THE 4400 A USA NETWORK ORIGINAL SERIES RETURNS FOR SEASON THREE ON SUNDAY, JUNE 11 AT 9:00PM ET/PT

Taken for a reason. Returned with a purpose.

NEW YORK -- May 9, 2006 -- THE 4400, the critically-acclaimed series that chronicles the reappearance of 4400 people previously reported missing or dead, returns for a third season on Sunday, June 11 as a two-hour special from 9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT on USA Network, and then will air as weekly one-hour episodes at 9:00pm ET/PT starting Sunday, June 18.

THE 4400 premiered as a limited series on July 11, 2004 on USA Network as the highest-rated and most-watched new series premiere ever on a basic cable network. Last summer, the show ranked as the #1 original scripted series on cable in P18-49, beating every other cable network�s new series launches. THE 4400 received three Emmy nominations in its first season, including Outstanding Miniseries, as well as Outstanding Writing and Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie.

Before the much-anticipated third season launch, fans and newcomers have two opportunities to familiarize themselves with the show or to finally see what they�ve been missing out on! In a first for a cable network, on Sunday, June 4 USA will air THE 4400 Special: Unlocking the Secrets from 10:00pm-11:00pm ET/PT - a powerful one-hour clip special reintroducing the past events of the show to prepare fans for the third season. Earlier in the day, audiences can tune in to THE 4400 Marathon: The Essential Episodes from 9:00am-10:00pm ET/PT.

THE 4400 stars Billy Campbell (�Once and Again�) as Jordan Collier, Joel Gretsch (�Taken�) as Tom Baldwin, Jacqueline McKenzie (�Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood�) as Diana Skouris, Patrick Flueger (�The Princess Diaries�) as Shawn Farrell, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali (�Crossing Jordan�) as Richard Tyler, Conchita Campbell (�Scary Movie 4�) as Maia Rutledge and Samantha Ferris (�The L Word�) as NTAC Director Nina Jarvis. In addition to the return of the original cast, Karina Lombard (�The L Word�) joins as a series regular playing Alana Mareva. Megalyn Echikunwoke (�That �70s Show,� �Supernatural�) joins the cast as the newly grown-up Isabelle. Peter Coyote (�Commander in Chief�) returns as Dennis Ryland in the season opener.

The third season sparks a new beginning for the 4400 people who, over a span of years, mysteriously disappeared - only to be returned to Earth all together in a ball of light. Though the returnees had not aged physically, many of them reappeared with dramatic abilities ranging from enhanced reflexes to precognition. NTAC (National Threat Assessment Command) is the government agency responsible for keeping track of the returnees and investigating all things related to the 4400.

The premiere picks up mere seconds after we last saw a year-old baby, Isabelle, become a beautiful twenty-year old woman. Her father, Richard, is forced to deal with his daughter�s sudden transformation � and an even more surprising change in her wife, Lily. Meanwhile, Tom and Diana pursue a radical 4400 organization called the Nova Group that has launched attacks against Dennis Ryland and the other bureaucrats that they perceive as threats.

THE 4400 was created by Scott Peters and Rene Echevarria. Ira Steven Behr, Scott Peters, Maira Suro and Perry Simon are executive producers. THE 4400 is produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in Association with Sky Television, Renegade 83 and American Zoetrope for USA Network.

Fans seeking the truth about the destiny of THE 4400 learn all they need to know at USANetwork.com. The official site of THE 4400 offers the opportunity to examine the returnees through detailed profiles, weekly blogs by the characters, and exclusive webisodes that go beyond the script. Videos interviews with the cast and crew, blogs by the series writers and episode guides offer fans additional clues as to where the show is headed. And in time for the season three premiere, viewers will discover which 4400 they resemble thanks to an interactive personality profiler that pairs fans and 4400 characters. Visit http://www.usanetwork.com/the4400 for more.

For photos of THE 4400, please log on to the NBC Universal Media Village at http://www.nbcumv.com/.

CBS Paramount Network Television is a division of CBS Studios Inc.

USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 basic cable network across the board in 1Q06, USA Network is seen in 90 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.