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Entertainment

Comcast Extends Deal with Ted Harbert to Retain the President & CEO, Comcast Entertainment Group Through 2016

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, today announced that Comcast Entertainment Group President, CEO Ted Harbert has extended his current deal for five more years at the helm of the company's West Coast entertainment properties through 2016.  Comcast Entertainment Group includes E! Entertainment Television, The Style Network, G4, Comcast International Media Group and Comcast Entertainment Productions. 

"Ted has guided each of our entertainment brands to record-breaking growth in ratings and revenue over the past five years," said Jeff Shell, President of Comcast's Programming Group. "I am thrilled Ted will remain on board to ensure our success well into this decade." 

Said Harbert, "I love this job because our brands are great and I love working for the smart and honest people at Comcast. I lead a team of outstanding creative and business executives who are at the top of their game and are continuing to expand our entertainment brands in an ever-changing and challenging global media environment.  I look forward to continuing what we've started while seeking out new and exciting opportunities." 

Harbert leads the executive team that oversees the ongoing growth and development of the company's flagship network E! Entertainment Television, now in 97 million homes, as well as Style, the women's lifestyle network, and G4, the premiere multi-platform destination for men 18-34.   Under Harbert's leadership, E!, Style and G4 delivered their most-watched year ever in 2009 for the fifth year in a row.  During his tenure, Harbert has brought on board key talent, including Ryan Seacrest, and the networks have launched many hit series, including Chelsea Lately, The Soup, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kendra, The Girls Next Door, Ruby and Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane.  Harbert also continues to oversee the record-breaking growth of G4's signature series Attack of the Show and X-Play. 

Comcast Entertainment Group's non-linear properties, including E! Online, Mystyle.com and G4tv.com, are also showing tremendous growth, along with the networks' mobile offerings such as E! Mobile, which currently ranks as the #1 most-visited entertainment mobile site.  In addition, Harbert leads the ongoing expansion of the networks internationally.  E! content is currently available in 177 countries reaching a billion homes around the globe.  Style recently launched in its 17th territory and content from G4, Versus and Golf is sold around the world by Comcast International Media Group. 

Longtime television executive Harbert first joined E! Networks in summer 2004 as President, E! Entertainment Television, and was named President, CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group in 2006.  Harbert previously served as President of NBC Studios, with responsibility for the development and production of all NBC-owned programming for all dayparts.  He spent the first 20 years of his career with ABC, ultimately serving as Chairman of ABC Entertainment.  Harbert has also served as a producer at 20th Century Fox Television and DreamWorks SKG.  Harbert is President of the Board of the Friends of the Saban Free Clinic, a Board member of City Year LA, the Paley Center of Media, the Hollywood Radio and Television Society and the Executive Committee of Boston University's School of Communications where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. 

About Comcast Entertainment Group

Based in Los Angeles, Comcast Entertainment Group operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment, and E! Online; The Style Network, the destination for women 18-49 with a passion for the best in relatable, inspiring and transformational lifestyle programming; and G4, offering the last word on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity and "geek culture" for the male 18-34 demo.  E! is currently available to 97 million cable and satellite subscribers in the U.S. and the E! Everywhere initiative underscores the company's dedication to making E! content available on all new media platforms any time and anywhere from online to broadband video to wireless to radio to VOD.  The Style Network currently counts 66 million cable and satellite subscribers and G4 is available in 67 million cable and satellite homes nationwide.