Jun-2005

AmericanLife TV Network’s Flea Market Mania Launches National Affiliate Tie-In Summer Tour
Flea Market Mania Very Popular with Target Baby Boomer Audience
AmericanLife TV Network announced the first three dates for the summer tour of its original series “Flea Market Mania,” which airs daily at 12:30 PM ET/PT with collectibles expert Christopher Kent. The tour is designed to provide affiliates with an off the shelf promotion targeting a unique audience: baby boomers.

In each episode Kent visits one of America’s most interesting antique shows and flea markets where he examines antiques, offers appraisals, and occasionally sniffs out an over priced fake. AmericanLife TV Network, the nation’s only full-time cable channel dedicated to providing lifestyle, entertainment, and information programming for the baby boomer generation, will be taping episodes of “Flea Market Mania” in some of the country’s most famous venues including Renningers Extravaganza in Kutztown, PA and Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show in Brimfield, MA.

“Flea Market Mania” launched in February 2001 and, to judge from viewer emails, has become a favorite family programming destination. “Flea Market Mania” taps into a national obsession in which every family member can participate, whether treasure hunting for undiscovered rarities or searching for common household items. In fact, the National Flea Market Association estimates that there are between 2,500 and 3,000 weekly flea markets across the nation, bringing in an estimated $5 billion in annual sales. That’s a lot of flea markets and it requires expert guides who know where to go and what to do.

Hosts Christopher Kent and Kathleen Guzman are the cultural ambassadors to the flea market world, providing on the spot appraisals of flea market finds and collectibles, and offering a slightly off beat tour of the nation’s must-see flea markets, including hints and tips for treasure hunting baby boomers about make, model, condition and price.

AmericanLife TV Network works with local operators at each venue; operators are running cross channel spots and the network is providing signage and the talent. The first three stops have been announced and additional venues will be added:

• June 25, Renningers Extravaganza, Kutztown, PA, with partner Service Electric Cablevision

• July 9, Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show, Brimfield, MA, with partner J & J Productions.

• September 26, Fall Capital Home Show, Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, VA, with partner Cox Fairfax.