-New York, NY (August 26, 2002)
Recognizing the enormous market for employment oriented programming, The Employment Channel announced today the business plan for the creation of the first 24-hour cable/interactive television channel devoted solely to career development and related issues. This virtually untapped market, estimated at $160 Billion, is expected to generate enormous revenues through sponsorship and subscriber fees drawn from a fairly lucrative niche.

Two well known veterans in the cable industry, Broderick Byers, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Bob Townsend, Chief Operating Officer, plan to take their decades of cable television experience combined with the proven success of current Employment Channel programming and create the preeminent source and market leader for career development and lifestyle content.

Byers and Townsend are currently recruiting investors to reach their goal of $26 Million in venture capital needed to begin their detailed five year business plan. It is forecasted to reach profitability within three years of initiation with free cash flow of $40 Million after year six. The Employment Channel is seeking less money than a traditional cable startup because of unique ways they have identified to cut expenses: low distribution costs, low content acquisition costs and strategic alliances.

“There is no question that there is a tremendous market in career development and employment oriented programming. America needs programming devoted solely to workforce issues,” said Broderick Byers, CEO of The Employment Channel. “Because of our years of success in New Jersey and New York, we are ready to take that programming expertise to the next level and provide career development content and interactive television a the national level through a 24 hour channel.”

A Brand New Concept:
The Employment Channel plans to use a proven model which is a hybrid of other cable television concepts that were successful: Original content plus archived training and career development videos in addition to off network entertainment content with a unifying central theme. This, combined with the interactive component and on-line services to viewers make The Employment Channel a truly one-of-a kind concept and maybe even the “killer application”.

TEC’s content will be geared towards anyone who works or needs to work for a living: the first time job seeker, the average worker looking to get ahead, a manager or professional, the person who recently may have lost their job, the self employed and those planning to retire or retirees returning to work. In addition to the rewarding and insightful information for the aforementioned categories of workers, viewers can connect to TEC’s web site for companion information, articles to help with all parts of career development from how to ask for a raise to 401K management and balancing work and family. Viewers can also visit the TEC website and link to the hottest job posting sites, and online resume banks, and other employment and career training sites.

“Currently there is no single company serving the needs of working people and their demand for career oriented programming,” said Bob Townsend, Chief Operating Officer. “Investors need to look at the success of “New Jersey Works” and “Employ.com TV” and realize that this is scalable to the national level. The country needs career programming as people are full of questions and anxiety in this trouble economic climate. This is the right plan to provide them with useful content and be profitable simultaneously.”

A Proven Track Record:
TEC began “New Jersey Works” five years ago through a public-private partnership with the New Jersey State Department of Labor. “New Jersey Works” is two hours or original programming per week on 6 syndicated on broadcast stations reaching 10 million households.

“New Jersey Works” and “Employ.com” explore various labor issues in the Garden State and The Big Apple, profiles employers and reports trends in business sectors that affect New Jersey. Hosted by Sonal Patel, the shows include interviews with working people, career snapshots, employment news lifestyle and career development content. It serves as a public affairs resource program for anyone living and working in New Jersey.

The Right Team
Broderick Byers has worked in all aspects of cable TV programming - advertising sales, operations, marketing production and management. Previously he worked for TCI, Time Warner -NYC, UA Columbia, Syracuse Cablevision, District Cablevision and Black entertainment Television.

Bob Townsend previously worked with New Urban Entertainment TV, Bell Atlantic Video Services (Stargazer), Home Shopping Network, New York Times Cable and Johnson & Johnson.

About the Employment Channel:

The Employment Channel (TEC) is a multimedia company that creates, aggregates, and distributes employment and career development content in a digital video format for television and the Internet. TEC’s video programming is highly relevant, informative, entertaining and timely. It attracts hourly and six figure income professionals, which in turn is attracting a broad base of advertisers.

TEC’s companion website (www.employ.com) is as an online portal for employment and career information, a real-time means to deliver customization and personalization of the content, and serve as a platform for related e-commerce.

At the core of TEC’s business expansion plan is a 24-hour digital cable channel branded as The Employment Channel. Yet, the business opportunity is broader than a conventional cable channel. It is an integrated and interactive content-distribution network-a business model made possible by recent advances in digital technology.