UNLEASH THE HOUNDS�AND TERRIERS AND TOYS. USA NETWORK CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF DOGS

UNLEASH THE HOUNDS�AND TERRIERS AND TOYS. USA NETWORK CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF DOGS

Best in Show to be Crowned at 132nd WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW presented by Pedigree�, Live on USA Network February 11 and 12 at 8/7c

For 25 years, USA Network has been host to the foremost dog show in the world. The 132nd WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW will paw its way into Madison Square Garden on Monday, February 11 and Tuesday, February 12. It is one of the longest continuously held sporting events in the United States (second only to the Kentucky Derby).

The broadcast team returns this year as Lester Holt ("Weekend Today") is back to host and David Frei (19th straight year on USA), as co-host and expert analyst. Also returning is CBS personality and veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner ("The Early Show," Miss America 1990.)

This year brings four newly recognized breeds to the big show. Competing for the first time ever are the Plott (Hound Group), the Tibetan Mastiff (Working Group), the Beauceron (Herding Group) and the Swedish Vallhund (Herding Group). Westminster's entries for the 2008 show totals to 2,627, representing 48 states, the District of Columbia and at least six foreign countries. The largest entries hail from California (287) and New York (244).

The highest breed entered this year came from the Labrador Retrievers with 51; other large entries include German Shorthaired Pointers (40), Pugs (37), Golden Retrievers (36), Rhodesian Ridgebacks (35), Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (35), French Bulldogs (35), and Australian Shepherds (35).

There are also 127 dogs entered in Junior Showmanship, where young handlers ages 9-18 compete based only on their handling abilities.

The judge for this year's Best in Show will be Dr. J Donald Jones of Marietta, GA. There are 32 judges on the judging panel from 19 states and Australia.

On Monday, February 11, USA will air the first hour of the show and will then switch over to CNBC for the 9-11pm ET/PT portion of the broadcast. On Tuesday, February 12, USA will air all three hours including the crowning of the 2008 Best In Show.

This will be the 25th consecutive year that USA Network has been the home of WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW.

Usanetwork.com and westminsterkennelclub.org are teaming up to give fans an all-access pass to the 132nd WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW. Streaming video of all Breed competitions, as well as the Junior Showmanship event, will be featured on the official website of Westminster, www.westminsterkennelclub.org. In addition, the USA Network website will have interactive games and activities for dog enthusiasts. Available on www.usanetwork.com/sports/westminsterdogshow/ will be a web game presented by Pedigree� where your human personality will be matched to that of a dog's character, Valentine's Day greeting cards and more interactive elements

About Westminster Kennel Club

The Westminster Kennel Club is America's oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs. Established in 1877, Westminster's influence has been felt for more than a century through its famous all breed, benched dog show held every year at New York's Madison Square Garden. The show is America's second longest continuously held sporting event, behind only the Kentucky Derby. Westminster will stage its 132nd consecutive show on February 11-12, 2008, nationally televised on USA Network. For additional information, log on to www.westminsterkennelclub.org.

About USA Network

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 network in basic cable, USA Network is seen in nearly 94 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.