ABC ENTERTAINMENT AND TOUCHSTONE TELEVISION TO LAUNCH ASSISTANT CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Assistant Career Development Program, a new initiative designed to expand on-going career development and advancement opportunities for assistants and other administrative employees at ABC Entertainment and Touchstone Television, will launch in January 2006. Formalized mentoring, increased exposure to executives, new educational opportunities and project-based �stretch� assignments are among the various elements of the new Program.

The announcement of the new Assistant Career Development Program was made today by Steve McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment.

�This new, formalized program builds upon our success promoting assistants and others up through the ranks to assume positions of increasing responsibility at ABC Entertainment and Touchstone Television,� Mr. McPherson said. �It will also help ensure that the many dedicated and talented individuals within our organizations have the opportunities to advance their careers.�

Program participants will be paired with mentors responsible for providing career guidance, support and networking opportunities. They will also attend monthly seminars taught by executives offering insight on business topics such as casting, scheduling, contract negotiations, marketing, syndication and new technology.

In addition, assistants will be offered two-month �stretch� projects sponsored by executives and designed to provide in-depth and hands-on experience. These projects will advance participant skills in areas such as competitive analysis, script coverage, tracking trends and identifying new talent.

Mark Pedowitz, president, Touchstone Television and executive vice president, ABC Entertainment Group, added, �Today�s assistants may become tomorrow�s leaders here at Touchstone Television, ABC Entertainment and all across the industry. It serves all our interests to take an even more active role in nurturing the talents, broadening the knowledge and developing the critical skills of these promising employees.�

The Assistant Career Development Program is overseen by a steering committee consisting of McPherson and Pedowitz, as well as Jeff Bader, executive vice president, ABC Entertainment; Francie Calfo, executive vice president, Development & Current, ABC Entertainment; Howard Davine, executive vice president, Touchstone Television; Susan Dumond, vice president, Human Resources; Julia Franz, executive vice president, Touchstone Television; Barry Jossen, executive vice president, Touchstone Production; Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs, senior vice president, Drama Development, ABC Entertainment; Kevin Plunkett, vice president, current comedy, ABC Entertainment; Ray Rizzo, manager, Human Resources; Kim Rozenfeld, senior vice president, current, ABC Entertainment; Steve Tann, vice president, current programming, Touchstone Television; Judith Tukich, vice president, Synergy & Special Projects; Jana Winograde, executive vice president, Business Affairs, ABC Entertainment and Andrea Wong, executive vice president, Alternative Programming, Specials and Late-Night, ABC Entertainment.

The steering committee will be responsible for the ongoing oversight of the Program, including recruitment of mentors, development of projects and evaluation of efficacy.