ABC FAMILY TO INVITE ADVERTISERS INTO THE LAB: THE MILLENNIAL ENGAGEMENT LAB

Network and Clients Unite for Year Long Research Project to Find Key Solutions for Reaching the Millennia Audience

In an innovative and aggressive program to remain at the forefront of marketing effectiveness, ABC Family is offering advertisers an opportunity to join them in the launch of the Millennial Engagement Lab, it was announced today by Laura Nathanson, executive vice president, sales, ABC Family. The Millennial Engagement Lab will gauge how Millennials perceive specific advertising and marketing messages across both digital and linear video platforms � particularly on ABC Family. Employing a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods including in-studio tests, focus groups, one-on-one ethnographies, and on-line recruit-to-view surveys, advertisers will have the opportunity to investigate different approaches, tailor their creative executions to the Millennial audience and then measure the impact of their efforts. Specific brand results will be proprietary of Millennial Engagement Lab participants.

Nathanson also announced that ABC Family has chosen the Millennial Strategy Program at Frank N. Magid Associates to lead the creation and execution of the Millennial Engagement Lab. The unprecedented partnership is a year long effort to uncover the keys to marketing to the increasingly important Millennial generation.

"We listened to advertiser demand for proprietary field research about audience engagement and in response, we have created a unique opportunity," said Ms. Nathanson, who is approaching a wide spectrum of advertisers to participate in the Lab. "In this year-long study, we will look at how Millennials connect with advertising on ABC Family across all platforms."

The Millennial generation, the largest in history, encompasses the 83 million Americans born between the years 1977 and 1996. By comparison, there are currently 78 million Baby Boomers and 48 million Xers. By 2008 Millennials will make up 43 percent of the 18-49 demo and by 2014 they will make up 2/3 of the advertising target. Their domination of the demo will continue until 2026.

"The success of any business over the next 15-20 years will be dependent on how well it understands and communicates with the Millennial Generation" said Jack MacKenzie, President of the Millennial Strategy Program at Frank N. Magid Associates. "ABC Family, and by extension their advertising partners, will be at the forefront of discovering techniques and strategies needed to build a relationship with this powerful consumer group."

Part of the Disney-ABC-TV Group, ABC Family, distributed in over 91 million homes, features original movies, series and specials reflecting today's families and entertaining and connecting with adults through relevant stories about today's relationships, all told with diversity, dysfunction, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a mix of quality acquired series and theatricals as well as original movies and scripted dramas. ABC Family is also the destination for Holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas" branded programming events. ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.