ABC ENTERTAINMENT and TV GUIDE ANNOUNCE INNOVATIVE PROMOTIONAL INSERT FOR "DANCING WITH THE STARS"

Judges Paddles and Scorecards Included in the September 15 Issue of TV Guide for 100,000 Subscribers in New York and Los Angeles in Celebration of the Three-Night Live Premiere of the New Season of "Dancing with the Stars"

In celebration of the season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars," which kicks off its three-night live event on Monday, September 22 (8:00 p.m., ET), TV Guide magazine's September 15 issue will include ten numbered judges paddles with scorecards so fans can play along each week by eliminating dancing couples with Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli.

Copies of TV Guide's special "Returning Favorites" September 15 issue will be polybagged with ten ABC-branded "Dancing with the Stars" judges paddles and weekly elimination charts, which will be mailed to 100,000 subscribers in New York and Los Angeles to coincide with the start of the three-night live event. The gold and red paddles, numbered 1-10, feature photos of couples who appeared in past seasons of "Dancing with the Stars" along with fun facts about the show, for example -- "Fun Fact #9 -- 31 pounds: most weight lost by a star in a single season."

This is the third in a series of unique and memorable promotions partnering ABC with TV Guide. For the Season 4 premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" last September, ABC-branded life-sized blue paper hospital gowns were polybagged in TV Guide and mailed to subscribers in New York and Los Angeles, and in March, pocket-sized tissue packets were polybagged and mailed to subscribers in select markets to drive tune-in to ABC's "Feel Good Sunday" lineup � the premiere of "Oprah's Big Give" and an all new "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

"This is a fun and interactive way to engage viewers that is directly related to our programming. TV Guide has been great to work with, and going to them again made sense to reach our core audience to get them ready for the new season of �Dancing with the Stars,'" said Marla Provencio and Michael Benson, executive vice presidents, Marketing, Advertising and Promotion, ABC Entertainment.

"We're delighted that ABC chose to partner with TV Guide once again for an innovative promotion that drives tune-in to this very special three-night event," said Pete Haeffner, publisher, TV Guide.

About "Dancing with the Stars"

Hosted by Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Samantha Harris ("E! Entertainment"), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

"Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced in America by BBC Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer and Rob Wade and Matilda Zoltowski are co-executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs. "Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP.