"ACCESS HOLLYWOOD" AND VERIZON WIRELESS TEAM UP FOR "VERIZON WIRELESS ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA TOUR"

Hit Entertainment Newsmagazine Kicks Off 10th Season on the Road

BURBANK, Calif. -- August 23, 2005 -- NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution's "Access Hollywood" and Verizon Wireless are joining forces for "Verizon Wireless Access Across America Tour," a three-week, multi-market promotional tour, it was announced today by Rob Silverstein, executive producer, "Access Hollywood" and John Harrobin, Vice President, Advertising, for Verizon Wireless.

On August 29th, "Access Hollywood" will kick off its landmark 10th season on the road, with co-anchors Nancy O'Dell and Billy Bush taking the show across the country over the course of three weeks. Access Hollywood will showcase Verizon Wireless' V CAST service that brings news, entertainment, sports and weather to wireless phones through streaming video using the company's EVDO network ? the nation's largest, fastest, wide- area network. In a deal brokered by Marathon Ventures, the entertainment newsmagazine and wireless provider are collaborating their respective promotional efforts for the road trip titled, "Verizon Wireless Access Across America Tour."

"Taking the show on the road is the perfect way to start our 10th season," said Silverstein. "The fact that no other entertainment news show has done this before is yet another example of how "Access Hollywood" continues to separate itself from the pack. In Verizon, we have the ideal promotional partner. They're cutting-edge, fun and take pride in offering something people can't get anywhere else ? all qualities that are the backbone of "Access Hollywood."

"V CAST is the newest extension of the wireless experience," Harrobin said. "This relationship puts 'Access Hollywood' literally in the hands of customers for anytime viewing. V CAST allows entertainment snacking for consumers who are hungry for the latest entertainment news. We are excited about this relationship that brings 'Access Hollywood' to the newest screen, the third screen of Verizon Wireless mobile devices."

The multi-market tour will officially kick off in Miami at the Video Music Awards, with the tour bus sporting the official "Verizon Wireless Access Across America Tour" logo taking part in the red carpet arrival line of the awards show.

Following the launch of the tour in Miami, O'Dell and Bush will embark upon their coast-to- coast trip on the tour bus, which will also serve as the backdrop for "Access Hollywood's" daily broadcasts in each market. The co-anchors will explore the Hollywood connection to each city they visit, which will include Chicago and New Orleans, to name a few, and will also conduct interviews with celebrities that are either from each broadcast city or happen to be working in or visiting the broadcast city at the same time. In addition, O'Dell and Bush will keep viewers guessing on their whereabouts, only revealing their locale during daily broadcasts and leaving hints about their next stop toward the end of each broadcast. Another element that will be featured both on the show and on the show's website, http://www.accesshollywood.com, will be the tracking of how many miles the bus has traveled and on a topical note, how much money has been spent on gas.

The tour will wrap up in Los Angeles on September 16th in time for O'Dell and Bush to fulfill their duties for the Emmy Awards on September 18th. In addition, "Access Hollywood" will make a major announcement to viewers at the conclusion of the tour.

About "Access Hollywood"

"Access Hollywood" is taped on Stage 1 at the NBC Studios in Burbank, California, where the show is headquartered. The senior production team responsible for "Access Hollywood" consists of Executive Producer Rob K. Silverstein, senior producer Claudia Eaton and supervising producers Adam Jordan, Mike Marson and Ryan Patterson.

In addition to the Burbank newsroom of more than 100 dynamic producers, researchers and writers, "Access Hollywood" also maintains a fully staffed New York bureau and has producers and correspondents around the world contributing to its half-hour weekday and hour-long weekend editions. Seen in over 90% of the country, "Access Hollywood" airs on major market affiliates, including the NBC Universal Television owned stations.

"Access Hollywood" is produced by NBC and distributed by NBC Universal Television Distribution.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Marathon Ventures

Marathon Ventures develops and manages innovative brand integration opportunities for major national advertisers, studios and networks. Marathon is also the leader in Digital Brand Integration (DBI), the digital, post-production integration of brand images into existing television programs. Headquartered in Wakarusa, Indiana, Marathon, www.marathonventures.com, has offices in New York and Los Angeles.