ABC Television Network and Slim-Fast Announce the Slim-Fast Dance Challenge on 'Dancing with the Stars'

ABC Television Network and Slim-Fast Announce the Slim-Fast Dance Challenge on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Brand-new segment partners #1 weight-loss brand with ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars'

NEW YORK and ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The celebrities who starred in the first two seasons of the hit ABC TV show, "Dancing with the Stars," not only sought to learn new dance moves, but in some cases sought to get in shape as well. Now, one lucky woman selected from thousands will have the chance of a lifetime to dance her way to a better body!

In its third and biggest season yet, Dancing with the Stars will feature a new segment during its weekly Results Show, sponsored by Slim-Fast(R), the #1 brand of meal replacement shakes and bars. Titled the "Slim-Fast(R) Dance Challenge", it will feature a real working woman as she learns ballroom dancing as part of a healthy lifestyle in an effort to get in shape. The "Dancing with the Stars Results Show" airs Wednesdays beginning September 13 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.

Just like the celebrities on the show, the chosen woman will be paired with a professional dancer who will train and teach her different dances each week. The focus of the segment will be on her dance journey and will highlight how dancing can be a part of a vital and healthy lifestyle. Over the course of the ten-week season, viewers will follow her foray into the world of ballroom dance -- from learning the steps, to rehearsals, to eventual performances -- as she takes on potentially one of the most intense, and hopefully rewarding, challenges of her life. They will also see how her friends, family, and colleagues react to the changes in her -- both physical and emotional. As she inevitably gets caught up in this new world, the viewers will become engaged in her progress just as they do in the celebrities'! In addition to the on-air segment, the audience will also be able to follow her journey online at ABC.com.

"This new segment in the Results show is a great opportunity to highlight the positive impact that "Dancing with the Stars" has had on viewers across the country. By focusing on one woman's experience, we'll be able to explore all that can be gained through taking up dancing: mastering the physical challenges, getting fit, gaining confidence and expanding one's social world. Slim-Fast is the perfect sponsor for this new and exciting segment, and we're thrilled to have them with us on this journey." said Michael Becker, Vice President of Integrated Marketing and Promotion for ABC Television Network.

As the leading weight-loss brand, Slim-Fast has a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise in the area of general nutrition. In addition to sponsoring the on-air and online segments, the company is making available to the chosen woman Slim-Fast products and the support of a certified nutritionist/registered dietitian. Slim-Fast offers all consumers free information and nutritional support at www.slim-fast.com and at 1-800-Slim-Fast.

"Slim-Fast helps consumers achieve a healthy weight that's right for them by making weight loss doable in their busy lives," said James Wong, Unilever Vice President of Marketing for Slim-Fast. "Along with balanced nutrition, we believe that physical activity is a key component of successful weight management. Dancing is a perfect way for anyone to have fun, feel great, be active, and achieve their goals. We couldn't have found a more fitting partnership than Dancing with the Stars."

Slim-Fast has been a leader in weight management for nearly 30 years. Over 35 peer-reviewed clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Slim-Fast meal replacements in helping consumers control their hunger and lose weight. Recently, the company reformulated its flagship product, the Slim-Fast Optima Shake, to control hunger for up to 4 hours with fewer than 200 calories. The product uses a patent-pending blend of proteins and fats to help trigger a feeling of satiety, or fullness, through the body's natural digestive processes. Because many dieters cite hunger as a key reason their diets fail, the new Slim-Fast shake is designed to help them stay satisfied so they can stick to their diet and achieve their weight-loss goals.

About Dancing with the Stars

In its competitive Thursday time period, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" ("DWTS") earned second place to CBS, beating NBC in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. The series improved the time slot for ABC by 12 million viewers and by 127% in Adults 18-49, over the Net's average with regular programming prior to its debut. In addition, the series emerged as one of TV's Top 10 most-watched shows for the 2005-06 season (No. 7) and represents ABC's top-rated Thursday night series in viewers and young adults in the last six seasons -- since the 1999-2000 season. In its second season finale on Sunday, Feb. 26, "DWTS" marked the series' best numbers ever across the board, surpassing its first season finale by +4.8 million viewers and by 28% in Adults 18-49. The "DWTS" finale drew an average audience of 27.2 million viewers with nearly 30 million people watching during the final half-hour while the winner was announced.

"Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced in America by BBC Worldwide. Conrad Green is executive producer and Izzie Pick is co-executive producer. Rob Wade and Matilda Zoltowski are supervising producers. Alex Rudzinski directs.

"Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP.

About Slim-Fast

Slim-Fast, a Unilever brand, offers delicious and balanced nutritional products, meal planning and exercise advice to aid in weight loss and weight maintenance, which can result in improved health. The Slim-Fast product line includes an affordable range of Shakes, Meal Bars, Powders and Snack Bars that are available in retail outlets nationwide. Visit slim-fast.com or call 1-800-SLIMFAST for more information.

About Unilever

Unilever (NYSE:UL)(NYSE:UN), one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 150 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life.

In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Lipton, Knorr, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs approximately 15,000 people in 66 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico -- generating more than $9 billion in sales in 2005. For more information visit www.unileverusa.com.

Source: ABC Television; Slim-Fast

CONTACT: Corey R. Martin of Ogilvy PR for Slim-Fast, +1-212-880-5364,
corey.martin@ogilvypr.com; or Susan Sewell of ABC Media Relations, +1-212-456-
1508, susan.l.sewell@abc.com

Web site: http://www.slim-fast.com/

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