Quick Take for Wednesday, May 17, 2006 (Based on Fast Affiliate Ratings)

Against an Extended 1-Hour Installment of Fox�s �American Idol� Results Show, ABC�s �Lost� Jumps from its Lead-in and Builds Audience Throughout its Telecast, Outpacing CBS� �Amazing Race� Finale by Wide Margins in Viewers and Adults 18-49

TV�s Top Scripted Series on Wednesday, ABC�s �Lost� Stands as the Evening�s No. 1 Scripted Show in Adults 18-49 on All 22 of its Original Telecasts This Season

�Lost� (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Going up against an extended 1-hour edition of Fox�s �American Idol� results show (9:00-10:00 p.m.), ABC�s �Lost� built considerably on its lead-in and then went on to grow its audience from its first half-hour to its second half-hour. Holding second place to �Idol� during the 9 o�clock hour, �Lost� beat out third-place CBS, with the concluding hour of its 2-hour �Amazing Race IX� season finale, by 4.8 million viewers (14.2 million vs. 9.4 million) and by 74% in Adults 18-49 (5.9/13 vs. 3.4/8). �

Although it faced extraordinary competition, self-starter �Lost� jumped from its �Alias� lead-in by 8.7 million viewers and by 228% in Adults 18-49. Then from its first to its second half-hour, the ABC drama increased its audience among viewers (13.9 million to 14.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (5.8/14 to 6.1/14).

� ABC�s �Lost� qualified as TV�s No. 1 scripted program on Wednesday in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. The ABC sophomore series has been the top-rated scripted program on Wednesday, in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic, in all 22 of its original telecasts this season.

Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate Ratings, Live+SD), 5/17/06.