WNET New York Public Media Announces Fairway Market's Local Sponsorship of Vine Talk

This is the pioneering food emporium's first sponsorship of WNET.

NEW YORK, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The iconic tri-state area grocery and specialty food retailer Fairway Market and its Fairway Wines & Spirits have come on board as the first local corporate sponsor of the inaugural season of Vine Talk, public television's new lifestyle series airing Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. (ET) on THIRTEEN and Mondays at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on WLIW21.

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Taped live at the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City, Vine Talk is hosted by Academy Award® nominated Stanley Tucci who leads an ever-changing celebrity panel through a blind taste test of wines each week.  Each episode, a different wine region from around the world serves as the inspiration for a lively and engaging conversation.  

This is Fairway's first sponsorship of WNET New York Public Media – one of America's most prolific and respected public media providers. Their commitment will roll out with an integrated cross-media campaign including a series of broadcast acknowledgements with the first on-air spot premiering on April 21, 2011.

"As a New York institution like WNET, Fairway prides itself in serving the local communities," said Howie Glickberg, CEO of Fairway, which was founded by his grandfather Nathan more than 75 years ago.  "It makes perfect sense for us to support Vine Talk, a destination program for food and wine lovers, since Fairway is a destination shopping experience for them as well."

"We want to thank and welcome Fairway to WNET's community of local sponsors," said Neal Shapiro, WNET's President and CEO, "Fairway's motto 'Like No Other Market' shares the public media philosophy of providing stand-out content to attract audiences in today's diverse media environment.  Vine Talk is an ideal platform and a natural extension to bring Fairway's culinary passion to the public."

As part of Fairway's extended charitable contribution to WNET, the company will donate ten percent of their net revenue from a designated weekend in their Pelham and Stamford Wines & Spirits stores.  Personalities from Vine Talk and WNET will be part of the event.  In addition to a full-page ad in the THIRTEEN program guide and on-screen messages during broadcasts, Fairway will promote the series in their in-store circulars and on their website.  

VINE TALK is a production of Jersey Wooly Productions, Inc., co-produced by OLIVE Productions, Inc. and WLIW21 in association with WNET New York Public Media.  Executive Producers:  Bruce Marcus, Joseph Locarro, Wren Arthur, Steve Buscemi, and Stanley Tucci. Director: Joseph Locarro.  U.S. Distributor: American Public Television (APT).

About WNET New York Public Media

WNET New York Public Media is a pioneering provider of television and web content.  The parent of THIRTEEN, WLIW21 and Creative News Group, WNET brings such acclaimed broadcast series and websites as Tavis Smiley, Need To Know, Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Secrets of the Dead, Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, Visions, Consuelo Mack WealthTrack, Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps and Cyberchase to national and international audiences.  Through its wide range of channels and platforms, WNET serves the entire New York City metro area with unique local productions, broadcasts and innovative educational and cultural projects.  In all that it does, WNET pursues a single, overarching goal – to create media experiences of lasting significance for New York, America and the world.  For more information, visit www.wnet.org.

About Fairway Market

Fairway was founded in the 1930s by Nathan Glickberg as a fruit and vegetable store in Manhattan and is now a growing New York grocery chain with an expertise in specialty foods.  It is also one of the nation's highest grossing food retailers per square foot.  Sterling Investment Partners acquired a majority share of the company four years ago.  Today there are seven locations in the tri-state area employing more than 3,500 people, as well as two Fairway Wines & Spirits super stores.  Two new Fairway Markets are scheduled to open in 2011, one in Manhattan and one in Queens.  Specialty Food Magazine recently named Fairway one of the country's six Outstanding Specialty Food Retailers for the Specialty Food Trade.  In May 2008, the grocer was named Consumer Deal of the Year by M&A Magazine.  Fairway was also listed on Inc.'s top 5000 fastest private growing companies for 2008, 2009, and 2010.  www.fairwaymarket.com.

SOURCE WNET New York Public Media