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New Line Television and America Online Launch THE HUB on March 19 March 19, 1996
Vienna, VA, March 19, 1996 -- AMERICA ONLINE, the nation's leading commercial online service, and NEW LINE TELEVISION, one of the most successful producers of young adult franchise programming, have together created THE HUB -- an exciting new venture which debuts today on America Online. THE HUB is available to AOL members at "keyword: Hub." Offering everything from early morning professional Dream Analysis to the cross-country annals of John The Hitchhiker to regular peeks inside The Secret Files of Bill Gates, THE HUB is aimed at the ever-growing numbers of young adult cybersurfers hungry for exciting new content. Covering entertainment, arts & culture, relationships, the latest (and strangest) news, and much more, THE HUB offers an original, irreverent slant not likely to be found anywhere else in the real or cyber world. Says Ted Leonsis, president of America Online Services Company, "What we've done with THE HUB is to synthesize interactive technology with the programming sensibility of a demographically-targeted television channel to reach a market that is cyber-mobile and hungry for new online experiences. The result is new entertainment for a new generation using a new medium." Bob Friedman, president of New Line Television, added, "THE HUB represents the fulfillment of the promise of this new medium called online service. This is compelling entertainment to reach young adults where they are, and where they are is online. Additionally, many of the properties developed online will ultimately be exploited in other media, including film and TV." THE HUB is the creation of an experienced team of writers, producers and designers headed by executive producer Billy Kimball, who orchestrated Comedy Central's coverage of the 1992 Presidential election and was an editor of the Harvard Lampoon. Much of the HUB staff comes from the television and magazine industries, including alumni from Saturday Night Live, TV Nation, Spy and Details. Taking a dramatically different approach to online ventures, the project borrows from the concept of cable and broadcast TV with 25 'programs' on 8 'channels' -- all programmed under an umbrella network called THE HUB. New areas and shows will debut every week, and all sections will be updated regularly -- in some cases, hourly -- to keep it exciting. Links to the hottest new WORLDWIDE WEB sites will be available through AOL's Internet browser, though all original content will reside on AOL's subscription service. A sampling of THE HUB's Solar System chart includes the following: CHANNEL ZERO -- Much like a TV network, this channel offers non-stop activity and information with live regularly-scheduled programs ranging from the early morning "Dream Analysis" to a "What Should I Wear" forum to "Goof Off Hour" and "Exercise Breaks" for afternoons at work, to "Hangover Cure," featuring epic tales of the night before and morning-after cures. In addition, the channel will feature love advice from radio personality "Dr. Judy" and real-live tales from the relationship front by journalist Lynn Snowden. THE HOT BUTTON -- If it's worth seeing, hearing or doing, it's in the Hot Button. Movies, books, scandals, even new areas of THE HUB -- the Hot Button has its metaphorical finger on the virtual pulse of the nation. THE OTHER NEWS -- Your other news of the day with strange and true stories from the news media. Whenever man bites dog, The Other News is there. MONOLITH -- With contests and reviews, a compilation of conspiracies and unauthorized access to Bill Gates' "archives" -- this area of THE HUB is your guide to digital lifestyle and culture. GET A LIFE -- Or try to get one beyond the computer screen. A venue of un-computer-related topics including "John the Hitchhiker," where Word editor John Bowe wanders the country and gives updates of his travels; "Heaven," where HUB users can participate in charitable causes and events, and "Cyrano," who can help you by writing letters to your obnoxious boss or express your true love to that would-be significant other. YOU ARE VERY INTELLIGENT AND SOMEWHAT ARTSY -- This highbrow outlet will showcase treasures such as "Meanwhile," a 'zine on-line by GQ editor Don Steinberg and "Ken's Guide to the Bible," which reports on the juicy stuff they usually skip in Sunday school. SPACE -- If it doesn't belong elsewhere on THE HUB, it belongs in Space. This potpourri includes the soap operatic novel, "Weird Sisters," high school witches whose fate can be directed by HUB users. Also, original "Fuzzy Memories" from Deep Thoughts creator Jack Handey and participatory extreme sports with "Sourcerer." PLUG -- And here's a word from our Hub sponsors...an unabashed mix of shopping and really cool ads. NEW LINE TELEVISION is a division of New Line Cinema Corporation, an independent producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures. The division is responsible for the development and distribution of television projects for the broadcast networks, cable and first-run syndication, as well as the non-theatrical distribution of New Line Films to television and ancillary markets. This past fall, New Line Television successfully launched six new television series including Court TV: Inside America's Courts (syndicated), Nancy Drew (syndicated), The Hardy Boys (syndicated), The Mask animated series (CBS), Dumb & Dumber animated series (ABC) and Lost & Found (fX). New Line Cinema Corporation concluded its merger with Turner Broadcasting System Inc., in 1994.
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