FOX BROADCASTING COMPANY, 19 ENTERTAINMENT AND FREMANTLEMEDIA ANNOUNCE SPONSORS FOR SEVENTH SEASON OF "AMERICAN IDOL"

Ford, Coca-Cola and AT&T Return as Official Sponsors of Television's No. 1 Show

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX), 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia today announced the sponsors for the seventh season of AMERICAN IDOL, which premieres Tuesday, Jan. 15 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) with auditions from Philadelphia and continues with Dallas auditions Wednesday, Jan. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

FOX, 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia have re-teamed with Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola and AT&T as official sponsors of this year's AMERICAN IDOL.

Season Seven of AMERICAN IDOL marks the return of Ford as a major sponsor. Ford has been the leading supporter of AMERICAN IDOL since the show's debut in 2002, and will continue to have a strong presence throughout the upcoming season. Ford vehicles and the Top 12 AMERICAN IDOL contestants will again be featured, each week, in exclusive Ford music videos. This exclusive content will also be featured on americanidol.com. In addition, Ford will launch a truly unique consumer promotion that will offer fans a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime AMERICAN IDOL experience. More details will be announced shortly. AMERICAN IDOL will serve as the key platform to integrate a variety of Ford vehicles, including the new Ford Focus, Fusion, Edge, Escape Hybrid, Mustang and the 2009 Flex, Ford's all-new full-size crossover.

Ford, in partnership with FOX's energy initiative, will also give the AMERICAN IDOL winner, as well as the runner-up, a new Escape Hybrid, the most fuel efficient SUV on the planet. Ford is the official automotive sponsor of the show.

Both AMERICAN IDOL and Coca-Cola celebrate optimism, fun and positivity in ways that bring friends and families together. For the show's seventh season, Coca-Cola is offering programs that will enhance the AMERICAN IDOL experience for fans. Exclusive behind-the-scenes video will be available through MyCokeRewards.com, giving fans an insiders' look at the contestant experience. The popular "Design Your Own Judges' Coca-Cola Cup" contest is back with a new twist. Fans can again create original designs online at MyCokeRewards.com for a chance to have their cup appear on an episode of the show, but they can also show their designs on their personal pages on MySpace, Facebook and other websites. Through a random selection, Coca-Cola will visit submitted personal web pages and if a cup design is found, the page owner may win a trip to an AMERICAN IDOL broadcast. In addition, the popular Red Room will make its seventh appearance on the set, providing contestants with a cool place to hang out during the show. Other activities designed to extend the AMERICAN IDOL experience for consumers will be featured in a variety of retail outlets across the country.

As AMERICAN IDOL's Official Wireless Sponsor, AT&T returns ready to connect AMERICAN IDOL fans to their favorite contestants using text, tones and video � all from their mobile phones. Building on the success of previous seasons, AT&T will once again enable its customers to use their wireless phones to text-message their votes each week, participate in hosted chats with voted-off Top 12 finalists, and test their knowledge of AMERICAN IDOL trivia. AT&T customers with unlimited messaging plans can now cast unlimited votes for one monthly price.

In addition, customers will be able to personalize their wireless phones with Live Idol Tones� ringtones and Answer Tones? of actual Top 12 finalists' performances as well as Outrageous Tones and Video featuring actual audition performances (subject to music clearances). AT&T will also offer other exciting program elements this season. Fans can visit AT&T stores or go online at www.att.com/americanidol for more details, beginning on January 15.

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder and CEO of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

About FremantleMedia Enterprises & FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia Enterprises is the content exploitation arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment. It is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is a subsidiary of RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is 90% owned by Bertelsmann AG, an integrated media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the world's media markets. For further information, visit http://www.fremantlemedia.com.

About FremantleMedia North America

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative television programs for network, cable and syndicated platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "The Next Great American Band" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "American Inventor" (ABC), "Thank God You're Here" (NBC), "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" (Oxygen), "Property Ladder" (TLC), "Family Feud" (syndicated), "Temptation" (syndicated), "Million Dollar Password" (CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, "The Price Is Right" (CBS).

About 19 Entertainment

The 19 Group of Companies was founded by Simon Fuller in 1985 and has achieved over 40 No. 1 singles and 15 No. 1 albums. Fuller also has an impressive tally of over 60 Top-40 albums and 170 Top-40 singles in the UK alone. Fuller created and managed the Spice Girls, who became a global phenomenon under his guidance, selling over 38 million albums. In 1998, Fuller's 19 launched S Club 7, which has sold 10 million CDs worldwide, while its three television series to date have consistently topped children's viewing figures, reaching 104 countries. In 2001, Simon Fuller's 19TV created and produced the television phenomenon "Pop Idol" and in 2002, AMERICAN IDOL. "Pop Idol" launched the singing careers of Will Young and Gareth Gates in the UK, while AMERICAN IDOL did the same for Carrie Underwood, Fantasia Barrino, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and Ruben Studdard in the United States.

About Ford

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 250,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light beverages, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.4 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at www.att.com.