Punch TV Network Voices Opposition to The Next Generation Television Marketplace Act.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- IC Places, Inc. (OTCQB: ICPA), Punch TV Network announced today that Company President, Joseph Collins, has issued correspondences to Congressmen-Henry Waxman and Fred Upton along with 2 Senators - Jay Rockefeller and Kay Bailey Hutchison, and the FCC, in opposition of  H.R. 3675 and S2008, the Next Generation Television Marketplace Act.  Mr. Collins feels the bills could have a negative impact on many minority and independent networks. 

The National Association of Broadcasting's official position on this bill:

"Broadcasters oppose H.R. 3675 and S. 2008. Viewers, local broadcast stations and pay-TV operators all benefit from the retransmission consent process. These negotiations are fair and market-driven, and there is no need to change the process that Congress established and has worked well for nearly two decades. Eliminating broadcasters' ability to negotiate for the value of broadcast signals would mean less choice for viewers and fewer dollars for stations to dedicate to local news, public affairs programming, coverage of emergency weather events and community activities."

Punch TV Network, launched in October 2011, as an urban television network with diverse, original programming.  The company projects it will be in over 50 million households by the end of 2012 with a high percentage of our programming targeted to African American and Hispanic viewers. Currently, Punch TV can be seen in Lafayette, Louisiana, Houston, Texas, New York City, New York, Wichita, Kansas, Salt Lake City, Utah, Pensacola, Florida, Detroit, Michigan and a number of other communities. 

Punch TV, and networks like it, benefit from the must carry rules to get carriage on cable and satellite systems, which otherwise might not carry diverse programming.  Broadcasters think the proposed change will harm less penetrated stations, such as urban, religious, and foreign-language ones, that are important to viewers in communities across the nation.

Millions of Americans, especially minority viewers, rely on broadcast programming. More than 54 million Americans rely exclusively on free, over-the-air television, including multi-racial communities, the poor, elderly individuals and those living in rural areas. More importantly, 44 percent of those who rely exclusively on free television with an antenna are minorities.

The number of viewers relying on free over-the-air television is growing. Viewers are recognizing the many choices provided by local broadcast TV, including new and diverse multicast channels, like Punch TV, which are available for free. If H.R. 3675 and S2008 passes, it could eliminate our ability to secure cable and satellite carriage and could keep other networks similar to Punch TV from seeing the light of day.

H.R. 3675 and S2008 will also limit competition from start-up networks and minority broadcasters. The ultimate result could be limiting the viewer's choice by keeping minority and independent networks from entering the broadcast television marketplace.

Broadcasters are working on not making any changes to the current law.  Even the most fervent cable representatives admit that it could take years for any changes to happen – if at all.

About IC Places
The future of entertainment has arrived with IC Places.  IC Places is a public company which trades on theOTCQB: Symbol ICPA. ( www.icplaces.com ) and owns Punch TV Network.

Uniquely sensitive to the fact that the world's populations want to access its entertainment, when, where, and how they want it, IC Places is a transmedia entertainment complex that produces entertainment content for distribution across multiple mediums. 

Through the long arm reach of an intricately woven network of partnerships and owned properties, IC Places stands out as one of the most unique, diversified, transmedia companies on the planet. Its structure offers the greatest opportunity to generate the highest level of market awareness and profit for the shows it produces. 

About Punch Television Network
Launched in October 2011, IC Places' Punch Television Network is poised to begin airing its new fall season of programs October 2012. Approximately 70% of this programming will be original. Harris County's more than 4 million households, including those in Houston, will be able to access new detective shows, such as Port City PD and Second District. Additionally, The Hollywood Fast Lane and Luisa will link viewers more closely with the world of Hollywood. The dramatic series, Eros, will bring true stories of fairy-tale love. The Punch TV original, Filbert's Big Bash, will enchant the children through its family of lovable dinosaurs. The gangsters in Get Thee Behind Me will intrigue. Punch TV believes that viewers across the Nation are already thirsty for its new programming.

IC Places Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management, are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial conditions. A more extensive listing of risks and factors (that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements) can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information:
IC Places, Inc
www.icplaces.com 
Steven Samblis
407-442-0309 Ext. 2
Press Inquiries:
[email protected]

Corporate Address:
Punch Television Network
http://PunchTV.net
Joseph Collin
[email protected]
562-424-4597

SOURCE IC Places, Inc.