"STARTING OVER" TO FANS: TELL YOUR FRIENDS YOU'RE STARTING OVER!

"STARTING OVER" TO FANS: TELL YOUR FRIENDS YOU'RE STARTING OVER!

Emmy Award-Winning TV Series Answers Fans' Request For Support

Burbank, CA- November 7, 2005 - This November, STARTING OVER, the real-life daytime drama from NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution and Bunim-Murray Productions ("The Real World," "The Simple Life"), will use an innovative fan-powered e-mail support system to help women across America make positive changes in their lives.

Now in its third season, STARTING OVER has inspired millions with dramatic stories of more than 50 real-life women who have made positive changes in their lives. On STARTING OVER, support and encouragement from the housemates and Life Coaches is critical to the success of each woman seeking to change her life. The Tell Your Friends You're Starting Over initiative will help STARTING OVER fans activate the support of their friends as they identify and pursue their own STARTING OVER goals.

"So much of the success of STARTING OVER is directly attributable to the unflinching love, support and encouragement that the women on the show give each other," said STARTING OVER Life Coach Rhonda Britten. "Fans of the show have asked how they can get a similar degree of support, and that is what is so exciting about this campaign."

Added STARTING OVER Life Coach Iyanla Vanzant, "On STARTING OVER our cast members build new lives, and we want to open up that building process to reach the millions of women across the country who watch our show each day."

The Tell Your Friends You're Starting Over program begins when a STARTING OVER fan logs on to www.startingovertv.com . After providing her name and e-mail address, he or she registers her goal and the e-mail addresses of her personal support network of friends and family. The support network receives an e-mail notification describing the STARTING OVER process and offers an opportunity to respond with encouraging words of support for their friend.

The Tell Your Friends system triggers regular e-mail check-ups and updates between the participant and his or her friends, with occasional input and words of encouragement from the STARTING OVER Life Coaches. As an added incentive to succeed, some successful Tell Your Friends participants will be mentioned in upcoming broadcasts of STARTING OVER.

A revolutionary real life daytime television drama, STARTING OVER features six women living in a beautiful Southern California home with two Life Coaches helping them to change their lives in positive ways. The women use the support of their housemates and professional expertise of their Life Coaches to reinvent themselves.

Since its premiere in September 2003, STARTING OVER has earned rave reviews from fans and critics alike. In May 2005, STARTING OVER won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Series. In its second season, STARTING OVER grew an impressive 43% in women 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research data (9/15/03-3/7/04 vs. 9/20/04-3/6/05). The series also currently has the highest concentration of women 18-49 and women 25-54 of any nationally syndicated program.

STARTING OVER is produced by Bunim-Murray Productions, the creators of the hit series "The Simple Life," "The Real World" and "Road Rules." It is distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. Jonathan Murray and Millee Taggart-Ratcliffe are Executive Producers. STARTING OVER is currently sold in more than 95% of the U.S. for its third season in national syndication.

About NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution
NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. The NBC Universal Television Distribution division is responsible for the global distribution of NBC Universal product to all forms of television throughout the world. This includes distribution of current and library film and television product, including formats and non-scripted programming, in the pay, free, and basic markets, as well as the domestic syndication of first-run syndicated TV programs and theatrical and TV movie packages.

Current and upcoming first-run strip syndicated programming at NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution includes a new daily series with Martha Stewart, Access Hollywood, Blind Date, The Jerry Springer Show, Maury and Starting Over. Current and upcoming first-run weekly syndicated programming includes The Chris Matthews Show, The George Michael Sports Machine, Rebecca's Garden, The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo, Your Total Health and the off-network distribution of Crossing Jordan, Fear Factor, Providence, and the Law & Order franchise. Special programming includes Good Housekeeping Reports news inserts, a series of The Remarkable Journey specials, as well as a collection of feature film packages.