Saban Capital Group Taps Joel Andryc to Head New Entertainment Division

Business Wire, May 11, 2004

Entertainment Editors/Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2004

Former Programming Executive at FOX/ABC Family Channel Returns

to Saban as Chief Creative Officer of Saban Entertainment Group

Saban Capital Group, Inc. (SCG), the private investment firm of Haim Saban, today announced that it has named Joel Andryc Chief Creative Officer of a new entertainment division, Saban Entertainment Group. Andryc will focus on the creative component of Saban's entertainment investment portfolio and lead the company's creative evaluation of new strategic opportunities, including the creation, development, and acquisition of start-up ventures.

Andryc, a veteran of the entertainment industry, also serves as a programming consultant for Saban-owned ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, a position he has held since November 2003. Prior to that, he spent six years as Executive Vice President, Programming and Development at ABC/Fox Family Channel. Andryc will be based in Los Angeles and will report directly to Saban Capital Group Chairman and CEO Haim Saban and President and COO Adam Chesnoff.

Commenting on Andryc's hire and the formation of Saban Entertainment Group, Saban said, "We're pleased to enhance our focus on the creative side of the business, and I'm thrilled Joel will be leading us in that effort. Having worked with Joel for so many years, I am confident in his programming and creative talents. He will be a major asset to Saban Capital and its entertainment investments."

Chesnoff said: "We will continue to pursue new and exciting opportunities that make strong financial sense, while maximizing our investments through creative applications and innovative ideas. Our existing investments stand to benefit greatly from Joel's creative expertise and contacts in the Hollywood community. His advice will also be invaluable in the evaluation of new business initiatives."

Andryc said, "I'm thrilled to be rejoining Haim and his team. From my 15 years working alongside Haim, I'm keenly aware of his business acumen and his ability to find one-of-a-kind opportunities in a very competitive environment. Thanks to SCG's strong management team and its ample resources, Saban Entertainment Group has the ability to target significant strategic investments in the entertainment sector. I'm particularly excited to be back at a firm with a true entrepreneurial spirit where creativity thrives and ideas move quickly through the pipeline."

Andryc continued, "The offer from Haim to fund new development, incubate talent, acquire and invest in start-up ventures with huge upside potential, and help build his existing entertainment holdings is a rare opportunity that I could not pass up."

Andryc most recently served as Executive Vice President, Programming and Development at ABC Family Channel, where he oversaw prime time reality series, specials, concerts and repurposed ABC network programming for the channel. Andryc's leadership played a key role in establishing ABC Family Channel as a destination for Teens and Young Adults.

Prior to ABC Family, Andryc served in a similar role at Fox Family Channel and laid the foundation in establishing the network as a destination for tweens, teens, and a young adult audience by launching such original programming as: the Emmy-nominated, critically-acclaimed "Angela Anaconda;" "Braceface," a series executive produced by and featuring Alicia Silverstone; and the Emmy-nominated sitcom "So Little Time" starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. In addition to programming at Fox Family, Andryc also oversaw the programming and development of The Fox Kids Network, securing high-profile talent to drive the Fox Kids lineup and maintain Fox Kids as the #1 destination for boys action and adventure. Andryc launched the phenomenon "Digimon: Digital Monsters" and maintained the popularity of the "Power Rangers" brand and franchise.

Prior to joining Fox Family, Andryc worked for Saban Entertainment where he began in 1987 as a development executive and contributed to the company's unprecedented growth and expansion.

About Saban Capital Group

Saban Capital Group, Inc. ("SCG") is a private investment firm specializing in the media and entertainment industries. Based in Los Angeles, SCG was established in 2001 by Haim Saban, founder of global family entertainment company Saban Entertainment, a global television broadcasting, production, distribution, merchandising and music company that was sold to the Walt Disney Corporation in October 2001 in a $5.2 billion transaction. The firm makes both controlling and minority investments in public and private companies and adds strategic value through its established relationships and industry experience. In addition, SCG owns and operates a music company, Saban Music Group, which operates an independent music-publishing company.