Growing Bolder has won the grand prize at American Public Television (APT)’s PitchFest Live! 2018 competition, which includes a $75,000 award to be used toward production of an innovative new pledge program, to be distributed to public television stations in America in 2019.
Growing Bolder founder and CEO Marc Middleton made the pitch in Baltimore competing against 4 other finalists in front of an audience of station programmers from all over the country. A panel of 6 judges questioned each finalist and then huddled before David Robinson, American Public Television’s Director of Syndication and Pledge Programming, handed Middleton the grand prize check for $75,000 for Growing Bolder’s Launch Pad to What’s Next.
“There’s an entirely new lifestage,” says Middleton. “And the 50+ audience is both both excited and worried about what’s next. Launch Pad to What’s Next features national thought leaders answering their biggest questions, addressing their biggest fears and empowering the kind of lifestyle choices that lead to healthy aging and active longevity. It’s a motivational seminar, a Ted Talk, and an educational summit all rolled into one.”
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with APT, and to take this important step in our mission of Rebranding Aging®,” says Executive Producer Katy Widrick. “In the 10+ years that Growing Bolder has been producing content for the 50+ demographic, we’ve learned what inspires them and how to engage them. This prize is both validation of that work and an important step in expanding our ability to continue to lead the world not only in inspirational storytelling but also providing the tools and resources to translate inspiration into action.
Launch Pad to What’s Next is in pre-production, and will be a 90-minute pledge program, including:
- Turnkey, broadcast-ready program with customizable pledge breaks for local stations and talent.
- Motivational segments featuring world-renowned experts in health, wealth, functional fitness, longevity, caregiving and much more.
- A companion online seminar to provide viewers with specific, personalized, actionable steps to identify and create what’s next in their own life. These tools include downloadable workbooks, online questionnaires and quizzes and more.
“In our minds, any program produced solely for broadcast these days is already short-sighted and outdated,” says Middleton. “The beauty of Launch Pad to What’s Next is that it will be built in modules that can be easily repurposed after broadcast to all digital platforms including OTT, mobile devices, websites and even social media channels.”
“The idea is to create active engagement throughout the year, reaching potential members where they are and when they want to be engaged,” adds co-executive producer Jackie Carlin. “The modular format allows us to add or update topics, customize shows for individual markets and leverage new interactive learning technologies.”
Among the segments that may be included:
- What The Mind Believes The Body Embraces
- Compressed Morbidity: How to Live Long and Die Short
- The Art of Caregiving
- The Power of Prehabilitation
- The Health-Wealth Connection: Solving the Longevity Paradox
- Functional Fitness
- Brain Health
- The Power of Yes
American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator to U.S. public television stations, and launched PitchFest! as an initiative designed to find strong, innovative new content for public television viewers. Five finalists were chosen after a rigorous application and proposal process, and each had 8:00 to make a final pitch to public television programmers and distributors, at APT’s Marketplace in Baltimore, Maryland. The judges then critiqued and voted on each proposal, selecting the one they deemed most viable and more innovative for the Grand Prize.
Judge David Rubinsohn, APT director of syndication and pledge programming, said the presentation “hit the sweet spot of the PTV demographic, it’s beautifully produced, and it’s got a lot of potential.”
Hilary Finkel Buxton, director of APT Exchange, highlighted the innovative approach: “I like being able to replace or update that content, seeing what works for different markets,” she said. “It’s a terrific idea.”
Growing Bolder will use the $75,000 prize toward production of the program, and is also looking for underwriting sponsors for the show and individual segments.
ABOUT GROWING BOLDER®
Growing Bolder is among the world leaders in active lifestyle content creation and delivery across multiple platforms. The world’s first active lifestyle brand for the 40+ demographic, Growing Bolder connects with and engages 10 million men and women weekly through its media platform that includes Growing Bolder TV, Surviving & Thriving TV, Growing Bolder Radio and Podcasts, Growing Bolder Magazine, GrowingBolder.com, and robust social media channels.
ABOUT AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION
American Public Television (APT) has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to America’s public television stations since 1961. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. For more information about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.
