National Geographic and Fox Networks to Launch NGC HD to Coincide With National Geographic Channel's Fifth Anniversary

National Geographic and Fox Networks to Launch NGC HD to Coincide With National Geographic Channel's Fifth Anniversary

Move Follows Consumers Naming National Geographic Channel the One Network They Most Want to See in State-of-the-Art Visual Format

WASHINGTON and LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- National Geographic Channel and Fox Networks Group today announced the creation of a new NGC HD network, expected to roll out in early 2006 to commemorate National Geographic Channel's fifth anniversary. National Geographic Channel, a joint venture between producers National Geographic Television & Film and Fox Cable Networks, is one of the most successful new network launches in cable and satellite television history at 55 million current subscribers, and ranks as the fastest-growing network in primetime ratings for the past year. Today's announcement was made by Tony Vinciquerra, president and CEO of Fox Networks Group, and Laureen Ong, president of the National Geographic Channel.

"National Geographic has always strived to establish a new standard for the world's most compelling imagery, whether emanating from the bottom of the sea, the most remote rainforest, or -- simply and poignantly -- within everyday life," said Ong. "This is a natural progression for our brand and our network, and we anticipate NGC HD becoming very resonant with our core viewers."

Vinciquerra added, "Our many cable and satellite partners have embarked on an aggressive build up of their own HD capability, and so it's incumbent on us to provide them the best content we can. National Geographic's rich tapestry of adventure, exploration, culture and science is something that not only begs for an HD application but truly demands it."

Virtually all of National Geographic Channel's (NGC) current program production is being captured in HD in preparation for the new network. National Geographic Channel has also spent the better part of the past year acquiring programming in HD. At launch, more than 90 percent of NGC's primetime programs will be seen in HD on the new network. That is welcome news to consumers who recently took part in Beta Research's annual Brand Identity Survey released this past April. Those thousands of respondents listed National Geographic Channel as the one network that they would most hope to see in HD.

The launch of NGC HD also builds upon NGC's increasing audience and advertiser momentum. NGC saw its popularity grow more quickly than any other network in the past year, including five straight quarters of audience highs. NGC has increased its commitments to new original series and specials, resulting in more viewers than ever before (67.0 million) tuning into NGC between January and March of this year. That's helped NGC to generate unprecedented support from within the advertising community during the early stages of the ongoing cable upfront market.

The network has approximately doubled its advertising volume compared to the same point last spring and has far surpassed the approximate flat-to-three percent growth in 2005 upfront advertising for the entire cable and satellite programming industry.

NGC launched in January, 2001 with 10 million subscribers. In the time since, it has grown 450 percent to approximately 55 million, and has distribution agreements with all of the nation's largest and most influential cable systems and satellite providers. It is one of only six new networks in cable and satellite history to ever surpass 20 million homes in its first year and, since then, has grown faster than any other network in cable and satellite history.

Based at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channel is a joint venture between National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F) and Fox Cable Networks. National Geographic Channel debuted to an initial 10 million homes in January 2001, and has been one of the fastest growing networks in history. The Channel has carriage with all of the nation's major cable and satellite television providers, making it currently available to 55 million homes. For more information, please visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel.

Fox Networks Group, an operating unit of News Corporation (NYSE:NWS), consists of the FOX Broadcasting Company, Fox Cable Networks, FOX Sports and Fox Networks Engineering & Operations (FNE&O). FOX Broadcasting Co. is the nation's most popular broadcast television network, and Fox Cable Networks' ten national networks and 14 regional networks are collectively seen by more than 335 million cable and satellite television homes. FCN networks include FX, FSN and its 14 owned-and-operated regional sports networks; Fox College Sports; National Geographic Channel; SPEED Channel; Fox Soccer Channel; Fox Sports en Espanol; Fox Movie Channel; action sports network FUEL TV and Fox Reality. FCN also includes Fox Sports Enterprises, which manages Fox interests in sports franchises and leading statistical information provider STATS, Inc. FOX Sports is a leading proponent of high-definition television, and has earned more than 60 Emmy Awards for production excellence on NFL, MLB, NASCAR and other events. FNG's foxsports.com website is the fastest-growing sports information site on the Internet. A recognized innovator, Fox Networks Engineering & Operations provides physical production, transmission and facilities activities to FOX Broadcasting Co., each of the Fox Cable Networks and FOX Sports.

Source: National Geographic Channel

CONTACT: Thomas Tyrer of Fox Networks Group, +1-310-369-0008; or Chris
Albert, +1-202-912-6526, or Russell Howard, +1-202-912-6652, both of National
Geographic Channel

Web site: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel

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