E! Networks and BSkyB to Provide Daily Court Room Re-Enactments** of the Michael Jackson Trial

New Series to Air on E! Entertainment Television and BSkyB (**UK terminology: reconstructions with actors)

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11 -- E! Entertainment Television will partner with leading UK-based satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) to present daily half-hour court room re-enactments chronicling one of the year's major court cases -- The Michael Jackson Trial, it was announced today jointly by Ted Harbert, President & CEO, E! Networks and Dawn Airey, MD of Sky Networks.

Using re-enactments of verbatim court transcripts, this series will accurately highlight portions of the previous day's testimony and happenings in the courtroom. On E!, the series will also include expert commentary by a panel of legal analysts. The partnership involves five daily half-hour programs which will run over the course of the trial. The series is produced by E! News and Sky News. Each network will package the re-enactments to create its own program with its own presenters, hosts and branding.

In making the announcement on behalf or E! Entertainment Television, Mr. Harbert said: "Viewers around the world are interested in this trial and with no cameras in the court room, this series will be an excellent way to keep up with the day's events and bring the trial to life."

Ms. Airey commented: "This is a highly innovative programming initiative drawing on the re-enactments with actors which Sky News pioneered during The Hutton Inquiry in 2003. Sky News and Sky One viewers will be kept fully up to speed with all the latest developments in one of the most eagerly anticipated trials in years."

The Michael Jackson trial is scheduled to air daily Monday through Friday on E! Entertainment Television, with a weekend wrap-up show airing each Saturday. Additionally, the series will air on the E! International Network (excluding E! UK) which can be seen in over 50 countries worldwide including France, Italy, Germany, Australia and South Africa. E! News will also feature daily in-depth coverage of the trial. The programs will air exclusively in the UK on Sky News and Sky One every weekday. Additionally, Sky News is available in over 40 countries worldwide.

Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a child under the age of 14 at the singer's Neverland Ranch, and plying the child with an intoxicating substance. Jackson was charged in December 2003 with nine felony counts. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on a $3 million dollar bond. If convicted, Jackson faces up to 24 years in prison. A musical prodigy, Jackson has been entertaining audiences nearly his entire life. He became the central focus of "The Jackson 5" during the 1970s, which emerged as one of the most accomplished black pop/soul vocal groups in music history.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Based in Los Angeles, E! Networks is the world's largest producer and distributor of entertainment news and lifestyle-related programming. The company operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment; The Style Network, where life gets a new look, and E! Online, located at Eonline.com. E! is currently available to 85 million cable and direct broadcast satellite subscribers in the U.S. The Style Network currently counts 38 million subscribers with commitments to reach over 40 million.

Internationally, E! programming can be seen in more than 120 countries worldwide, reaching 300 million homes. In addition to its ventures for locally programmed, E! branded channels outside the U.S., the company operates the E! International Network, a 24-hour English language global entertainment channel available via satellite in Europe, Asia Pacific, The Middle East and Africa.

BSkyB is the operator of the leading multichannel television platform in the UK and Ireland. Almost 19 million viewers in 7.4 million households enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels and interactive services on Sky digital, the UK and Ireland's first and most popular digital television platform. BSkyB's channels are available in a further 7 million cable and digital terrestrial households. Sky News is the UK's market-leader in 24 hour news and is available to audiences in over 40 countries throughout the world. Sky One is the UK's leading non-terrestrial entertainment channel, providing a mixture of the best of US programming and original UK commissions.

SOURCE E! Entertainment Television
Web Site: http://Eonline.com