ACCESS HOLLYWOOD CO-ANCHOR NANCY O'DELL RENEWS CONTRACT TO REMAIN WITH HIT ENTERTAINMENT NEWSMAGAZINE

Award-Winning Anchor Signs Long-Term Contract To Continue With Show She Helped Launch

BURBANK, Calif. -- September 7, 2006 -- Award-winning journalist and anchor Nancy O'Dell has signed a new, long-term contract to remain with NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution's top-rated entertainment newsmagazine "Access Hollywood," it was announced today by the show's Executive Producer Rob Silverstein.

O'Dell was part of the on-air team that originally launched "Access Hollywood" 10 years ago and now is paired with Billy Bush as the show's co-anchor team.

"I have been with Nancy since day one of 'Access Hollywood' and what you see on air is the same Nancy O'Dell we see off the air," says Silverstein. "She is kind, generous, honest, the ultimate professional and a killer interviewer. She is a powerhouse in the entertainment community. I have worked with Nancy for the last 10 years and she is a colleague, but more importantly a friend. I am thrilled she is with us as we begin the next dominant decade of 'Access Hollywood.'"

"As the veteran member of the on-air 'Access Hollywood' family, there is no other show I would rather co-lead into its second decade," says O'Dell. "I've been at 'Access' since day one and coming to work each day with such a wonderful group of people makes you appreciate what you have. I always knew in my heart, that this is where I belong. Without the support and talent of Jeff Zucker, our Executive Producer Rob Silverstein and the entire team, we could have never achieved all of our continued success as a top-rated entertainment news program."

O'Dell, who was named as one of Television Week's "10 Most Bankable Stars in Syndication" and one of the "20 Hottest Stars Right Now" by Shape Magazine, first joined "Access Hollywood" when the show launched in 1996. She started her run with the show as weekend co-anchor and weekday correspondent, then was promoted to co-anchor in 1999.

In addition to her on-air duties at "Access Hollywood," O'Dell has contributed reports to both NBC News's "Today" and "Dateline" programs. An award-winning journalist, O'Dell has been honored with three Associated Press Awards, two Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Awards, and is a six-time Emmy Award nominee. In addition, she was nominated two years in a row (1999 and 2000) for the prestigious Publicist Guild of America's Press Award, recognizing excellence in entertainment reporting.

Beyond covering events such as The Oscars, The Emmys, The Grammys and The Golden Globe Awards, O'Dell has also hosted the national Golden Globes Arrivals Show for the past six years for NBC and The Emmys Pre-Show for Fox (1999), ABC (2000) and NBC (2006). In 2002, she co-hosted NBC's Emmys Post-Show.

A native of South Carolina, O'Dell received a great honor when that state's governor declared Feb. 1, 2006 Nancy O'Dell Day in the entire state. Additionally, she was inducted into South Carolina's Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1998 as the youngest member ever in recognition of her journalistic success. O'Dell is a summa cum laude honors graduate of Clemson University with the distinguished honor of graduating in the top 2% of her class.

A member of the Academy of Country Music, she was the original host and consulting producer of USA Network's "Nashville Star." In addition, O'Dell has been a co-host for NBC's network coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade since 2000. In 2003 and 2004, she co-hosted ESPN's ESPY Awards Red Carpet Show. In 2004 she also co-hosted NBC's broadcast of "Christmas in Rockefeller Center." Since 2004, O'Dell has co-hosted the Miss USA Pageant every year for NBC and co-hosted Miss Universe for the network in 2005 and 2006. Additionally, O'Dell co-hosted the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

O'Dell began her broadcast career as a reporter and anchor at WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach, S.C. She later worked as morning news anchor and crime reporter at WCBD-TV in Charleston, S.C. Before joining "Access Hollywood," she served as co-anchor and investigative reporter for NBC's Miami affiliate, WTVJ-TV.

Although O'Dell maintains a busy work schedule, she regularly makes time for philanthropic endeavors. In February 2002, she was inducted into the American Red Cross's National Celebrity Cabinet, and she also serves as a national spokesperson for the March of Dimes. In addition, she acts as an international board member for Best Buddies, a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. In June 2002, Best Buddies honored O'Dell with the organization's Spirit of Leadership Award. This honor has previously been bestowed upon Muhammad Ali, Maria Shriver and Olympian Carl Lewis. O'Dell also serves as a Celebrity Ambassador for Childhelp USA, an organization committed to meeting the needs of abused and neglected children.

"Access Hollywood" is produced by NBC and distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. Rob K Silverstein is the executive producer.

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 Access Hollywood, The Megan Mullally Show, Martha, Blind Date, The Jerry Springer Show and Maury. Current first-run weekly syndicated programming includes The Chris Matthews Show, The George Michael Sports Machine, The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo, Your Total Health and the off-network distribution of Monk, Law & Order and many more series.