• by Fern Siegel , April 4, 2008

In an effort to expand its lineup, ION Media is adding three new series April 7--"The Steve Harvey Show," "Family Feud" and "Quantum Leap"--alongside hit films. The programming extends the network's schedule an hour, filling up the 5 p.m.-6 p.m. block.

The new titles are "positioning the network for broad audiences this fall," said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, ION Media Networks. He credits the upgrade as a "promise to clients and distributors to create a network with a leading audience value proposition."

ION Media Networks, which includes a broadcast television station group and ION Television, reaches more than 94 million U.S. television households via its broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems.

The NAACP Image Award-winning sitcom "The Steve Harvey Show," from Sony Pictures Television, airs Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Real-life radio talk show host Steve Harvey stars as Steve Hightower, a music teacher at a large, diverse Chicago high school. He's joined by a sidekick, Cedric the Entertainer.

In the game-show genre, John O'Hurley, better known as J. Peterman on "Seinfeld," hosts the 2006-2007 season of "Family Feud" from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday. The show is from Fremantle Media North America.

Finally, ION has obtained all 96 episodes of the Emmy-winning "Quantum Leap," which ran from 1989-1993 and starred Scott Bakula as a scientist who solves problems by leaping in and out of time and space. "Leap," from NBCU, airs Monday-Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

ION's films deals includes several hits, including "Dirty Harry," "Risky Business" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."