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CALIFORNIA'S ALIYA DERI WINS GSN'S SECOND ANNUAL 'NATIONAL VOCABULARY CHAMPIONSHIP' FINALS

For Immediate Release

(Photos available at www.gsn.com/nvc)

CALIFORNIA'S ALIYA DERI WINS GSN'S SECOND ANNUAL 'NATIONAL VOCABULARY CHAMPIONSHIP' FINALS

(Los Angeles, CA) - Monday, March 10, 2008 - Aliya Deri, a 16-year-old junior at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, CA, outperformed 49 of the country's brightest high school vocabulary scholars today, winning GSN's second annual NATIONAL VOCABULARY CHAMPIONSHIP (NVC) FINALS. As the 2008 National Vocabulary Champion, Deri won $40,000 deposited into a "529" higher education savings plan. Select video coverage of the live competition, which took place at The Music Box Theatre @ Fonda in Los Angeles earlier today, can be found at www.gsn.com/nvc.

A national academic competition launched by GSN (Game Show Network) in 2006, the NVC was created to promote language arts skills and encourage vocabulary programs in high schools nationwide. More than a traditional "spelling bee," the NVC challenges high school students with a variety of word-play games focused on word usage and comprehension. Over 100,000 students took part in the 2007-2008 NVC competition, more than triple the number of last year's participants. The NVC has also received numerous accolades from some of the country's most noted dignitaries including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Vice President Al Gore. In total, it has awarded close to $190,000 in tuition and grant monies.

Along with the NVC's educational partner The Princeton Review, who provided the study materials and testing/game content for the NVC, today's event was presented in partnership with Cablevision's Power to Learn, Charter Communications, Comcast and Time Warner Cable.

"We'd like to thank everyone involved in this year's NVC, especially our affiliate partners, who helped champion this important initiative in communities nationwide, and The Princeton Review," commented Dennis Gillespie, GSN's Senior Vice President of Distribution. "It's been our privilege to see such competitive young minds like those here today flourish over the last year and we congratulate Aliya on her fine achievement."

After two intense rounds of competition, Deri sealed her victory in the third and final round by correctly identifying "peccadillo" as having come from the Latin word for "sin" in the following sentence:

"Joseph was not perturbed by his pal's peccadillo, but his parents apprehended it to be an unambiguous portent of future dereliction."

The knock-out-style round of vocabulary questions had begun with five finalists, of which 17 year-old NVC returnee Matthew Chao (East Brunswick, NJ) and 17 year-old Janice Chen (Troy, MI) placed second and third, respectively. Craig Watson, Vice President of Communications for Charter Communications, Jeff Hirsch, President Metro Division, Time Warner Cable, The Princeton Review's Christine Parker, and NVC host Dylan Lane presented Deri's trophy and check, crowning her this year's National Vocabulary Champion.

"The Princeton Review wants to congratulate all the students who have advanced to the Finals. We are proud to be a part of this event and that our study materials have helped them achieve this success," said Rob Franek, VP Publishing of The Princeton Review.

One of the 42 students to earn a spot at the NVC Finals via the program's online exam and in-person regional exam, Deri (daughter of Robert and Chandan) is no stranger to academic competition. In 2005, she placed second at the Scripps National Spelling Bee and placed nationally in a variety of other regional, state, and national competitions. An avid reader in her free time, Deri also plays the piano, violin, and viola. In addition, she competes on her high school's water polo and swim teams.

"I'm extremely surprised. I honestly didn't think I'd make it this far. And then to win," said an exuberant Deri upon her victory. "If anyone wants to win this, start reading. Start now; that's how you learn."

For her victory, Deri will also receive a copy of The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, a "one year supply" of burritos from Chipotle Mexican Grill, Encyclopedia Britannica's 2008 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD as well as their Concise Encyclopedia and 2008 Almanac, $500 in online credit redeemable for merchandise at Mead.com and a new Sony Vaio® SZ Series Notebook.

As today's second-place winner, Chao will receive $2,500 deposited into a "529" higher education savings plan and $2,500 in study materials/services from The Princeton Review. For her third-place finish, Chen will be awarded $500 toward her own "529" higher education savings plan as well as $500 in study materials/services from The Princeton Review.

Embraced by students, teachers, higher education officials and education groups including the National Education Association, the NVC is also supported by sponsors The American Heritage® Dictionary, Chipotle, Encyclopedia Britannica, Mead, Sony Vaio®, USA Today and Youth Service America. As the 2007-2008 NVC transportation sponsor, JetBlue Airways provided roundtrip airfare to and from Los Angeles for the contestants and their guests.

Photos of the 50 NVC finalists, along with more information about the National Vocabulary Championship and video of the event, can be found at www.gsn.com/nvc.

About the "National Vocabulary Championship"

GSN's National Vocabulary Championship (NVC) is a nationwide academic competition that offers high school students the opportunity to win money toward college tuition through local and national events. Created by GSN, along with educational partner The Princeton Review, the NVC is open to eligible high school students in the 50 United States and District of Columbia. The NVC is the cornerstone of GSN's award-winning "Win With Words" public service campaign dedicated to improving language arts skills in high schools by promoting the value of an enhanced vocabulary, providing free Princeton Review study materials and engaging students in wordplay. For free vocabulary study materials or for more information on GSN's National Vocabulary Championship, please visit www.gsn.com/nvc.



About The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review is a pioneer in the world of education. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in New York City, the Company offers private tutoring and classroom and online test preparation to help students improve their scores in college and graduate school admissions tests. The Company's free website, www.PrincetonReview.com, helps over half of university-bound students research, apply to, prepare for, and learn how to pay for their higher education, and helps hundreds of colleges and universities streamline their admissions and recruiting activities. In addition, The Princeton Review works with school districts around the U.S. to measurably strengthen students' academic skills by connecting ongoing assessment with professional development and instruction and by providing districts with college and career resources for both students and guidance counselors. The Company also authors more than 200 print and software titles on test preparation, college and graduate school selection and admissions, and related topics. 


About GSN
GSN is a trusted industry-leading game content provider that distributes game show programming through its 68-million subscriber television network and its casual and online competitive entertainment games site, GSN.com. As the premier television network for games, GSN encourages its viewers to play every day by putting winning within reach for everyone by inviting them to participate and play along through popular original game shows, free downloadable games and skill cash game tournaments. GSN is distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada by all major cable operators, satellite providers and telcos. The company is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.

Media Contact: Cindy Ronzoni, GSN 310.255.6933/ cronzoni@gsn.com

- GSN '08 -

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