SCI FI CHANNEL IGNITES 'PASSIONS' WITH OFF-NETWORK AIRINGS OF THE EMMY-WINNING SUPERNATURAL DAYTIME DRAMA

Series to Air Weekdays at 9AM ET/PT From the Beginning

Launching Monday, February 6th with Episode One

NEW YORK -- December 9, 2005 -� SCI FI Channel has acquired off-network airings of the Emmy Award-winning daytime drama series 'Passions' it was officially announced today by Dave Howe, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the SCI FI Channel. Currently in its sixth season on NBC, 'Passions' will air on SCI FI beginning with episode one. Current fans will have the chance to re-visit favorite moments and characters from the past while new viewers will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the series and its frequently out-of-this-world plotlines. 'Passions' will air weekdays at 9AM ET/PT beginning February 6th.

"'Passions' dramatic blend of magic, romance, the supernatural and fantasy makes it an ideal choice for SCI FI's morning line up. The program's established ratings success with young women dovetails with our overall growth strategy and has the potential to significantly extend the reach of the channel," said Mr. Howe in making the announcement.

Based on the rich history and mystery of the harbor community of Harmony, 'Passions' explores the lives, loves and losses of four core families: the Cranes, the Lopez-Fitzgeralds, the Bennetts and the Russells, each of whom have their own distinct and diverse challenges and desires. The show stars Juliet Mills and launched the career of Jesse Metcalfe ('Desperate Housewives').

Since the series' debut on July 5, 1999, 'Passions' quirky characters and traditional love stories have generated interest and critical acclaim from the daytime community and the press. The series has been nominated for 25 Emmy Awards, winning three; numerous Soap Opera Digest awards, three IMAGEN Awards, several NAACP Image Award nominations and AFTRA's 2005 National American Scene Award for Daytime Drama. TV Guide hailed 'Passions' as the Best Soap of 1999 and 2000.

'Passions' is the creation of celebrated daytime drama scribe James E. Reilly and is produced by NBC Studios in association Outpost Farms Productions, Inc. Lisa de Cazotte is the executive producer.

SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 85 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.