JILLIAN MICHAELS TO STAR IN NEW SPIKE TV SERIES "SWEAT INC."

New York, NY, March 3, 2015 - Jillian Michaels, one of the nation's leading health and wellness experts, is partnering with Spike TV to find the next big fitness phenomenon in the new non-scripted original series, "Sweat Inc."

Spike TV has ordered 10 one-hour episodes. The series, produced by 3 Ball Entertainment, goes into production this summer and will premiere this Fall.

Over the last decade, the fitness industry has exploded: there are currently more than 30,000 fitness clubs around the country and over 58 million memberships. Fitness enthusiasts are always on the lookout for the next big thing. Whoever creates the next Soul Cycle(R), Zumba(R), or Crossfit(R) could be sitting on a billion dollar idea. In the new Spike reality-competition series "Sweat Inc.," 12 aspiring fitness entrepreneurs compete to prove they've developed the newest groundbreaking exercise program.

Michaels will serve as host and judge for "Sweat Inc.," utilizing her vast knowledge of the fitness industry and her keen business sense to decide which undiscovered workout is best suited to be the next new phenomenon. Two other successful fitness industry experts will join Michaels at the judges' table.

"Like the gold rush or tech boom, the fitness business has evolved into a high-stakes, billion dollar industry, with a huge fortune awaiting the next amazing idea," said Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV. "Jillian Michaels is the perfect host and judge to lend her expertise to determine a victor."

"I'm thrilled to be joining the Spike family and 'reteam' with 3 Ball to make another hugely entertaining and successful show," said Michaels. "'Sweat Inc.' is a competition elimination show that has elements of today's most compelling and engaging shows. It explores the savvy, grit, guts and glory to make it big in business while unleashing and exposing the most cutting edge, innovative, underground workouts to the masses. Ultimately, 'Sweat Inc.'s' appeal is universal because at its core it's about getting that one shot at making your dreams a reality. Who can't relate to that?"

The 12 fitness entrepreneurs will have varied backgrounds and come from all around the country. In each episode, the contestants will put their innovative workout regimens to the test. Michaels and the other judges will then decide which entrepreneur is eliminated. After 10 weeks, the victorious fitness program that possesses the highest level of business savvy and innovation will win a major cash prize and a partnership with a national gym chain to develop their fitness brand.

"Sweat Inc." is created and produced by 3 Ball Entertainment ("Extreme Weight Loss," "Bar Rescue") with Todd Nelson, JD Roth, DJ Nurre and Brant Pinvidic serving as Executive Producers. Jillian Michaels and Giancarlo Chersich from Empowered Media will also serve as Executive Producers. Sharon Levy is Spike TV's Executive Vice President, Original Series, and Hayley Lozitsky, Vice President of Original Series will serve as the network's Executive in Charge of Production.

About Empowered Media:

Empowered Media Empowered Media, LLC operates the Jillian Michaels wellness brand. Co-founded by Jillian Michaels and her business partner, Giancarlo Chersich, the company operates as life architects whose sole mission is to inspire individuals to empower themselves to seek healthier, active lives. The products marketed are part of the total life solution platform created by the Jillian Michaels philosophy. America's premier health and wellness coach, Michaels is a New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur and popular television personality. Michaels is also a passionate advocate, fighting to invoke important changes in all aspects of health and wellness. Michaels' newest book, SLIM FOR LIFE: MY INSIDER SECRETS TO SIMPLE, FAST, AND LASTING WEIGHT LOSS is available now wherever books are sold. For more information about Jillian Michaels, please visit jillianmichaels.com.

About 3 Ball Entertainment:

3 Ball Entertainment is one of television's most prolific producers of reality and non-fiction programming, both for broadcast and cable. Fully independent, the company is run by CEOs Todd A. Nelson and Ross Weintraub, with Brant Pinvidic serving as chief creative officer. 3 Ball's hit series include Extreme Weight Loss, which premieres its fifth season on ABC this summer (the show also airs as Obese in 130 countries); Bar Rescue, in season four for Spike; My Cat from Hell for Animal Planet; LA Hair for WEtv; Catch a Contractor also for Spike; Kitten Bowl II for Hallmark Channel; and Funniest Wins for TBS. 3 Ball has additional series in production and development with networks including Discovery, Spike, Travel, A+E, FYI, Food, E!, Oxygen and WEtv.

About Spike TV:

Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com.