GREAT OUTDOOR GAMES AUDIENCE UP 37%

GREAT OUTDOOR GAMES AUDIENCE UP 37% LARGEST SINGLE TELECAST AUDIENCE IN GOG HISTORY

ESPN's Great Outdoor Games V, held July 8-11, enjoyed a banner year in its new home, Madison, Wis. The Games feature more than 200 athletes competing in 23 categories in Timber Events, Fishing, Target Sports and Sporting Dogs. The successes included total television audience, single telecast audience, average telecast audience and on-site attendance:

* The total television audience on ESPN and ABC was 37% larger than last year and the most ever in the event's five-year history. Overall, 35,762,000 people watched at least a portion of the 15 original telecasts, compared to 26,053,000 in 2003.

* The Games enjoyed its biggest audience ever for a single telecast. ABC's broadcast on July 18 earned a 1.9 rating, representing an average of 2,075,000 households.

* The average telecast audience was 16% larger than last year. The 15 programs averaged 615,000 homes, up from 531,000 in 2003. That includes a hefty 63% increase among men 18-34 - 141,000 impressions, up from 86,000.

* A new attendance record was set, with 68,424 fans seeing the competition first hand.