Global Professional Services Firm Ernst & Young Becomes Sole Corporate Sponsor Of Thirteen/WNET New York's GREAT PERFORMANCES

Business Wire, July 13, 2000

Entertainment & Television Writers

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 13, 2000

Three-Year Commitment Begins August 27th With GREAT PERFORMANCES

La Traviata From Paris

Global professional services firm Ernst & Young has assumed sole corporate sponsorship of Thirteen/WNET New York's GREAT PERFORMANCES, television's longest running performing arts series.

Ernst & Young begins its three-year commitment with the telecast of GREAT PERFORMANCES La Traviata from Paris, Wednesday, August 27 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings). The opera special, which made international headlines in June with its live European broadcast, stars Jose Cura and Eteri Gvazava and was shot on location in Paris.

"We are extremely proud to sponsor GREAT PERFORMANCES. Its fine programming brings pleasure to audiences the world over," said Philip A. Laskawy, Ernst & Young's chairman and chief executive officer. "Ernst & Young has a long tradition of philanthropy and support of the arts around the world, especially in the communities that we serve. GREAT PERFORMANCES allows us to enhance these efforts. It is a happy arrangement for all."

William F. Baker, president of Thirteen, added, "We are delighted that Ernst & Young is aligning itself with GREAT PERFORMANCES. Thanks to the firm's uncompromising commitment to the arts, Thirteen can continue to produce this signature series, one that has given public television audiences season tickets to the best in music, drama and dance for the last 28 years."

"Producing a series like GREAT PERFORMANCES requires long range planning," said Jac Venza, executive producer for GREAT PERFORMANCES. "This multi-year support from Ernst & Young is critical to bringing great artists to a nationwide PBS audience."

Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, helps clients to quickly and confidently make financial decisions designed to enhance value. Its 77,000 people in more than 130 countries have the industry and financial experience to provide fresh perspectives on operating successfully in the new economy. Ernst & Young offers traditional audit and tax services, as well as customized services in corporate finance, online security, risk management, the valuation of intangibles and e-business acceleration. In addition, legal services are available in various parts of the world where permitted. A collection of Ernst & Young's latest ideas on the new economy can be found at www.ey.com/thoughtcenter.> GREAT PERFORMANCES, the longest running performing arts series on television, has won more than 50 Emmy Awards and virtually every other major world television honor. Under the stewardship of Jac Venza, it has presented more than 500 programs, featuring the greatest artists from the United States and abroad.

Highlights of the upcoming season include Berlin Philharmonic Europakonzert: From Krakow, with pianist Emanuel Ax (September 27, 2000); Carnegie Hall Opening Night 2000, with pianist Maurizio Pollini and the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra (October 11, 2000); Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens, A Life in Animation (November 22, 2000); and From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2001, with Nikolaus Harnoncourt leading the Vienna Philharmonic (January 1, 2001).

David Horn is series producer for GREAT PERFORMANCES music. Senior producers are Judy Kinberg and John Walker. Jac Venza is executive producer.

GREAT PERFORMANCES is produced by Thirteen/WNET New York. Major funding is also provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts, public television viewers, and PBS.

Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters and Charlie Rose - as well as the work of Bill Moyers - to audiences nationwide. As the flagship public broadcaster in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro area, Thirteen reaches millions of viewers each week, airing the best of American public television along with its own local productions such as City Arts, City Life, EGG the arts show, and Reel New York - and reaching vast new audiences through its MetroArts/Thirteen cable arts programming. With educational and community outreach projects that enhance the value of its productions, Thirteen takes television "out of the box." And as broadcast and digital media converge, Thirteen is blazing trails in the creation of Web sites, CD-ROMs, educational software, and other cutting-edge media products. More information about Thirteen can be found at: www.thirteen.org.