From Sony Pictures Television, Based on the Book Authored By Natalee Holloway's Mother, 'Loving Natalee: A Mother's Testament of Hope and Faith'

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifetime Movie Network has begun pre-production on "The Natalee Holloway Story" (wt), the true story of a teenage girl who disappeared during a senior class vacation in Aruba. The movie is based on the book, Loving Natalee: A Mother's Testament of Hope and Faith, by Beth Twitty, the mother of Natalee Holloway.

"The Natalee Holloway Story" will air on Lifetime Movie Network in 2009.

In making the announcement, Tanya Lopez, Senior Vice President, Original Movies, Lifetime Networks, said, "To this day, Natalee Holloway's tragic story continues to make headlines around the world. We are pleased to be working closely with Natalee's mother, Beth Twitty, to tell her story sensitively and accurately, to raise awareness of how to keep our children safe at all times."

"At the heart of the mysterious disappearance of Natalee Holloway, is the love story between a mother and her daughter," said Helen Verno, executive vice president, movies and miniseries, Sony Pictures Television. Adding, "After Natalee went missing, her mother became a fierce advocate for justice for Natalee, as well as for the education of all young people when they travel internationally."

"The Natalee Holloway Story" tells the true story of teenager Natalee Holloway, whose disappearance in 2005 on a senior class vacation to Aruba captured national attention and dominated newspaper headlines. The story follows her mother Beth Twitty's relentless efforts to discover the truth about what happened to her daughter. In the years that followed Natalee's disappearance, Twitty channeled her energies into public speaking, cautioning parents and teens of the potential dangers that can occur while traveling abroad. She later founded the International Safe Travels Foundation, a non-profit organization designed "to inform and educate the public to help them travel more safely as they travel internationally."

Lifetime Movie Network is the #2 women's channel, behind only Lifetime Television. The Network, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, is riding high, posting its highest-rated Third Quarter ever. LMN total day ratings among W18+ surpass Discovery, FX, TLC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, WE, SoapNet and ABC Family. The August premiere of "Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story" became the second most-watched movie in the channel's 10-year history, following the April premiere of "The Capture of the Green River Killer," the highest-rated movie in the history of Lifetime Movie Network.

"The Natalee Holloway Story" (wt) is produced by Sony Pictures Television for Lifetime Movie Network. Judith Verno and Frank Von Zerneck are executive producers.

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment for network and cable television, as well as first-run and off-network series for syndication. With more than 25 programs on the air, SPT boasts a program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. SPT also owns one-half of cable channel GSN, and is a partner in FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service. Sony Pictures Television oversees all of Sony Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) domestic digital distribution efforts across all platforms, including the internet and mobile. Sony Pictures Television, advertiser sales, is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses, for Sony BMG and Tennis Channel, and is part owner of national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

Lifetime is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including myLifetime.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE Lifetime Movie Network