America is `Taken' With SCI FI Channel; Night One of 10-Day Epic Miniseries Sets Ratings Record For Channel.

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2002

SCI FI Channel's premiere telecast (9-11PM) of Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN, the largest miniseries ever produced for television, has shattered all delivery records for the Channel with a 4.9 (3,906,000 HHs)(a).

The unprecedented performance of this original event, which was produced by DreamWorks Television for SCI FI, marks the culmination of SCI FI's tenth anniversary year, and the first of ten full nights of the alien abduction saga. It brought the largest viewing audience in the Channel's history, breaking the previous record held by Frank Herbert's Dune, Part 1 by 28%(b).

"I'm absolutely thrilled with the success of the premiere night of Taken, said Bonnie Hammer, President, SCI FI Channel. "It is simply an incredible testament to everyone involved in this project - all of whom lent support to what was an unparalleled creative risk. From our partnership with DreamWorks, our team at SCI FI, the strength and loud `event-of-the-year' support from our affiliates, and finally the understanding from advertisers that this was a high cache, can't-miss opportunity, we're incredibly grateful."

Said Darryl Frank, Co-Head of DreamWorks Television, "We couldn't be happier with the premiere numbers of TAKEN -- and the fact that we were able to succeed in our goal of bringing new viewers to the SCI FI Channel."

The Monday, December 2 premiere telecast of TAKEN had over 6 million unique viewers, and scored across every rating demographic, and came in first for the night in basic cable in households (4.9) and Persons 18-49 (3.1) and first among all cable networks (including premium) in Persons 25-54 (4.0) from 9-11 PM(c).

Firmly establishing SCI FI Channel's place among cable television's elite original programmers, Monday's ratings success comes hard on the heels of SCI FI's record-breaking November. With an average 1.0 HH rating, SCI FI placed among the Top Ten of all basic cable networks. The Channel also reached the distribution milestone of 80 million homes in this, its tenth anniversary year. Building upon the momentum of TAKEN, SCI FI will premiere a full slate of original programming in the coming year - a mix of television events and dramatic series.

In keeping with SCI FI's commitment to quarterly "big event" programs, TAKEN will be followed by Frank Herbert's Children of Dune in March `03, the newest chapter in SCI FI's Emmy Award-winning Dune saga. Upcoming original shows include the series debut of Tremors and The Dream Team with Annabelle and Michael, as well as the return of Stargate SG-1 and Farscape in early `03. Other highlights for 2003 include the debuts of Scare Tactics, hosted by Shannen Doherty; Tripping the Rift, the Channel's first original animated series; more than 20 new original action movies; and a much-anticipated miniseries reimagining of the classic Battlestar Galactica.

SCI FI Channel transmits fantastic images to 80 million human homes. Launched in 1992, SCI FI features a continuous stream of cinematic hits, new and original series, and special events, as well as classic sci-fi, fantasy, and horror programming. Check out SCIFI.COM(R), the SCI FI Channel's award-winning Web site, at www.scifi.com. SCI FI Channel is a program service of Universal Television Group (www.universalstudios.com), a division of Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment (VUE), the U.S.-based film, television and recreation entity of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.

(a) Nielsen Media Research/Galaxy Explorer, 12/2/02, 9-11PM,
    coverage area HH rating/AA delivery

(b) NMR/Galaxy, 12/2/02 9-11PM AA delivery vs.
    12/4/00, 9-11PM AA delivery

(c) NMR/Galaxy, ranking among all measured basic and pay cable
    networks, 12/2/02, 9-11PM time period coverage area ratings
    averages