited specials will follow Kate and the kids on new adventures – from activities at home to exciting field trips, viewers will experience all the fun with the family.  (Q2 2010)

FAMILY BUSINESSES

New Series/Pilots

AMERICAN CHOPPER: Senior vs. Junior

American Chopper is back, following the action at Orange County Choppers (OCC), the world-famous custom motorcycle business run by Paul Teutul Sr., and Jr.'s new competing bike shop.  As always, creating eye-popping bikes is a big part of the show, but the real story is the family drama. (Q3 2010)

AUCTIONEERS (wt)

Auctioneer$ takes viewers behind the scenes at one of the busiest auction houses in the country. Following the energetic staff and deal-seekers, each episode shares the dramatic stories behind every auction and the secret tricks of the trade in the hyper-intense auction world. (Q3 2010)

HOMEMADE MILLIONAIRE (wt)

Celebrity Kelly Ripa is sent tons of products from aspiring entrepreneurs asking for help and advice on marketing, manufacturing and distributing their inventions. Now, Kelly is teaming up with TLC and HSN to see if she can help make these women's dreams come true. (Q3 2010)

INTERESTING LIVES

New Series/Pilots

SARAH PALIN'S ALASKA

Sarah Palin's Alaska is a documentary series about our country's most majestic and remote state...seen through the eyes of its most famous resident. This is an epic journey through the REAL Alaska. Over the course of the series, Sarah will travel from the tundra to the mountain peaks of this great state meeting both the extraordinary as well as "just plain folks," like her and her husband, Todd. (Q4 2010)

POLICE WOMEN OF MEMPHIS

This revealing series follows four female police officers in Memphis as they risk their lives in the line of duty. Each day, these women deal with the business end of keeping communities safe. As women in a largely male field, they deal with unique issues, too, and often struggle to balance their demanding, dangerous jobs with family life and children. (Q2 2010)

FOOD

New Series/Pilots

INEDIBLE TO INCREDIBLE (wt)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the kitchen! Each week, someone who thinks they can cook - but really can't - is nominated by friends and family to get a recipe makeover from expert chef John Besh. In this six-part series, Chef Besh helps the aspiring cooks rework their meal to win back the palates of their loved ones. (Q2 2010)

FOOD BUDDHA

In this two-part special, renowned chef Rodelio Aglibot travels to a city known for its cuisine to uncover new restaurants with the help of a local food guide. Together, they order "OOE," or "One of Each" item on the menu, describing and debating dish after dish in an effort to learn the restaurant's soul and story. Rodelio returns to his own kitchen to cook a new dish that was inspired by the flavors of his adventure.   (3Q 2010)

CUPCAKE SISTERS (wt)

The six-part series follows sisters and business partners Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis as they run Georgetown Cupcake in Washington, DC – a small cupcake shop that they have transformed into a sweet success. The Sisters gave up their corporate jobs and risked their life savings to follow their hearts into the kitchen, armed only with their Grandmother's recipes and their sisterly bond.  Each episode will go beyond the frosting to uncover the secret of Sophie and Katherine's success and follow the challenges they face as the business rapidly expands and is poised to explode on the national scene.  (3Q 2010)

MEGA BITES

A one-hour special that pairs chef Brian Malarkey, food scientist Todd Menaker, and engineer Scott Stukel, to help the Los Angeles-based community of La Canada Flintridge tackle the creation of the world's largest Rice Krispies Treat for a fundraiser to benefit the children's programs at the community center. (2Q 2010)

WEDDING & FASHION

New Series/Pilots

BATTLE OF THE WEDDING DESIGNERS (wt)

The competition is fierce and the concepts are amazing.  In the end, the couple is faced with the very tough decision of picking a winner.  Who will give the lucky bride and groom the wedding of their dreams?  Let the Battle of the Wedding Designers begin!  (2Q 2010)

DOWN THE AISLE IN STYLE (wt)

A head-turning new series that follows bridal transformations by expert hair & make-up teams as they work their magic and turn nervous brides-to-be into the picture of perfection just in time to say "I do." (4Q 2010)

SAY YES TO THE DRESS: ATLANTA

This weekly half hour series takes viewers inside Bridals by Lori -- Atlanta's biggest and best bridal boutique. Owner Lori Allen is considered one of the country's leading experts on bridal wear.  Designers often call on her as they are putting their lines together to get her input on what brides are looking for.  Lori spends much of her time out on the floor working with the brides. She also prides herself on having the most informed sales consultants in the business.  (3Q 2010)

SAY YES TO THE DRESS: BIG BLISS

Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss will follow the sagas of the three plus-size brides, learning insight into their unique back-story, and bringing in new consultants along with familiar faces to take on the triple-XL dose of drama sure to come with it!  Part fashion show, part bridal story and part family therapy, the series uncovers the hurdles facing these brides. (3Q 2010)

About TLC

TLC's innovative docu-series and reality-based programming include favorites Jon & Kate Plus 8, Little People, Big World, What Not to Wear, 19 Kids and Counting, Say Yes to the Dress, and LA Ink. TLC added to its menu of programming with Cake Boss and Ultimate Cake Off, and continues to expand into the food genre. TLC's daytime lineup includes the Emmy® Award-winning A Baby Story. The channel is available in more than 98 million homes in the US, nearly 8 million homes in Canada and through the website at www.tlc.com. TLC is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries.

SOURCE TLC