OXYGEN PUTS SKIN IN THE GAME WITH "BEST INK"

America's Most Talented Tattoo Artists Compete For $100,000, Cover and Feature Spread in Tattoo Magazine

Television Personality, Capitol Recording Artist and Tattoo Enthusiast Kimberly Caldwell Hosts

NEW YORK - September 8, 2011 -Oxygen Media gets under the skin of the art of tattooing in "Best Ink," a new competition reality series laying bare the cutthroat and wildly unpredictable world of tattoo artistry. Every rose or dragon tattoo tells a story - not only of the person wearing it, but of the artist who created it. Produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, "Best Ink" premieres this winter.

The contestants are guided through the competition by television host and recording artist Kimberly Caldwell. A tattoo fanatic who is inked with several meaningful images, Caldwell epitomizes the show's gutsy attitude, as shown by her fearless vocals, passionate performances, and the earthy charisma of her "American Idol" appearances. Caldwell has also been a television host and correspondent for FOX Sports, TV Guide Network, and MTV, along with releasing her debut album, Without Regret.

Tattooists are on the cutting edge of an ever-growing phenomenon: permanent body art. With nothing but their needles, ink, and passion, ten respected tattoo artists from across the country compete for $100,000 and a cover and feature spread in Tattoo magazine. Each artist produces bona fide masterpieces on skin - a permanence rarely seen in the reality competition world. The indelible body art will be created for, and on, real people in a variety of challenges designed to showcase the artists' talents. Challenges include an "Emotional Life Passage Challenge" where artists are tasked with designing a tattoo commemorating a personal story or life changing moment and a "Tribute Tattoo Challenge" where artists are tasked with designing tribute tattoos for fans of a well-known musical icon.

After each challenge, the head judge, world-renowned tattoo artist Joe Capobianco, along with international pinup model and tattoo shop owner Sabina Kelley and a rotating guest judge, critique the artists' work to find the most skilled tattooist. But the drama doesn't stop there - with the competitors sharing common 'free-time' space, sparks will fly and egos will clash. As the stakes get higher and the challenges become more difficult, only one artist will get the ultimate bragging rights to call their work "Best Ink."

"Best Ink" is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions with Jonathan Murray, Gil Goldschein and Rico Martinez serving as executive producers and Erin Cristall, Rene Rainey and Peter Woronov serving as co-executive producers.

About Bunim-Murray Productions

Bunim/Murray Productions is the leading producer of innovative entertainment content. The Emmy Award-winning company is widely credited with creating the reality television genre with its hit series The Real World (25 seasons for MTV). Bunim/Murray continued to innovate with the first reality game show, Road Rules (MTV), in 1995; the first reality sitcom, The Simple Life (E!), in 2003; and the first reality soap opera, Starting Over, in 2003. Bunim/Murray's current programming includes The Bad Girls Club and Love Games (Oxygen), Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Kim and Kourtney Take New York and Khloe and Lamar (E!), The Real World/Road Rules Challenge (MTV) and Project Runway and Project Runway All Stars (Lifetime). Bunim/Murray Productions has launched additional entities including M Theory Entertainment, BMP Films and M Music. BMP Films produced Pedro (MTV) and the Emmy Award-winning Autism: The Musical (HBO). Based in Van Nuys, CA, Bunim/Murray Productions was founded in 1987 by Jonathan Murray and the late Mary-Ellis Bunim. The company joined Banijay Group in 2010.

About Oxygen Media

Oxygen Media is a multiplatform lifestyle brand that delivers relevant and engaging content to young women who like to "live out loud." Oxygen is rewriting the rulebook for women's media by changing how the world sees entertainment from a young woman's point of view. Through a vast array of unconventional and original content including "The Glee Project," "Bad Girls Club," "Hair Battle Spectacular," and "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood," the growing cable network is the premier destination for unique and groundbreaking unscripted programming. A social media trendsetter, Oxygen is a leading force in engaging modern young women, wherever they are, with popular, award-winning features online including www.OxygenLive.com, the real-time social viewing party that is also available as an app for the iPhone and iPad. Oxygen is available in 77 million homes and can be found online and on mobile devices at www.oxygen.com. Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/OxygenPR. Oxygen Media is a service of NBCUniversal.