STATE FARM SPONSORS SPECIAL HOMETOWN CONCERT EPISODE OF 'NASHVILLE STAR' AIRING JULY 28 AT 9 P.M. EST

BURBANK, Calif.�July 25, 2008� "Nashville Star" will air its special "Hometown Concert" episode on July 28 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Sponsored by State Farm, the episode will feature taped packages of the final four contestants visiting their friends and family and clips of them performing for the thousands of fans that turned out to support them in their various hometowns. The concerts tie in to State Farm's current "I'm There" marketing campaign, which targets consumers who are at the crossroads of important life events.

The announcement was made by Craig Plestis, EVP Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment; and Jeanette Stewart, State Farm Advertising Manager.

"The 'Hometown Concert' episode is a great complement to State Farm's 'I'm There' message," said Plestis. "As we approach the finals of the 'Nashville Star' competition, each contestant is facing a significant personal and professional crossroad. This episode is a great example of how we can tie relevant programming to a sponsor's marketing theme."

As part of their exclusive sponsorship, State Farm representativeshelped to introduce each contestant's performance at the various hometown concerts taped earlier this week. The concerts also incorporated the "red dot" brand featured in State Farm's recent advertising campaign.

"We have been sponsoring the 'Hometown Concert' for several seasons and are delighted to be part of the series again, now on NBC," said Stewart. "The breadth and scope of the network aligns with the neighborhood presence of our agents."

This year's grand prize of "Nashville Star" includes a major recording contract with Warner Bros. Records and the opportunity to perform at the Summer Olympics Game in Beijing.

The first five seasons of "Nashville Star" have launched the careers of promising artists including Chris Young, Buddy Jewel, Miranda Lambert (recent ACM Album of the Year winner), Lance Miller, and Angela and Zac Hacker -- the siblings who made it a family affair by coming in first and second, respectively, last season.

"Nashville Star" is created by Reveille and produced by 495 Productions. Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens ("American Gladiators"), Mark Koops ("The Biggest Loser") and Sally Ann Salsano ("Design Star," "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila") serve as executive producers.

OMD handled media planning and buying for State Farm and Davie Brown Entertainment, State Farm's entertainment marketing agency, executed the integration on behalf of State Farm.

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About NBC Universal:

NBC Universal is 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. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

About State Farm:

State Farm� insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 77 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com� or in Canada statefarm.ca�.