NBC UNIVERSAL DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION HAS SOLD EMMY AND GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD WINNING SERIES "MONK" IN TOP MARKETS

Highest-Rated Original Scripted Series in Basic Cable History Available To Broadcasters For Weekend Runs Starting Fall '08

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calf. -- July 24, 2006 -- NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has sold Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series "Monk" to local broadcast stations in the nation's top three markets for weekend runs starting in fall 2008, it was announced today by Sean O'Boyle, Senior Vice President and General Sales Manager, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.

"Monk," the highest-rated original scripted series in basic cable history, has been sold to WNBC-TV New York, KNBC-TV Los Angeles and WFLD-TV Chicago for weekend off-network syndication runs starting in Sept. 2008.

"'Monk'" is the ideal one-hour weekend series for local broadcast stations�its smart, its funny and each episode is self contained," says O'Boyle. "And on top of that, the most successful basic cable drama of all time is also advertiser friendly."

"Monk," which is currently in its fifth season on USA Network, is coming off its best season to date. The one-hour scripted series, averaged a series-best 4.1 HH rating in its fourth season, up 26% from its first year on USA, according to Nielsen Media Research data.

The critically acclaimed original series starring Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award-winner Tony Shalhoub ("Big Night," "Wings," "Men in Black") has earned two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and two SAG Awards for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Adrian Monk, a brilliant detective who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Shalhoub is currently up for his third Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Monk's psychological disorder costs him his position as a legendary homicide detective on the San Francisco Police Force. Due to the tragic unsolved murder of his wife, Monk has developed an abnormal fear of germs, heights, crowds and virtually everything else, which provides an unusual challenge to solving crimes � not to mention his day-to-day existence.

Traylor Howard ("Two Guys and a Girl," "Me, Myself and Irene"), Ted Levine ("Heat," "Memoirs of a Geisha") and Jason Gray-Stanford ("Taken," "A Beautiful Mind") also star. "Monk" is executive produced by David Hoberman ("Raising Helen," "Bringing Down the House," "The Negotiator"), Andy Breckman ("Saturday Night Live," "The Late Show with David Letterman," "Rat Race"), Tony Shalhoub and Randy Zisk ("House," "Without a Trace'). Fern Field ("Kane & Abel," "Heartsounds") and Tom Scharpling ("The Best Show on WFMU") serve as co-executive producers. Anthony Santa Croce ("Carnivale") and David Breckman ("Saturday Night Live") are producers. "Monk" is from NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone Television.

About NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution

NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. 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 from NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution includes The Megan Mullally Show, Martha, Access Hollywood, Blind Date, The Jerry Springer Show, Maury and Starting Over. Current 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 Monk, Law & Order and many more series.