NBC RE-ALIGNS SPECIALS PROGRAMMING AS CRAIG PLESTIS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING, DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIALS, WILL OVERSEE WEST COAST SPECIALS WHILE DOUG VAUGHAN, VICE PRESIDENT, SPECIAL PROGRAMS, NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT WILL OVERSEE EAST-COAST-BASED SPECIALS

LIBBY HANSEN NAMED VICE PRESIDENT, ALTERNATIVE SERIES & SPECIALS, NBC AND USA NETWORK

MARIANA MANELA HIRED AS DIRECTOR, ALTERNATIVE SERIES & SPECIALS, NBC AND USA NETWORK.

BURBANK, Calif. -- August 22, 2006 -- NBC has re-structured its specials programming department as Craig Plestis, Senior Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, will now oversee specials on the West Coast while Doug Vaughan, Vice President, Special Programs, News and Entertainment, will oversee East Coast-based specials.

The announcement was made today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment, to whom they both report for specials.

"This important shift of our executives demonstrates our commitment to specials programming and allows us to better focus our attention on these crucial components of NBC's primetime schedule," said Reilly. "Craig and Doug have the instincts and creative passion that compels them to seek out what defines a program as a 'special' in the truest sense of the word."

Additionally, Libby Hansen has been named Vice President, Alternative Series & Specials, NBC and USA Network, and Marina Manela has joined the company as Director, Alternative Series & Specials, NBC and USA Network. This announcement was made by NBC's Plestis and Jeff Wachtel, Executive Vice President of Original Programming for USA.

Hansen, who formerly was Vice President Alternative Series and Specials at NBC Universal's USA Network, will now have dual reporting to both Plestis and Wachtel. Manela, who will report to Hansen and Wachtel, joins NBC and USA from A. Smith & Co. Productions.

"This move demonstrates our faith in Libby's hard work, instincts and remarkable ability to multi-task," said Plestis. "She's proven herself to be too good for us not to share at both networks and we know she will soon have an impact on our growing list of alternative projects. It's also exciting to welcome Mariana to NBC Universal. She brings with her great passion, talent and creativity."

"We've seen what Libby can do here and we feel confident this will be a win-win situation for both USA and NBC," said Wachtel. "Mariana will be a great addition to the team, and her broad production experience is a real bonus."

Plestis was appointed Senior Vice President of Alternative Programs and Development in June 2004 overseeing all alternative programming for the network including "Deal or No Deal," "The Biggest Loser," "The Apprentice," "America's Got Talent" and "Last Comic Standing" among others in development. In May 2003, he was named as Vice President, Alternative Programs, NBC Entertainment. Previously, as Vice President, Alternative Programs, Plestis was responsible for shepherding and developing a variety of alternative series programs including hit unscripted series "The Apprentice," "For Love or Money" and "Who Wants to Marry My Dad?"

Earlier, Plestis had served as Vice President, On-Air Promotions, The NBC Agency, where he supervised the on-air promotion of NBC's drama series, alternative series, movies and miniseries. Prior to that, he had been Director, On-Air Promotion, The NBC Agency, where he concentrated on drama series.

As Vice President, Special Programs, News and Entertainment, Vaughan oversees such specials as the "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular," "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," and the upcoming "Madonna: The Confessions Tour Live" and "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," in addition to his duties for the NBC News division. He previous handled a variety of specials including the Emmy Award-winning "Cher: The Farewell Tour," "Princess Diana: The Secret Tapes," "Faith Hill: Firefly," "Jamie Foxx: Unpredictable," "Eagles Farewell 1 Tour," "Elton John: The Red Piano," "Tim McGraw" and "The Radio Music Awards." From 2000-2002, as Supervising Producer at "Today," Vaughan was responsible for originating story and program ideas as well as supervising all entertainment and entertainment-related segments. From 1993-2000, Vaughan was the Senior Entertainment and Arts Producer at "Today."

Hansen, who will be based in Burbank, will responsible for developing and overseeing many of NBC's and USA's reality series and specials.

In July 2004, Hansen was named USA Network's Vice President of Alternative Series and Specials. In the Los Angeles-based position, she supervised all aspects of development and production for alternative series and specials for USA. Her many accomplishments at USA include reinvigorating the "Nashville Star" franchise by attracting top talent and developing strong demographics among younger viewers, resulting in the highest ratings to date for the series.

Hansen also was responsible for implementing development deals with A-list reality producers including Tom Forman ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"), Magical Elves ("Project Runway"), Ken Mok ("America's Next Top Model"), Ricochet ("Supernanny"), RDF ("Wife Swap") and Gary Auerbach ("Laguna Beach").

In addition, Hansen personally conceived the idea for USA's reality series "Made in the USA," and spearheaded negotiations with HSN (Home Shopping Network) to provide prizes to series winners.

Prior to joining USA Network, Hansen was Executive Director, Alternative Series and Specials at ABC Network, since 2003. In her position, she was responsible for developing and overseeing production on many of ABC's signature franchises, including "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," "Extreme Makeover," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Wife Swap."

Hansen started at ABC in 2000 as Manager of Alternative Series and Specials before being promoted to Director in 2002. She was also selected to participate in the Walt Disney Company's elite Senior Executive Mentoring program.

Earlier, Hansen began her career at Brillstein-Grey and shortly thereafter joined Touchstone Television as Director of Development for Jeff Lowell's Burrow Owl Productions where she worked in all aspects of development and production on numerous projects including "Just Shoot Me," "Sports Night" and "The Geena Davis Show."

Manela most recently worked as Director of Development at A. Smith & Co. Productions in Los Angeles, overseeing developent and production on a host of successful network and cable unscripted series. She provided production support on series including "Hells Kitchen," "Skating with Celbrieties," and "A Heroes Welcome." She also served as an associate producer on the CBS special "A Heroes Welcome." Previously, the Chapman University graduate served as manager of development of A. Smith & Co. Productions.