Flash-10th Kingdom on ION

For those who may have missed Flash Gordon when it aired on the SCI FI Channel

On August 1st RHI Entertainment, a leading developer, producer and distributor of made-for-television movies, miniseries, and other television programming, announced that two of its productions will be seen on the ION Television Network. Flash Gordon, a 22-hour adventure series, and The 10th Kingdom, a 10-hour fantasy saga, is being featured weekly in a two-hour Friday evening programming block. The special broadcasts began August 1 with Episodes 1 and 2 of Flash Gordon. Starting August 8, ION Television will pair one hour of Flash Gordon with one hour of The 10th Kingdom each week.

RHI’s Flash Gordon is a 21st century retelling of the epic intergalactic adventure first introduced in comic strip form in 1934 by legendary comic artist Alex Raymond. Ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, Flash Gordon chronicles the adventures of Flash (Eric Johnson) and his companions, Dale Arden (Gina Holden) and Dr. Hans Zarkov (Jody Racicot) as they find themselves battling the forces of the merciless dictator Ming (John Ralston). Flash Gordon is distributed internationally by King Features Syndicate.

Flash Gordon scored with viewers when it originally aired its pilot episode on the SCI FI Channel in the summer of 2007, delivering the network’s best series premiere telecast for 2007, however, the numbers did drop off significantly and the show was eventually canceled by SCI FI. During its final three episodes the storylines started improving and numbers did begin to pick up once again.

Flash Gordon is produced by Reunion Pictures. The producers are Matthew O’Connor and Tom Rowe.

John Larroquette, Kimberly Williams, Ann Margret, Rutger Hauer, Camryn Manheim, Ed O’Neil, and Dianne Wiest are among the Emmy, Oscar and Golden Globe-winning talent headlining an all-star cast in The 10th Kingdom, a 10-hour miniseries that premiered on NBC in February 2000. The upcoming broadcast on ION Television marks the first time the series has ever been seen in one-hour segments in the U.S.

In The 10th Kingdom, Virginia (Father of the Bride’s Kimberly Williams) befriends a stray dog (Scott Cohen, who turns out to be a prince) on her way to work as a waitress in a New York restaurant. Suddenly, she and her father (John Larroquette) are transported via magic mirror from the 10th kingdom (better known to us as New York City) to the fabulous fairy-tale world, the Land of the Nine Kingdoms. In this alternate dimension, the evil Queen (Wiest) has escaped from the Snow White Memorial Prison and is trying to usurp Prince Wendell’s (Daniel Lapaine) throne. Soon enough, father and daughter are being chased by the Troll King (O’Neill), his good-for-nothing offspring and the Queen’s devilish Huntsman (Hauer).

Filmed over a seven-month period in England, Austria, Germany, France and at London’s fabled Pinewood Studios, The 10th Kingdom is directed by David Carson (Star Trek) and Herbert Wise (I, Claudius). The 10th Kingdom is written by Simon Moore, whose credits include the multiple Emmy-winning Gulliver’s Travels. Serving as producers are Jane Prowse, Simon Moore and Brian Eastman.

Both Flash Gordon and The 10th Kingdom are executive produced by RHI’s Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr.

“We are extremely proud of both of these projects and we are delighted that they will be seen this summer on ION Television,” said Robert Halmi, Jr., President and CEO of RHI Entertainment. “We know that the many fans of both will be delighted to see them again while, at the same time, we also expect new audiences to tune in and discover them for the first time.”

“One of the great hallmarks of RHI’s programming is its timelessness and its repeatability,” said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, ION Media Networks. “Both of these series have captured the imaginations of viewers, and they remain just as captivating now.”

About RHI Entertainment:
RHI Entertainment (NASDAQ: RHIE) develops, produces and distributes new made-for-television movies, miniseries and other television programming worldwide, and is the leading provider of new long-form television content in the United States. Under the leadership of Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr., RHI has produced and distributed thousands of hours of quality television programming, and RHI¹s productions have received more than 100 Emmy Awards. During 2007, RHI developed, produced and distributed 43 new television movies and miniseries to broadcast and cable networks around the world. In addition to the development, production and distribution of new content, RHI owns rights to approximately 1,000 titles, or over 3,500 broadcast hours of long-form television programming, which are licensed to broadcast and cable networks and new media outlets globally.

About ION Media Networks:
ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation’s largest broadcast television station group and ION Television, which reaches over 94 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems, and features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning libraries of RHI Entertainment, CBS Television, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Television, Twentieth Television and Warner Bros., among others. Using its digital multicasting capability, the Company has launched several digital TV brands, including qubo, a channel for children focusing on literacy and values, and ION Life, a channel dedicated to active living and personal growth. It also has launched Open Mobile Ventures Corporation (OMVION), a business unit focused on the research and development of portable, mobile and out-of-home transmission technology using over-the-air digital television spectrum. For more information, visit www.ionmedia.com.