SCI FI DARES TO IMAGINE 'WHAT IF' WITH NEW ALTERNATIVE REALITY PROJECT

Project Is From NBC Universal Television Studio in Association with New Line Television

SCI FI Channel continues to test the boundaries of imagination with 'What If,' a "speculative future" project that poses intriguing scenarios of alternate realities. The program, from NBC Universal Television Studio in association with New Line Television, asks... What if a moment in time could change the world forever?

'What If' is being developed as a weekly, one-hour series that dramatizes intriguing "what if" scenarios that would impact our world at large. What would happen if the Meteor had missed the Earth and dinosaurs co-existed with the development of humans? What if Germany had developed the first atomic weapon, bombed New York, and was victorious in World War II? Such questions and their potential answers will resonate with the personal lives of mainstream American viewers today.

"This project has universal appeal," said Mark Stern, SCI FI Channel's Executive Vice President of Original Programming. "Who hasn't wondered what our daily lives might be like if certain moments in history had gone a different way. 'What If' will take an exciting, thought-provoking approach to imagining such possibilities."

The production will incorporate computer generated graphics, dramatic re-creations, narration, and interviews with relevant thought leaders to bring these potential realities to life. Emmy Award winning producer/director Jon Kroll ('The Amazing Race,' 'Big Brother') will serve as executive producer on the series.

Inspired by the book series of the same name, the production will work with Byron Hollinshead, president of American Historical Publications, producer of the best-selling anthologies, which are published by Putnam in the United States.

SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 85 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.

NBC Universal Television Studio produces series for primetime, late-night, daytime, and dozens of longform and reality projects for a variety of network and cable television outlets. Headed by President Angela Bromstad, the studio is currently one of the largest producers of American primetime television programs. Its current roster features the Emmy-winning comedy 'Will & Grace' and the powerhouse 'Law & Order' drama brand. 'Las Vegas,' 'Crossing Jordan,' 'The Office,' 'House' (for Fox), 'Monk' (for USA Network), 'Battlestar Galactica' (for SCI FI) are among the many other primetime series produced by the studio. Late-night programs include 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,' 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien,' 'Saturday Night Live,' and 'Last Call with Carson Daly.'

New Line Television (www.newline.com) is a division of New Line Cinema, the leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures. The division is responsible for the development, production and distribution of television projects for the broadcast networks, cable and first-run syndication, as well as the distribution of New Line feature films across the television landscape. New Line Cinema is a Time Warner Company.