"THE CHRIS MATTHEWS SHOW" RENEWED IN MORE THAN 90% OF THE COUNTRY FOR IT'S FOURTH SEASON IN SYNDICATION

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -April 4, 2005- NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution's hit weekend political series"The Chris Matthews Show" has been renewed in more than 90% of the country for the 2005-2006 season, it was announced today by NBC Universal Television Distribution President Barry Wallach.

The program, which is produced by NBC News, has been renewed for a fourth season on the NBC owned and operated stations, as well as on stations from the Hearst-Argyle, Gannett, Scripps, Belo, Raycom, Young and several other major station groups.

Since debuting in the fall of 2002, "The Chris Matthews Show" has improved its national HH rating average by 39%, according to Nielsen Media Research. Nationally, "The Chris Matthews Show" is up 5% from last season. It is the only weekend political series that has risen in the ratings from the previous year.

"'The Chris Matthews Show' has become a weekend staple," says Wallach. "It continues to attract more viewers each year and we look forward to many more seasons of watching Chris and his panel of accomplished journalists debate everything from politics to pop culture."

Matthews is dramatically improving time periods and topping rival Washington-based weekend news programs on local stations throughout the country. On WCVB-TV Boston, the show has improved the station's Sunday 11:30 a.m. time period by 35%, it has improved WTVJ -TV Miami's Sunday 7:30 a.m. slot by 37%, WISN-TV Milwaukee's Sunday at 9 a.m. slot by 71% and WGRZ-TV Buffalo's Sunday 10 a.m. time period by nearly 75%.

During the recently completed February sweep, "The Chris Matthews Show" topped CBS' "Face The Nation," FOX's " Fox News Sunday," and ABC's "This Week" in New York, and Washington D.C. and many other top markets. It also beat ABC's "This Week" in Boston, Miami, Washington D.C. and more than a dozen other major markets.

"The Chris Matthews Show" is produced by NBC News and distributed in national syndication by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. Nancy Nathan is the executive producer.

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