More Than 19 Million Viewers Tuned in Over Weekend to The Lifetime Original Movie 'The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale'

More Than 19 Million Viewers Tuned in Over Weekend to The Lifetime Original Movie 'The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale'

Saturday, August 19 Premiere Becomes Lifetime's Second Most-Watched Movie in Network's 22-Year History With 6.6 Million Viewers

- Weekend Online Traffic to LifetimeTV.com Surged More Than 70% -

NEW YORK, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 19 million* viewers tuned in during the August 19-20 weekend to watch the poignant Lifetime Original Movie "The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale," which starred the "American Idol" winner in her own rags-to-riches Cinderella story. The Saturday, August 19 premiere at 9PM (ET/PT) became Lifetime's second most- watched movie in its 22-year history with 6.6 million viewers (5.0 household rating).

Among all original 2006 basic cable movie premieres, "Fantasia" ranks #1 among W18-34 and W18-49 rating.

The Sunday, August 20 encore at 8PM (ET/PT) drew more than 5 million viewers and a 4.0 household rating.

1995's "Almost Golden," which starred Sela Ward as journalist Jessica Savitch, averaged more than seven million viewers when it aired on Lifetime.

Traffic to LifetimeTV.com surged more than 70% in page views and 68% in unique visitors over the weekend compared to the August 12-13 weekend. But Fantasiamania isn't over yet! At Lifetimetv.com, the national "Fantasia" essay contest runs through September 16, with the winner receiving two tickets to the 2007 "American Idol" season finale.

In "The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale," Loretta Devine ("Dreamgirls," "Crash," "Boston Public," "Waiting to Exhale") co-starred as Fantasia's grandmother, and Addie Collins and Tony(R) Award winner Viola Davis ("Traffic," "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") starred as Fantasia's mother, Diane Barrino. Rounding out the ensemble cast were Kadeem Hardison ("A Different World," "Biker Boyz") in the role of Fantasia's father, JoJo Barrino. Newcomer Jamia Simone Nash ("My Wife and Kids") played the young Fantasia. Acclaimed Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R)- winning choreographer, actress and director Debbie Allen ("Fame," "Girlfriends") directed the film.

"The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale" was produced by Ostar Productions for Lifetime Television. Bill Haber ("Nightmares & Dreamscapes," "Uprising") served as the executive producer and Ellyn Williams (Lifetime Television's "Hunger Point") co-executive produced. John McMahon ("Nightmares & Dreamscapes") produced the movie and Keith Glover wrote the teleplay based on the autobiography Life is Not a Fairy Tale by Fantasia Barrino.

*Source: Nielsen Media Research (8/19-20/06)
P2+ cume based on 1 minute qualifier, 75% Unification

LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. LIFETIME Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment, and Lifetime Online are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

Source: LIFETIME Television

CONTACT: Gary Morgenstein, +1-212-424-7162, morgenstein@lifetimetv.com

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

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