2006 Academy Awards - Sunday, March 5, 2006 - Nielsen Fast National Ratings

ABC�s Broadcast of the �78th Annual Academy Awards� Reaches 76.6 Million Viewers Throughout the United States

Although the Films Nominated for Best Picture Exhibited Less Box Office Appeal Than in Recent Years, the 2006 Academy Awards Telecast Draws Near the Levels of 2005 and 2004, While Pacing Well Ahead of 2003

The Jon Stewart-Hosted Oscars Are Up 5% Among Hard-to-Reach Men 18-34

TV�s Most-Watched Entertainment Telecast of the 2005-06 Season, ABC�s Oscars Show Draws a Much Larger Audience than Other Award Shows This Season, Including the Emmys, the Grammys and the Golden Globes

The �78th Annual Academy Awards� (8:00 - 11:28 p.m.)

ABC�s telecast of the �78th Annual Academy Awards� attracted an average audience of 38.8 million viewers and posted a 13.9 rating among Adults 18-49, based on Nielsen�s �fast national� ratings.

� The �78th Annual Academy Awards� reached 76.6 million television viewers across the U.S. � unduplicated viewers watching 6 minutes or more during the 3-1/2 hour telecast.

� Although the films nominated this year in the Best Picture category did not have the box office appeal of recent years, the 2006 Academy Awards (38.8 million) telecast was near the levels of the past two years (2005 = 42.1 million & 2004 = 43.5 million) and up by 5.8 million viewers from the 2003 telecast (2003 = 33.0 million). The Jon Stewart-hosted Oscars were up +5% over last year among hard-to-reach Men 18-34 (9.9 rating vs. 9.4 rating).

� TV�s most-watched entertainment telecast of the 2005-06 TV Season, the average audience for ABC�s �78th Annual Academy Awards� (38.8 million) far surpassed other awards shows this season, including the 2005 Emmy Awards (18.6 million), the 2006 Golden Globes (18.8 million) and the 2006 Grammy Awards (17.0 million).

Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast National Ratings) � 3/5/06.