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[05/25/06 - 12:00 AM]
Top Chef Finishes as the #1 Food Show on Cable
[via press release from Bravo]

"TOP CHEF" FINISHES AS THE #1 FOOD SHOW ON CABLE

"TOP CHEF" FINISHES AS THE #1 FOOD SHOW ON CABLE 1.5 MILLION VIEWERS TUNE-IN TO SEE HAROLD DIETERLE NAMED THE WINNER, MAKING FINALE THE TOP RATED ORIGINAL CABLE SERIES OF THE NIGHT

FINALE WAS THE TOP RATED ORIGINAL CABLE SERIES OF THE NIGHT AMONG THE KEY 18-49 AND 25-54 AUDIENCES

SERIES ALSO COOKS UP SUCCESS WITH INTERACTIVE LIVE VOTING

NEW YORK - May 25, 2006 - Over 1.5 million total viewers tuned into last night's finale of Bravo's culinary competition series "Top Chef" as the no-nonsense Harold Dieterle was named the first season winner, confirming the show's status as the #1 food show on cable so far this year in the 18-49 and 25-54 demos. Last night's finale was also the top rated original series on cable in the key 18-49 and 25-54 demos. The hit series grew steadily throughout its debut season, building 99% among total viewers, 92% among P18-49 and 142% among P25-54 since its first 10:00 p.m. installment on March 15.

"Top Chef's cast of passionate personalities and their outstanding creative work in the kitchen consistently delivered dramatic entertainment for viewers week after week, and it shows with these numbers in just its first season," said Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo. "This show appeals to a wide audience of foodies and non-foodies alike, and we are proud of Harold's accomplishment. Bravo looks forward to serving up even more delicious drama and meeting a new group of talented chefs for season two."

The May 24 finale episode of "Top Chef" garnered a 1.4 HH coverage rating and over one million viewers in both the 18-49 and 25-54 demos. Versus the program's prior series average, last night's finale telecast was up by 27% among total viewers, 18% among adults 18-49 and 34% among adults 25-54.

Overall, season one of "Top Chef" averaged a 1.1 HH coverage rating, over 1.2 million total viewers (up 209% from year-ago time period averages), 866,000 viewers 18-49 (up 255% year-to-year) and 819,000 viewers 25-54 (up 223% year-to-year).

Top Chef also sizzled this season with its successful interactive TV component. Bravo and NBC Universal Cable entered into an interactive partnership with Time Warner Cable for "Top Chef," each week inviting viewers to respond with their remote control to a series of topical questions that pop up on the screen during each episode. Responses were highlighted through an on-screen graphic, allowing viewers to see how others responded in real time in their local markets. Twenty five percent of "Top Chef" viewers in the feature's available markets participated in the interactive polling feature during last night's finale, building an impressive 500% from the March premiere of the series.

Last night's "Top Chef" finale featured live voting results across three platforms -- cable remote, mobile text messaging and online -- which is the first time this multi-platform strategy has ever been applied in the U.S. Viewers voted for which chef - Harold or Tiffani - they felt deserved the title of "Top Chef," and the results were displayed on screen in real time during the episode.

Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, entertainment and pop culture with original programming, acclaimed drama series, movies, comedy and music specials, and by showing a whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 80 million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities, shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the creative process and making influential and inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes "Blow Out", "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List", "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye" and the Emmy-nominated hit competition series, "Project Runway."

Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been a NBC Cable Network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information visit www.bravotv.com .

###

Source: Nielsen NHI. All data for 5/24/06 is Live + Same Day Data. Comparison of Top Chef finale to prior airings is Live+Same data. Comparison of Top Chef to other food programs on cable is most current data with Live + 7 data through 5/7/06 and Live+Same Day data 5/8/06-5/24/06. All data before 12/26/05 is pre-DVR.





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· TOP CHEF (BRAVO)




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