Roper Poll Commissioned by SCI FI Channel Reports that Two-Thirds of Americans Believe There Are Other Forms Of Intelligent Life in the Universe.

Entertainment Editors/Television Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2002

The notion of extraterrestrial life is no longer alien to the average American.

With the mass invasion of sci-fi movies, TV shows and books featuring UFOs and extraterrestrial life forms, we are more convinced than ever that fiction just might be reality. With newly reported UFO sightings in Western Europe, China, New York, and Georgia, it's no surprise that a recent nationwide opinion poll, commissioned by SCI FI Channel, has confirmed that more than half (56%) of all Americans believe UFOs are real. Furthermore, the poll also reports that two-thirds (67%) of all Americans believe that there are other forms of intelligent life in the universe.

The recent Roper poll reveals that almost half of all Americans (48%) are convinced that UFOs have visited Earth in some form, and more than half (53%) would be interested in encountering extraterrestrial life forms here on earth. More than one in three Americans believe that humans have already interacted with extraterrestrial life forms, and one in seven Americans say that they or someone they know has had some type of experience involving a UFO.

These opinions do not seem to interfere with the public's religious or other personal ideologies. For 88% of all Americans, an official announcement confirming the discovery of extraterrestrial life would have no impact on their religious beliefs, while 74% of Americans are at least somewhat psychologically prepared for such an announcement. Over four in ten (42%) Americans say they are very prepared.

"SCI FI Channel has long been feeding the public's ravenous appetite for science-fiction programming, as its interest in these unexplained phenomena continues to grow," said Bonnie Hammer, SCI FI Channel's President. "Their unquenchable curiosity throws the door wide open for us to continue offering viewers intriguing programming that further explores the fine line between fact and fiction."

The epic 20-hour science-fiction miniseries Steven Spielberg Presents Taken, will premiere on December 2 at 9 PM (ET/PT) on SCI FI Channel. Taken is a sweeping drama that weaves together the lives of three families over four generations and explores their crucial roles in the history of the UFO phenomenon and government conspiracy.

This study was conducted by RoperASW among a representative sample of 1,021 adults ages 18 and over. The telephone interviews were conducted from August 23rd through August 25th, 2002. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 3%.

RoperASW, with offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia, is a leading provider of world class market research. RoperASW is part of NOP World, one of the world's largest market research companies.

SCI FI Channel transmits fantastic images to 79 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.