National CineMedia Forms Movie Theatre Marketing Alliance with A&E Television Networks

Business Wire, Nov 6, 2007

AETN to Highlight Entertainment Content from A&E[R] and The History Channel[R] in FirstLook

NEW YORK & CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- National CineMedia LLC (NCM), operator of the largest digital in-theatre network in North America, announced today a multi-year strategic content and marketing agreement with A&E Television Networks (AETN) to provide pre-feature entertainment content and advertising on movie screens in theatres nationwide.

AETN will kick off the relationship on December 28, 2007 with new content segments featuring highlights from series, mini-series and specials airing on A&E and The History Channel that will be created exclusively for NCM's pre-feature program FirstLook. Delivered through NCM's Digital Content Network (DCN), AETN's content segments will premiere in December on what will then be approximately 13,500 screens in AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark USA, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), Goodrich Quality Theaters, Kerasotes ShowPlace Theatres, Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE:RGC) and other network affiliate movie theatres nationwide in 156 markets throughout the U.S., including many of the highest grossing theatres in 49 of the top 50 Designated Market Areas[R]. Through the agreement, AETN will also take advantage of NCM's wide variety of advertising and promotional products in theatre lobbies, including NCM's Lobby Entertainment Network (LEN) which features more than 2,000 video and high-definition plasma screen displays strategically placed in the lobby and concessions area of 780 theatres.

This NCM FirstLook content partnership, arranged through Horizon Media, represents a significant expansion of AETN's cinema advertising strategy to highlight its networks' diverse mix of high quality entertainment.

"Adding the fantastic content of A&E Television Networks to FirstLook boosts our commitment to giving moviegoers an entertaining, varied pre-show experience," said Cliff Marks, president of sales and chief marketing officer with National CineMedia. "Moviegoers have responded very positively to the exclusive, behind-the scenes entertainment presented during FirstLook. With the addition of AETN's extremely popular programming, early arriving moviegoers will continue to get an exclusive 'first look' at the best in entertainment."

AETN joins NCM's existing FirstLook content partners Discovery Communications, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Turner Broadcasting System and Universal Studios in providing a high-quality entertainment experience for patrons. Designed with the audience in mind, FirstLook ends approximately at the advertised movie show time (when the film trailers begin) and its entertainment content segments are rotated between theatres every two weeks to help ensure that frequent movie-goers are entertained by fresh content.

Distributed over NCM's Digital Content Network (DCN)(SM), FirstLook and LEN content can be targeted to NCM's entire national audience, specific theatres, geographic regions, or demographic groups based on film rating category. National CineMedia's DCN reaches 2 million seats and approximately 550 million patrons in 2006 (representing 38% of the total U.S. theatre attendance) in 156 Designated Market Areas[R] (49 of the top 50) in the United States.

About A&E Television Networks (AETN)

A&E Television Networks (AETN) a joint venture of The Hearst Corporation, ABC, Inc. and NBC Universal, is an award-winning, international media company offering consumers a diverse communications environment ranging from television programming, to home videos/DVDs and music CDs, to Web sites, as well as supporting nationwide educational initiatives. AETN is comprised of A&E Network[R], The History Channel[R], History International[TM], The Biography Channel[R], The History Channel en espanol[TM], Military History Channel[TM], Crime & Investigation Network[TM], A&E HD[TM], AETN International, and AETN Consumer Products.

About National CineMedia, Inc.

National CineMedia (NCM) LLC operates the largest digital in-theatre network in North America through long-term agreements with its founding members, AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark USA Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), the three largest theatre operators in the U.S., and through multi-year agreements with several other theatre operators. NCM LLC produces and distributes its FirstLook pre feature program; cinema and lobby advertising products; comprehensive meeting and event services and other entertainment programming content. NCM LLC's national network includes over 14,000 screens of which over 12,300 are part of the Company's Digital Content Network (DCN). NCM LLC's DCN covers 156 Designated Market Areas[R] (49 of the top 50). During 2006, approximately 550 million patrons attended movies shown in theatres owned by the NCM LLC founding members (excluding Loews). National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 44.8% interest in and is the managing member of NCM LLC. For additional information, visit www.ncm.com.