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[via press release]

Kids’ WB! Announces “Year-Round” Programming Strategy

(March 13, 2002 – New York, NY) — Kids’ WB!, the #1 broadcast network for kids, will add five new animated series to its top-rated Saturday morning and weekday slates and introduce a “year-round” schedule that will offer fresh new programming, beginning this Summer and leading into the 2002-2003 television season. The schedule was announced today by Donna Friedman, Executive Vice President, Kids’ WB!, speaking to advertisers and media at the first joint Kids’ WB! and Cartoon Network annual upfront sales presentations in New York.

“As the dominant broadcaster in kids’ television for the past three seasons, Kids’ WB! has clearly connected with kids in a powerful way,” said Ms. Friedman. “While most of the other networks are getting out of the kids’ business, we are committed to continuing to deliver what kids have come to want and expect from Kids’ WB! – the highest quality hit shows — six days a week.”

Hot off its 8th consecutive sweeps victory as the #1 Saturday morning broadcast network, Kids’ WB! has maintained its leadership position this season by delivering quality programs to its core target demographic of Kids 6-11. The network has strengthened and solidified its creative position and dominance in the industry with the network’s branded key elements: high-adventure, humor and heart; compelling storylines; and kid-relatable characters.

In 4th Quarter 2001, Kids’ WB! dominated as the #1 broadcast and cable network in the key demographic of Boys 6-11 and finished #1 among the broadcast competition in Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Boys 2-11 for the third consecutive year. For the quarter, “Pokémon: Johto League Champions” captured the #1 Saturday morning program spot among all competition, including cable, in Boys 2-11 and Boys 6-11. The network led the broadcast and cable competition with six of the top 10 programs in Boys 6-11 and six of the top 10 broadcast programs in Kids 2-11, including “Pokémon: Johto League Champions,” “X-Men: Evolution,” “Jackie Chan Adventures,” “The Mummy,” “The Nightmare Room” and “Yu-Gi-Oh!”

Season-to-date, Kids’ WB! captures all broadcast and cable competition in Boys 6-11 with the top three programs and leads as the #1 broadcast network among Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Boys 2-11. “Pokémon: Johto League Champions” ranks as the #1 program among all Saturday morning competition, including cable, in Boys 6-11 and Boys 2-11 (tied with Nickelodeon) and ranks as the #1 broadcast program among Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11. Among Kids 2-11, Kids’ WB! takes seven out of the top 10 programs among the broadcast competition, including “X-Men: Evolution” (#2), “Jackie Chan Adventures” (#3), “The Mummy” (#4), “The Nightmare Room” (#5), “Static Shock” (#7) and “Yu-Gi-Oh!” (#10). The network also dominates in the key demographics of Kids 6-11, Boys 2-11 and Boys 6-11 with seven of the top 10 broadcast programs.

As the #1 choice for kids, Kids’ WB! continues to reinvent itself and will build upon its powerful 14-hour Monday-Saturday slate by rolling out an “all-new all-year” 12-month schedule. The aggressive campaign will include more than 150 original half-hours with more to be picked up later this year.

In Fall 2002, Kids’ WB!’s Saturday morning schedule welcomes the world’s most famous cowardly canine and his mystery-solving gang with the original “What’s New Scooby-Doo?” animated series and the comedy caper “Ozzy & Drix,” featuring the hilarious bod squad duo who give kids – literally – a microscopic view inside adolescence. The new Saturday line-up also will be highlighted by 52 episodes of the next evolution of the top-rated franchise, “Pokémon: Master Quest,” and more adventures of the returning hits: “Jackie Chan Adventures”; “X-Men: Evolution” and “The Mummy: Secrets of the Medjai.”

In addition to these recently-announced new season pick-ups, the network has ordered 13 episodes of the stunning 3D-CGI animated series “Cubix.” The second season of “Cubix” will introduce new robots and adventures as Connor, Cubix and the gang team up to be the best Botties in Bubble Town – and to take on a new mission: to stop the evil Dr. K from overthrowing the city with his nefarious plans…and most powerful creation. The series is a futuristic story of action, adventure and uncommon friendship.

Building on its #1 weekday line-up, Kids’ WB!’s Monday-Friday slate will be highlighted by the high-adventure hit series “X-Men: Evolution” as the teen mutants struggle to understand their place in the world. The line-up also will include more action-comedy and adventure with “Jackie Chan Adventures,” “Pokémon,” “Rescue Heroes: Global Response Team” and the classic “Scooby-Doo” series.

The new Fall series joining the 2002-2003 schedule include:

• “WHAT’S NEW SCOOBY-DOO?” will bring the meddling kids to the 21st Century as everyone’s favorite Great Dane and his intrepid cohorts – Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred – continue to stumble upon creature-related comedy mysteries. The series will stay true to the classic elements that have made Scooby one of the most beloved shows for more than 30 years, while amping up the suspense, comedy and quality of animation. This comedy from Warner Bros. Animation will feature the timeless and loveable Scooby gang in 13 adventures set in a contemporary world. Kids’ WB! is proud to announce the return of original cast members Casey Kasem and Frank Welker as their alter egos, Shaggy and Fred.

• “OZZY & DRIX,” based on the breakout characters from the feature film “Osmosis Jones,” is an animated inner-body buddy-cop comedy which follows the adventures of white blood cell cop Ozzy and his partner, over-the-counter cold pill Drix, as they defend the City of Hector – the body of a 13-year-old boy. In 13 grossly-funny episodes, Ozzy and Drix will investigate and combat – from the inside – the adolescent viruses of zits, body odor, allergies…and the melodrama that unfolds when a simple soar throat causes a “phlegm”-alanche in the City of Hector.

In the network’s most powerful Summer slate to-date, Kids’ WB! will sizzle with the original Latin-flavored irreverent comedy “¡Mucha Lucha!,” which follows three determined kids as they wrestle through their bizarre world – where Mexican masked wrestling is a way of life. The network’s Saturday morning and weekday schedules will “feel the girl-power” when the Emmy Award-winning feisty “Powerpuff Girls” make their broadcast television debut with all-new episodes and more high-adventure comedy – six days a week – on Kids’ WB! Also joining the line-up is the groundbreaking stop-motion animated series “Phantom Investigators,” featuring the coolest kid private investigators of paranormal phenomena in town. In addition, the Summer schedule will include second season adventures of the returning favorites “Static Shock” and “The Zeta Project.”

Kids’ WB! also announced today the popular animé series “Yu-Gi-Oh!” will go to strip, airing six days a week Monday-Saturday, beginning April 1, 2002. The program, based on the Japanese hit comic book series, will continue to bring to life awesome monsters, fantastical settings and ancient Egyptian legends…the game is on!

The new series to debut in the Summer 2002 schedule is:

“¡MUCHA LUCHA!” is an over-the-top comedy-adventure about honor, family, tradition…and donuts. The series explores the Latino cultural phenomenon known as “Lucha Libre.” In a world where no one removes their colorful mask ever and success depends on having a “signature move,” three mascaritas — Rikochet, Buena Girl and The Flea — study and live the “Code of Masked Wrestling.” This bold comedy combines irreverent humor and visually dynamic fantasy-action in two fast-paced 11-minute episodes and is the first-ever all-flash animated series on broadcast television.