Viacom Adds The Daily Buzz in Three of its Top Ten Television Markets

Viacom Adds The Daily Buzz in Three of its Top Ten Television Markets

- Viacom Renews The Daily Buzz at Eight Television Stations -

- The Daily Buzz Now Airs in Five of the Nation's Top Ten Markets -

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Emmis Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:EMMS) and ACME Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACME) today announced that Viacom Television Stations Group has inked a deal with the morning news program, The Daily Buzz, that will expand its current partnership to include WSBK in Boston, WUPA in Atlanta and WKBD in Detroit. They join eight other UPN stations already carrying the program: KTXA in Dallas, KSTW in Seattle, WTOG in Tampa, WTVX in West Palm Beach, WGNT in Norfolk, WUPL in New Orleans, KAUT in Oklahoma City, and WLWC in Providence.

With the addition of these three stations, and three other recent additions (KNVA-WB50 in Austin, KTVE in Las Vegas, and WBQC in Cincinnati), the Daily Buzz will be seen in a total of 140 markets, clearing over 41% of the country. Beginning this fall, the program will air in five of the top ten markets in the country.

Dave Ward, Senior Vice President of Programming & Marketing for Emmis Television, said, "More and more stations are picking up The Daily Buzz because it creates opportunities to add a morning news program on an economically viable basis, which attracts revenue categories not normally available to some stations -- such as political. The Daily Buzz provides a local news identity, builds a loyal viewer base and reduces the stations' reliance on paid programming."

Doug Gealy, Chief Operating Officer of ACME Communications, commented, "We are pleased to renew the eight Viacom stations, while expanding our partnership to include these three top-ten markets. We are clearly gaining momentum as major station groups increasingly recognize the value we bring to their morning line-ups. We are honored that Viacom shares our vision and look forward to working with these stations as we enter our fourth season."

The Daily Buzz viewers get a refreshing change of pace from the typical news programs. "We give our viewers the news of the day, but do it with a style that resonates with our key demographic. We want to inform without being boring," said Executive Producer Troy McGuire. But even though The Daily Buzz is known for having fun with the day's headlines and hot topics, it is backed by two of the most trusted names in news -- CNN and the Associated Press.

In January 2004, ACME and Emmis formed a 50/50 joint venture to produce The Daily Buzz, which runs from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and is targeted at a younger audience than traditional morning news shows.

Emmis Communications -- Great Media, Great People, Great Service(R)

Emmis Communications is an Indianapolis-based diversified media firm with radio broadcasting, television broadcasting and magazine publishing operations. Emmis has announced its intent to seek strategic alternatives for its television assets, and recently announced it has signed definitive agreements to sell 9 of them. Emmis Television's 16 stations include: WKCF-TV, WB 18 in Orlando, FL; KOIN-TV, CBS 6 in Portland, OR; WVUE-TV, FOX 8 in New Orleans; KRQE-TV, CBS 13 in Albuquerque, NM; WSAZ-TV, NBC 3 in Huntington/Charleston, WV; WALA-TV FOX 10 and WBPG-TV WB 55 in Mobile, AL/Pensacola, FL; KSNW-TV, NBC 3 in Wichita, KS; WLUK-TV, FOX 11 in Green Bay, WI; KGUN-TV, ABC 9 in Tucson, AZ; KGMB-TV, CBS 9 and KHON-TV, FOX 2 in Honolulu; KMTV-TV, CBS 3 in Omaha, NE; WFTX-TV, FOX 4 in Ft. Myers, FL; KSNT-TV, NBC 27 in Topeka, KS; and WTHI-TV, CBS 10 in Terre Haute, IN.

About ACME Communications, Inc.

ACME Communications, Inc. owns and operates nine television stations serving markets covering 3.7% of the nation's television households, making the Company the fourth largest affiliate group of The WB Television Network. The Company's stations are: KUWB-TV, Salt Lake City, UT; KWBQ-TV and KASY-TV, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM; WBDT-TV, Dayton, OH; WBXX-TV, Knoxville, TN; WIWB- TV, Green Bay-Appleton, WI; WBUI-TV, Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, IL; WTVK- TV, Ft. Myers-Naples, FL and WBUW-TV, Madison, WI. All of the Company's stations, except KASY-TV, a UPN affiliate, are WB Network affiliates. ACME's shares are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol: ACME.

Source: Emmis Communications Corporation; ACME Communications, Inc.

CONTACT: Dave Ward, SVP of Programming and Marketing of Emmis TV, +1-407-670-3025, ward@emmis.com

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