The Military Channel Becomes a USO World Partner

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The USO announced today that the Military Channel, a wholly owned network of Discovery Communications, Inc., has become its newest World Partner with an in-kind donation of services that will help the USO publicize its mission of support to U.S. military personnel around the world.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031119/USO )

Under the scope of the partnership, the Military Channel will air USO public service announcements, produce a series of vignettes about the USO, and support other core USO programs and services.

"We are proud of our partnership with the Military Channel, and we look forward to working with a company that is known for its quality programming around the world," said Edward A. Powell, president and CEO of USO World Headquarters.

In January, Discovery Communications revamped its programming lineup, transforming its Discovery Wings Channel to the Military Channel. While Discovery Wings focused exclusively on aviation, the Military Channel features a dramatically broadened programming mission and an all new on-air look.

The Military Channel also provides information about military personnel and hardware, allowing viewers to experience and understand the human drama, courage, innovation and long-held traditions of the military.

About the USO: For 64 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale and recreation-type services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit organization and is not a government agency. The USO is supported by World Partners Avon Products, Inc., AT&T Corporation, BAE SYSTEMS, Bass Pro Shops, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Computer Systems Center, Inc., The Walt Disney Company, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Military Channel, Morgan Stanley, National Football League, Northwest Airlines, Inc., Reader's Digest, Sara Lee, S & K Sales Company, and The USAA Foundation. Other organizations, including the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC- 0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at http://www.uso.org/.

About Discovery Communications, Inc.: Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. DCI has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 160 countries and territories with over one billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's 60 networks of distinctive programming represent 21 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery HD Theater and FitTV. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education, Discovery.com and 120 Discovery Channel retail stores. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Liberty Media Corporation , Cox Communications, Inc. , Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.