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OXYGEN�S SUBSCRIBER BASE JUMPS TO 66 MILLION; HIGHEST GAINS OF ANY CABLE NETWORK OVER PAST YEAR
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February Nielsen Universe Estimate Oxygen is now in 66.3 Million Households;
The Largest Universe Gain of any Network over the Past Year
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NEW YORK, January 30, 2006 � Oxygen has hit a carriage milestone in February of 2006. According to the latest Nielsen Media Research Universe Estimates, the network is now available in 66.3 million homes, an increase of 22% from year-to-year. This is the largest increase among cable networks measured by Nielsen in February of both years.
The huge jump is the result of major carriage agreements the programmer recently completed with Echostar and Comcast Communications. In December of 2005, Oxygen launched on Comcast in Philadelphia and Boston, and in January of this year, the programmer inked a milestone agreement with Echostar for carriage on DISH, making the network immediately available to all of their subscribers.
Oxygen was also recently named as favorite among cable operators, according to a 2005 Beta Research Cable Operator Carriage Study. The network consistently ranked number one as the network that cable operators are most interested in carrying and most likely to add to their analog or expanded basic lineup.
�I think six is our lucky number � 66 million homes in six years in the year 2006! We are incredibly proud to be so close to full distribution in such a short period of time,� said Lisa Gersh, President and Chief Operating Officer, Oxygen Media. �We�ve always believed that the best way for us to do business was to be a great partner to cable and satellite operators. It�s gratifying to see our strategy paying dividends.�
About Oxygen Media
Oxygen, the only cable network owned and operated by women, is currently available in 66 million homes. The network was launched in 2000 to fill a void in the television landscape -- creating a network targeted to younger women. Oxygen is rewriting the rulebook for women's television, with the most original programming of all the women's networks including Campus Ladies, Mo�Nique�s Fat Chance and Talk Sex with Sue Johanson. Geraldine Laybourne, the network's founder, Chairman and CEO, has led the company to be a strong advocate for women. Through programs like The Mentor's Walk, Oxygen's national program for bringing along the next generation, and "Who Cares About Girls," Oxygen's new documentary series -- Oxygen is creating The New Girls Network.
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