SEASON FINALE OF BRAVO'S 'PROJECT RUNWAY' SMASHES RECORD TO BECOME MOST VIEWED TELECAST IN NETWORK HISTORY

SEASON FINALE OF BRAVO'S 'PROJECT RUNWAY' SMASHES RECORD TO BECOME MOST VIEWED TELECAST IN NETWORK HISTORY

3.4 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS TUNE-IN TO SEE DESIGNER CHLOE DAO NAMED THE WINNER OF THE SECOND SEASON OF THE EMMY-NOMINATED SERIES

SERIES PREMIERE OF 'TOP CHEF' GARNERS A SIZZLING 1.3 MILLION VIEWERS BREAKING TIME-PERIOD RECORDS IN ALL KEY DEMOS

NEW YORK - March 9, 2006 - 3.4 million total viewers tuned in to last night's finale of the second season of Bravo's hit series "Project Runway," as Chloe Dao was named the winner by host, Heidi Klum, making it the most viewed single telecast in the 20-year history of the network. Following the finale, the premiere of Bravo's newest series, "Top Chef," launched to an incredible 1.3 million total viewers.

"The record-breaking conclusion to 'Project Runway' provided a fantastic hand-off to our newest series, 'Top Chef'," said Lauren Zalaznick, President of Bravo. "Viewers on air and on-line said goodbye to an incredibly talented group of characters and were immediately introduced to another crop of skilled, emotional personalities."

The finale of "Project Runway" garnered 2.5 million viewers 18-49, 2 million viewers 25-54 and a 3.10 HH coverage rating. The episode also set records for the highest delivery of women 18-34 (1.1 million) and 18-49 (1.7 million) as well as delivering more women 25-54 (1.4 million) than any other show on cable last night. The finale also broke the Bravo all-time record for Households, averaging 2.5 million for the hour. The finale also averaged a 5.0 HH rating or better in eight major markets, including a 9.1 rating in Seattle-Tacoma.

Compared to the two-hour finale of season one, last night's telecast surged 69 percent in HH impressions, 70 percent among total viewers, 102 percent in adults 18-34, 88 percent in adults18-49 and 69 percent in adults 25-54.

Overall, the second season averaged a 1.62 HH coverage rating, 1.7 million total viewers (up 59 percent from season one), 1.3 million adults 18-49 (up 75 percent from season one) and 1.1 million adults 25-54 (up 63 percent from season one).

"Top Chef," which premiered after the finale of "Project Runway" and moves into its regularly scheduled time next Wednesday at 10 p.m., garnered a 1.21 HH coverage rating, 931,000 adults 18-49 and 825,000 adults 25-54, setting new records for the time period in adults total viewers, 18-49 and 25-54. "Top Chef" was also the highest-rated Wednesday series premiere in Bravo history in all key demos.

This all contributed to Bravo's highest Wednesday 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. delivery ever in HH coverage rating and impressions, total viewers, adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

Traffic to BravoTV.com last night also broke all-time records with 5 million page views and 225,000 unique visitors yesterday alone. Since the launch of the second season of "Project Runway," the site has garnered a spectacular 66 million page views and 1.8 million unique visitors. Bravo's first-ever interactive voting, which took place during the finale, brought in 91,328 total votes - 49,242 via text messaging and 42,086 via the web.

Casting for the third season of "Project Runway" will be taking place throughout March. Interested designers can visit www.BravoTV.com for more information. Additionally, Tim Gunn's blog, "Tim's Take," one of the most heavily trafficked features on the site, will continue to be updated throughout the year. "Tim's Take" has received 7.5 million page views.

"Project Runway" is executive produced by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves ("Project Greenlight," "Last Comic Standing"). Heidi Klum and her managers Desiree Gruber and Jane Cha of NYC-based Full Picture also executive produce the series. Barbara Schneeweiss oversaw the production on behalf of Miramax Television and The Weinstein Company.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, NHI. All data is most currently available with Live +7 Day data 12/26/05-2/19/06 and Live +Same Day data 2/20/06 to date. Data before 12/26/05 is Pre-DVR.