Announcement Comes on the Heels of Record-Breaking Success for Season One
Series Set to Premiere in February 2009
New York, NY – September 29, 2008 – WE tv announced today the renewal of hit original series The Locator, for a second season. The series, which premiered September 6 to more than 1.3 million viewers and marked the network’s most watched telecasts ever, features Troy Dunn, aka "The Locator," who has spent the past 18 years searching for and successfully locating thousands of missing people and solving some of the world’s toughest missing persons cases. Season two’s 14 half-hour episodes are slated to premiere on WE tv in February 2009.
"Season one of The Locator continues to exceed our expectations, increasing viewership and breaking records for the network," said Kim Martin, president and general manager for WE tv. "With season two of the series premiering early next year, we are anticipating another stellar season and looking forward to continuing our mission of providing stories of hope and healing that truly resonate with our viewers."
Season one of The Locator generated critical acclaim in publications across the country and on television.
- "…’The Locator’…is worth a look, let me tell you." – Dr. Phil (Dr. Phil McGraw, 9/24/08)
- "Top 5 Most Anticipated Reality Shows" – USA Weekend (9/21/08)
- "…emotional new reality series…" – TV Guide (9/1/08)
- "…a compelling new true-life series…" – Entertainment Tonight (5/30/08)
- "…so heartwarming…" – New York Times (Susan Stewart, 9/6/08)
In the second season, The Locator will continue to follow emotional journeys, from an adopted daughter seeking to meet her birth mother and sisters for the first time, to a Leukemia-diagnosed mother wanting see her daughter again. With a team of professionals including Troy’s mother Katie, who was adopted herself, Troy locates the sought-after person and prepares both parties for an unforgettable, life-changing reunion where anything can happen. The Locator is about human connections and major life transformations that can take place, if we are brave enough to confront our past and look to the future.
The Locator cases are adoptees seeking their biological parents, siblings separated at birth, unique situations where people have been separated from loved ones by a divorce, a move, a tragedy and other circumstances. Troy puts his expertise and extensive search networks to use so that people hoping for answers can find closure and peace. There are many different outcomes, but at the end of every episode, there will be a discovery for the people wanting to find a missing piece of their history. The series is being produced by Asylum Entertainment.
Spanning an 18-year career, Troy Dunn has located thousands of missing persons, reuniting them with loved ones in all fifty states and throughout several countries, and solving some of the toughest missing-person mysteries. Troy lives in Ft. Myers, Florida with his wife and seven children.
The success of The Locator follows a number of significant WE tv ratings successes, including the premiere of its critically-acclaimed High School Confidential (.93 HH rating) and the fifth season premiere of the network’s hit series Bridezillas (.84 HH rating). WE tv ended the second quarter of 2008 the strongest quarter in the network’s history with soaring viewership on-air, on demand and online. WE tv also saw significant gains among all of its key demographics and continues to outpace its competitive set in percentage growth among key demographics. WE tv ranks number one in W18-34 (+52%) and W18-49 (+45%) delivery growth, making it the "fastest growing cable network" for these younger demos, in Prime).
About WE tv
WE tv (www.WEtv.com) is the premier source for women looking to satisfy their curiosity with fascinating, original stories and entertaining, informative content that is relevant to key stages of their lives. Available in nearly 72 million homes, WE tv’s programming gives viewers compelling perspectives on women’s lives that range from provocative to extraordinary, including signature series like Bridezillas and critically-acclaimed original documentary series such as High School Confidential. WE tv’s public affairs initiative, WE Empowers Women, is dedicated to creating programs that foster and celebrate women’s strength, confidence and diversity. The initiative’s current focus is its WE Vote ’08 campaign. WE tv is available in HD and WE tv On Demand is available in 20 million homes. WE tv is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media’s NYC studios and post-production facilities.