NBC Enterprises Domestic Syndication And Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Announce "Access Hollywood" Distribution Deal

(June 18, 2001 – Burbank, CA) – The distribution rights to NBC’s popular syndicated series "Access Hollywood" have been acquired by NBC Enterprises Domestic Syndication in a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) that also calls for WBDTD to continue selling the national barter advertising time for the series. The deal was announced today by Ed Wilson, President, NBC Enterprises Domestic Syndication, and Dick Robertson, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. Additionally, WBDTD’s daily newsmagazine show "Extra" (produced by Time Telepictures Television) has been renewed in prime access time slots on 10 NBC owned-and-operated stations through the 2004-2005 season, it was announced by Jay Ireland, President, NBC Television Stations. "We would like to thank Warner Bros. for doing a terrific job of upgrading ‘Access Hollywood,’" said Wilson. "We feel it is an important cornerstone for our new distribution company and look forward to continuing the fine work of Warner Bros. in seeking access time periods across the country." "Now that NBC has its own distribution operation, we totally understand and support NBC’s desire to bring ‘Access Hollywood’ into its distribution fold," said Robertson "This is a marquee show and a favorite among advertisers and we are pleased to continue handling the show’s barter advertising. ‘Access’ and ‘Extra’ have been a winning combination, and we look forward to the two shows remaining companions on the NBC stations for many years to come." "‘Access Hollywood’ and ‘Extra’ continue to deliver impressive rating performances for our NBC stations in prime access and we look forward to continuing our relationship with both of these daily magazine shows," said Ireland. NBC and New World Television launched "Access Hollywood" in 1996 with New World Television handling the distribution. When Fox acquired New World Television in 1997, the distribution of "Access Hollywood" was shifted to Twentieth Television (which maintains a minority interest in the show). In 1999, NBC took over the distribution rights from Twentieth Television and assigned WBDTD to the distribution and media sales efforts. Over the past two years, WBDTD has increased and improved distribution of the series, including an innovative and unprecedented sales initiative unveiled last year designed to help TV stations achieve higher profitability in prime access by scheduling "Access Hollywood" in the important daypart (6:00-8:00 p.m.). As a result of the new sales and marketing strategy, WBDTD secured more than two dozen upgrades to prime access over the next few years in key major markets. Currently in its fifth season, "Access Hollywood" achieved February 2001 sweeps victories over "Entertainment Tonight" in several major markets where the two shows air in access, such as New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. In addition, "Access Hollywood" continues to outperform "Entertainment Tonight" in the 13 NBC owned-and-operated station markets, generating an average 5.7 household rating in those same markets – reflecting a +12 percent advantage over "Entertainment Tonight." "Access Hollywood" is cleared in more than 92% of the country. The NBC owned-and-operated stations that air "Access" are: WNBC-TV (New York), KNBC-TV (Los Angeles), WMAQ-TV (Chicago), WCAU-TV (Philadelphia), KXAS-TV (Dallas), WRC-TV (Washington, D.C.), WTVJ-TV (Miami), KNSD-TV (San Diego), WVIT (Hartford), WNCN-TV (Raleigh), WCMH-TV (Columbus), WVTM-TV (Birmingham) and WJAR-TV (Providence). Currently in its seventh season, "Extra" continued to build its audience in the recent February sweep. In its access time periods, the series grew among households from a 4.9/8 last February to a 5.0/9 in February 2001. Additionally, the series was up +20% in rating and +20% in share among Adults 18-34 in access this February over last year; +20% rating/+33% share among Adults 18-49 over the previous year, and up +15%/+14% among Adults 25-54. Seen in more than 90 percent of the country, "Extra" airs on major market affiliates including the following NBC owned-and-operated stations: WNBC-TV (New York), KNBC-TV (Los Angeles), WMAQ-TV (Chicago), WCAU-TV (Philadelphia), KXAS-TV (Dallas), WTVJ-TV (Miami), WVIT (Hartford), WCMH-TV (Columbus), WVTM-TV (Birmingham) and WJAR-TV (Providence). "Extra," a Time Telepictures Television production, is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. NBC Enterprises is responsible for the global distribution and exploitation of NBC owned product, which includes foreign and domestic program syndication, strategic marketing and ancillary exploitation of owned product in home video, merchandising, licensing, music and publishing as well as strategic production and co-production alliances and co-ventures. NBC Enterprises oversees the distribution of all NBC-owned programming worldwide. This programming includes all shows produced by NBC Studios, NBC News, CNBC and MSNBC output. NBC, a division of General Electric, is a global media company with broadly diverse holdings. NBC owns and operates the NBC Television Network and also owns 13 television stations. NBC also owns two 24-hour cable programming services, CNBC and MSNBC, with part ownership in 17 other cable services. Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution is one of the industry’s leading distributors of first-run and off-network programming in the domestic television marketplace, as well as the industry’s largest syndicator in terms of commercial advertising inventory. WBDTD’s current first-run syndicated programs include "The Rosie O’Donnell Show," "Jenny Jones," "Extra," "The People’s Court" and "Judge Mathis." WBDTD’s off-network activities include the syndication sale of NBC’s "Will & Grace" for fall 2002, as well as "Suddenly Susan," "The Drew Carey Show," "The Wayans Bros.," "The Parent ’Hood," "In the House" and the top-rated hit "Friends.” # # #