"Face Off" Delivers Syfy's Best Premiere Night for a New Reality Franchise in Six Years Among Adults 18-49

Premiere of New Reality Competition Series Attracted More Than 1.4 million Total Viewers and 896,000 Viewers 18-49

NEW YORK - January 27, 2011 - Syfy's new reality competition series Face Off transformed more than 1.4 million total viewers and 896,000 Adults 18-49 during its Wednesday, January 26 premiere at 10PM (ET/PT). This marks Syfy's best premiere night for a new reality franchise in the key 18-49 demo since the original Ghost Hunters debuted in October 2004. It also continues Syfy's successful momentum for its new series launches in 2011, with breakout drama Being Human scoring over two million viewers for its second episode on Monday, January 24.

Last night's premiere episode, in which the 12 up-and-coming special effects make-up artists were introduced and tasked to imagine an entirely new species, also earned a 1.0 HH rating and attracted 885,000 Adults 25-54 and an impressive 483,000 Adults 18-34.

Face Off continues with an all-new, one-hour episode next Wednesday, February 3 at 10:00PM. The remaining special effects make-up artists are challenged to transform nude models into living pieces of art. One of the world's premier body painters, Filippo Ioco, is featured in the episode as an expert guest judge for the unconventional challenge which calls upon the contestants to draw upon such inspirations as the rainforest, the ocean, a waterfall or an abstract painting in order to bring striking and bold concepts to life.

Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. Judging the Face Off competition are some of the most renowned names in the SFX world -- three-time Academy Award winner Ve Neill, famed special make-up effects artist Glenn Hetrick and director/creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos. Together, they make a panel that is tough, smart and direct. Their on-point judging styles will push all of the contestants to the top of their game. McKenzie Westmore hosts.

The 12 Face Off artists will be whittled down week by week as they compete to outshine their competition. The winning SFX artist will receive $100,000 and a year's supply of make up courtesy of Alcone. Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith and Michael Agbabian serving as executive producers.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)