DISNEY-ABC TELEVISION GROUP'S ABC.COM PRESENTS �THE COUNTDOWN TO COUNTRY MUSIC�S BIGGEST NIGHT,� EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE LEADING UP TO �THE 40th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS�

An ABC Digital Media Original Production

Available Online at ABC.com, CMAAwards.com and Other Online and Mobile Platforms

Dedicated to expanding its network and channel brands across multiple platforms and connecting viewers with their favorite shows anytime and anywhere, Disney-ABC Television Group announced today that it is offering coverage leading up to �The 40th Annual CMA Awards� with �The Countdown to Country Music�s Biggest Night� on ABC.com. The coverage will include nine daily shows, one live event and two post-event videos, and will also be available at CMAAwards.com and be distributed to our mobile partners and ABC affiliates.

ABC Digital Media will be producing a daily four-minute show for the nine days prior to the CMA Awards, hosted by CMA nominee Dean Sams from the hit band Lonestar, with field reporting by former Miss Tennessee, Ashley Eicher. In an entertainment/news format, �Countdown to Country Music�s Biggest Night� will cover the events that take place during the week leading up to the CMA Awards. It will also feature interviews with Country Music artists, coverage of the �Nashville Celebrates Country� week of events surrounding the Awards, and much more. The first show will go live on Monday Oct. 30, and a new show will premiere every day through Monday Nov. 6. On Nov. 6 ABC.com will feature a three-hour live red carpet show from 5:00-8:00 p.m., ET, leading up to the premiere of �The 40th Annual CMA Awards� on ABC from 8:00-11:00 p.m., ET. The final and 9th daily show is a post-event/party wrap-up that will be will be available online Tuesday, Nov. 7.

This summer, ABC.com and CMA teamed to provide Country Music fans with a behind-the-scenes look at the 2006 CMA Music Festival. Online users were able to follow various Country Music stars through the assorted events and activities that made up CMA Music Festival.

About The CMA Awards

Performers for this year�s CMA Awards include Brooks & Dunn with Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Sugarland, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, and John Rich of Big & Rich performing with Gretchen Wilson. Actor, songwriting legend and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame Kris Kristofferson will introduce the 2006 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. Additional artists and celebrities will be announced at a later date. �The 40th Annual CMA Awards� airs live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. It is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the executive producer; Robert Deaton is the consulting producer; Paul Miller is the director; and David Wild will script the ceremonies.

About Disney-ABC Television Group

Disney-ABC Television Group is home to all of The Walt Disney Company�s worldwide entertainment and news television properties. The Group includes the ABC Television Network, Disney Channel�s worldwide portfolio of kids� channels, ABC Family and SOAPnet; as well as television production and syndication divisions Touchstone Television, Walt Disney Television Animation, Buena Vista Worldwide Television and Walt Disney Television International. Disney-ABC Television Group also manages the Radio Disney Network in addition to the Company�s equity interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services, A&E Television Networks and E! Networks.