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USA FINISHES 4Q05 AS #1
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USA FINISHES 4Q05 AS #1

NEW YORK -- December 28, 2005 -- USA finished 4Q05 as the top-rated basic cable entertainment network among households (2.3 rating), P18-34 (1.1 rating), P18-49 (1.2 rating), P25-54 (1.2 rating), and total viewers (2.7 million).

In the key P25-54 demographic (1.2 million), 4Q05 is the strongest quarter for USA Network in nearly eight years (since Q198). Among households (2.3 rating), P18-34 (0.6 million), P18-49 (1.2 million) and total viewers (2.7 million), this is the best quarter for the network in almost six years (since 1Q00).

USA's success in 4Q05 is driven by strong performances from the return of WWE's MONDAY NIGHT RAW to USA and the holiday episode of MONK, accounting for more than half of the top 30 basic cable entertainment telecasts of 4Q05 among P25-54:

* With a 4.9 household rating and 6.2 million total viewers, the return of MONDAY NIGHT RAW at 9p on 10/03/05 was the top-rated and most-watched basic cable entertainment series telecast in all of 4Q05.

* Since the return of WWE to USA, the network ranked #1 in basic cable every Monday of Q405 among key demos: total viewers, P18-34 and P18-49. In addition, MONDAY NIGHT RAW telecasts have placed in the top five of all basic cable prime programs among both P18-49 and P25-54 in each week of 4Q05 since its return to USA.

* WWE delivery on USA in 4Q05 surpassed WWE delivery on Spike during the comparable period last year, with WWE's 4Q05 delivery on USA up +10% among households, up +17% among total viewers, up +35% among P18-34, up +20% among P18-49 and up +12% among P25-54.

* USA's holiday episode of MONK at 10p on 12/02/05 was the #2 basic cable original series telecast of 4Q05 among households (4.3 rating), P25-54 (2.6 rating) and total viewers (5.5 million).

USA was home to three of the six top rated basic cable original series of 2005 among both P18-49 and P25-54 with MONK (2 million in P18-49 and 2.4 million in P25-54), THE 4400 (2 million in P18-49 and 2.2 million in P25-54) and THE DEAD ZONE (2.0 million in P18-49 and 1.9 million in P25-54).

2005 was the best year for USA network in six years (since 1999) among P18-49, P25-54 and total viewers. Among households and P18-34, it was USA's best delivery in five years (since 2000).

USA Network is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. USA Network is seen in over 89 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com. USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable 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.