PRIMETIME SURGE RESULTS IN USA NETWORK'S U.S. OPEN RATINGS RISE

Ratings up +15%, Viewership up 21% in Prime Time

NEW YORK -- September 15, 2004 -- A primetime ratings' surge helped propel USA Network to increased ratings during two weeks of the 2004 U.S. Open Tennis Championships.

Overall, primetime and daytime ratings and viewership growth resulted from USA's national primetime rating of 1.1 (975,000 HH, 1.3 million viewers, up +15% from last year's .96) and aided the Network's overall performance. Average viewership in prime time experienced a 21% spike with 1.3 million viewers in 2004 compared to 1.05 million viewers in 2003.

"Coming on the heels of the Olympics, the U.S. Open took some time to gather momentum this year," said USA Network Sr. VP and Executive Producer Gordon Beck. "We definitely benefited from the compelling quarterfinal match-ups and less rain this year."

Primetime coverage featuring the Serena Williams/Jennifer Capriati women's quarterfinal match (Sept. 7) garnered USA's top ratings' night with a 2.23 national rating with 1.93 million households and 2.6 million viewers tuning in to watch the controversial match won by Capriati. Overall, viewership in the Adult 18-34 demographic was up +25% during the tournament.

Daytime viewership also witnessed an upsurge with a 15% bounce as an average of 536,000 viewers tuned in during the day in 2004 compared to 466,000 in 2003. USA's national daytime ratings of .53 (475,000 HH, 536,000 viewers) was up +10% from last year's .48 average rating during the day.

Overall, during USA's two weeks of live coverage in its 21st consecutive year, the Network's national rating of .80 (715,000 HH, 884,000 viewers) was up +5% from the 2003 totals of .76 (656,000 HH, 802,000 viewers).

USA Network is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. USA Network is available in 82% of all U.S. homes and is seen in over 88 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com .

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.