''FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN'' DEBUT LIFTS CW TO SECOND IN TARGET DEMO OF MEN 18-34 ''FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN'' DEBUT LIFTS CW TO SECOND IN TARGET DEMO OF MEN 18-34

CW Tops Fox in Adults 18-34 and Viewers

''SmackDown'' Moves to New Stations in Over Two-Thirds of US and Improves Over Year Ago Premiere in Men 18-34 and Viewers

''SmackDown'' Ranks First or Second in Adults 18-34 in Top Markets,

Including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Atlanta

September 25, 2006 (Burbank, CA) - The debut of ''Friday Night SmackDown'' lifted The CW to a second place finish for the night in the target demo of men 18-34 (2.0/9), according to preliminary live plus same day Nielsen ratings for Sept 22. ''SmackDown'' also beat Fox in adults 18-34 (1.5/6) and viewers (4.0mil).

Despite moving to a new local station in more than two-thirds of the country, ''SmackDown's'' CW debut improved by 11% in men 18-34 and 8% in viewers versus its season premiere last year on UPN (9/16/05). "SmackDown" equaled its season premiere last year in adults 18-34.

''SmackDown'' is a dramatic improvement over the WB's original line-up of comedies on the same night a year ago, with increases of 36% in adults 18-34, 233% in men 18-34 and 35% in viewers.

According to Nielsen data in local peoplemeter markets, ''SmackDown'' was a competitive force for The CW's local stations in the top 10 markets, winning Friday night in adults 18-34 in Philadelphia (3.6/13). ''SmackDown'' placed second in adults 18-34 in New York (2.2/8), Los Angeles (1.8/6) and Atlanta (1.5/5).