The N Becomes 24-Hour Teen TV Network Beginning Monday, Dec. 31, at 6:00 A.M. (ET) With New Schedule and New Shows Coming in 2008

New Programming to Roll Out in 2008 Includes Three New Series; Returning Season of Hit Original Degrassi; Documentary Special Degrassi in Kenya; and Two Teen Acquisitions Saved by the Bell and That 70's Show

Network Celebrates New 24-Hour Status with Special 12-Hour New Year's Eve Countdown: 24 Reasons to Love The N in 2008

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 -- The N takes a monumental step forward on New Year's Eve as the network moves onto new channel space and expands from a 12-hour programming block into a 24-hour teen network, beginning Monday, Dec. 31, at 6:00 a.m. (ET). The newly 24/7 network will feature a daytime block of hit TEENick programming and will welcome new shows to its nighttime schedule of originals including Queen Bees, The N's Student Body and The Assistants, among others. To celebrate its expansion, The N will count down 24 Reasons to Love The N in 2008 in a 12-hour programming marathon premiering Monday, Dec. 31, at 12:00 p.m. (ET).

"The N going 24 is a great opportunity to provide around-the-clock teen programming to our growing audience as we continue to roll out new series, specials and acquisitions," said Sarah Tomassi Lindman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, The N. "The network's distinct perspective that reflects the teen experience will now be available anytime and everywhere."

With a brand-new 24-hour schedule for teens, The N will roll out the return of Degrassi (Season Seven) and South of Nowhere (Season Four); three originals and two acquired series in 2008. Saved by the Bell will begin airing on Monday, Jan. 14 and the award-winning That 70's Show will begin airing in June. The N will also debut two new reality series, Queen Bees and The N's Student Body, both scheduled to premiere in summer, 2008 as well as a new scripted comedy, The Assistants, in the fall. Additionally, popular favorites from the TEENick line-up including Kenan & Kel, Unfabulous and Just Jordan will join The N's new daytime schedule.

24 Reasons to Love The N in 2008 will be hosted by Degrassi's Aubrey Graham, Shenae Grimes and Cassie Steele, along with TEENick's Lil' JJ of Just Jordan and Malese Jow and Raja Fenske of Unfabulous. The marathon takes a look back at favorite episodes from the network's five-year history and gives viewers a sneak-peek at upcoming programming for 2008 including the season return of Degrassi: The Next Generation which premieres on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 8:00 p.m. (ET); the return of the original teen comedy, About A Girl on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 8:00 p.m. (ET); the February premiere of Degrassi in Kenya, a new half-hour documentary special featuring cast members from the hit series; and the season return of the critically acclaimed series, South of Nowhere, premiering April 2008.

At 11:30 p.m. (ET), the marathon concludes with a half-hour special revealing the number-one reason to love The N in 2008 along with the debut of the network's first on-air screening party. The special showcases The-N.com's social media application where online users can chat, play games and watch The N's video content in a virtual party environment with their friends.

The N's programming highlights for 2008 include:

-- Saved by the Bell - Premiering Monday, Jan. 14 - The N has acquired the complete six-season library of the quintessential teen series. The series features six enterprising, adventurous high school students with inventive schemes and mischievous dreams. Their days at school and their nights at their favorite hangout are the setting for an entertaining array of conflicts, laughs and teen romances. Saved by the Bell stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Mario Lopez, Dustin Diamond, Elizabeth Berkley and Lark Voorhies.

-- Degrassi: The Next Generation - Season seven returns on Friday, Jan. 18, at 8:00 p.m. (ET) The new season picks up in the middle of a school year already riddled with tragedy. A fire at Lakehurst -- the school of JT's killer -- forces many of its students into the halls of Degrassi, with explosive results. Amidst the newfound clutter and chaos, Spinner and Darcy deal with dark, personal tragedies, Jimmy and Ashley test their love, and Emma and Manny explore new, surprising relationships, all while hurtling toward graduation. Ellie and Marco discover that exploring their new freedom comes with dire consequences, while Paige, fresh from flaming out of school, gets a great new job, but learns quickly the demands of the real world.

-- About A Girl - Season one returns on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 8:00 p.m. (ET) with original episodes - The half-hour comedy chronicles the adventures of college sophomore Amy Ryan (Chiara Zanni, Good Luck Chuck) after her single dorm room turns out to be a nightmare. Desperate and homeless, she's forced to live with not one, but four male roommates in an off-campus house where everyday courtesies such as hygiene and privacy are out of the question.

-- Degrassi in Kenya - Premieres Feb. 2008 - A half-hour documentary special featuring many of the cast members from the hit series as they take a personal journey to the impoverished region to work as a team and build a new school house for the community.

-- South of Nowhere - Season four returns April 2008 - The half-hour series is a fictional story about a contemporary American family and their multi-faceted journey of self-discovery. Set in Los Angeles, the series chronicles the members of the Carlin family as they try to define themselves and make sense of their Ohio values in big city of Los Angeles. The family is at the heart of the series and while their characters are unique, they reflect many American families today -- bound by their evolving identity and their close relationships.

-- That 70's Show - Premieres June 2008 - The N has acquired all eight seasons of the award-winning series. The series revolves around the lives of several teens living in Wisconsin in 1976 including Eric Forman (Topher Grace), who lives under the authority of parents, the girl next door and girlfriend Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon), Fez (Wilmer Valderrama), a foreign-exchange student soaking up American culture, Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis), her on-again, off-again boyfriend Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) and Steven Hyde (Danny Masterson), the conspiracy theorist of the group. The gang spends their time in Eric's basement, thinking of their lives, parents, and futures, but they manage to get into funny adventures and mishaps along the way through their teenage years.

-- Queen Bees - Premieres July 2008 - The eight-episode, half-hour reality series is designed to rehabilitate the meanest girls from different walks of life. Filled with big, loud characters who are so mean they'll actually make you laugh, the show is funny but still has a big heart. Viewers will discover the true emotional reasons behind each contestant's meanness as each girl changes for the better. The series is co-produced by The N and Endemol USA.

-- The N's Student Body - Premieres Aug. 2008 - The eight-episode, hour- long series brings together two rival high schools and their local community for a life-changing mission of personal health and wellness. The series is hosted by accomplished motivational author, famed athlete and champion of health and fitness, Laila Ali, and is executive produced by The N, along with Reveille's Mark Koops, Dave Broome of 25/7 Productions and Ben Silverman, the founder of Reveille and now Co- Chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

-- The Assistants - Premieres Oct. 2008 - The half-hour series takes a comedic look at four 20-something, showbiz assistants working for a big-shot Hollywood producer as they strive to make it in the chaotic, sometimes cruel, but always zany world of Hollywood. The series is executive produced by The Tom Lynch Company, Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. McRobb and Viscardi are also the show creators and will serve as show runners.

About The N

The N, the 24-hour TV network exclusively for and about teens, is currently available in 64 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite, as well on mobile, VOD and broadband. The N's distinct perspective connects its audience to the electricity and possibilities of teendom, anytime and anywhere, with original series and ever-popular favorites. The N's Emmy Award-winning website, The-N.com, paired with sister site Quizilla.com, makes The N the #1 online destination for teens. The N and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

SOURCE The N
http://The-N.com