American Idol Season Premiere Sets Ratings Records

American Idol Season Premiere Sets Ratings Records

Over 55 Million Viewers Tune in To Watch Fifth Season Premiere of America's Most Popular Show

NEW YORK, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- 19 Entertainment Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (NASDAQ:CKXE), announced today that American Idol's fifth season premiere, which aired this past Tuesday night from 8-10 PM on the FOX broadcasting network, gave FOX its highest rated night ever for entertainment programming among Total Viewers. The season premiere, which was the most watched television show of the night, was the highest rated American Idol premier yet among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and Total Viewers, registering an increase of 9%, 3% and 6% respectively over last year's premiere performance. While the show was watched by an average of 35.5 million viewers over the two-hour period, a total of more than 55 million viewers tuned in to watch some portion of the show. Tuesday's season premiere was the highest rated primetime telecast of the 2005/2006 season on any television network (including entertainment and sports programming) among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and Teens and was the highest rated prime time entertainment telecast on any network since the Friends series finale in May 2004 among Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34.

American Idol was created by 19 Entertainment and is co-produced by 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia Ltd.

Commenting on the phenomenal debut, Simon Fuller, the Chief Executive Officer of 19 Entertainment and creator of American Idol, stated, "We are thrilled that so many Americans tuned in to watch the premiere of what we expect to be the most exciting season yet for American Idol."

Robert F.X. Sillerman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CKX, Inc., added, "The ratings for Tuesday's show demonstrate the continuing loyalty and growth of the fan base for American Idol. We believe the public's unmatched interest in the show and its artists creates a framework for us to capitalize on the types of revenue enhancements we have previously disclosed, including the introduction of americanidol.com."

About 19 Entertainment

19 Entertainment, based in the United Kingdom, is a leading creator and producer of entertainment properties, including American Idol in the United States, Pop Idol in the United Kingdom, as well as versions of the Idol format which collectively air in over 100 countries around the world. The company has recording contracts with and/or manages or has managed former American Idol and Pop Idol participants, such as Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia as well as some of the world's best-known musicians and other artists, including the Spice Girls, Annie Lennox and S Club 7. The Company has also entered into an exclusive global joint venture with David Beckham, one of the most recognized athletes in the world, and Victoria Beckham, an influential symbol in both the fashion and music worlds. CKX, Inc. acquired 19 Entertainment in March 2005 and entered into a long term employment agreement with its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Simon Fuller, the creative force behind 19 Entertainment's most successful projects, including American Idol.

About CKX, Inc.

CKX, Inc., a company controlled by Robert F.X. Sillerman and affiliates, is engaged in the ownership, development and commercial utilization of entertainment content. To date, we have focused on acquiring globally recognized entertainment content and related assets, including the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley, the operations of Graceland and proprietary rights to the IDOLS television brand, including the American Idol series in the United States and local adaptations of the IDOLS television show format which, collectively, air in over 100 countries around the world. CKX plans to continue to make strategic acquisitions of, or partner or align with, companies or individuals that control various forms of established entertainment content, which may include intellectual property rights in music, film, television programming, written works and characters, rights to names, images and likenesses, video games, corporate brands and other related assets For more information about CKX, Inc., visit our corporate website at http://www.ckx.com/.

Source: 19 Entertainment Limited

CONTACT: Media - Sean Cassidy, +1-212-981-5233, or Ed Tagliaferri,
+1-212-981-5182, or Robert Zimmerman, +1-212-981-5118, all of CKX, Inc.

Web site: http://www.ckx.com/

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