Japanese Phenomenon Added To Fall Line-up on YTV

San Francisco, CA, August 31, 2005 — VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive manga and animation licensing and publishing companies, will introduce Japan's mega hit NARUTO to Canadian TV audiences on YTV, Canada's #1 Kids' Television Network, beginning September 16, 2005 at 9:30 p.m. The release of NARUTO in Canada marks the third VIZ Media TV series to debut on YTV this year.

Targeting tweens and teens, NARUTO takes place in a world where ninjas hold the ultimate power. Infused with the spirit of a once fearsome nine-tailed fox, Naruto Uzumaki is a ninja-in-training who is learning the art of Ninjutsu with his classmates Sakura and Sasuke. The trio studies under the instruction of their teacher, Kakashi, who helps the group face a series of dangerous and daunting tests and challenges. Through their adventures, the young ninjas learn the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity, and right vs. wrong.

"NARUTO offers an incredibly rich & intricate story line that transports viewers into the dynamic world of ninjas. The story, the exciting characters and the striking animation will leave them both fascinated and spellbound," said John Easum, executive vice president of VIZ Media. "We are excited to offer this hugely successful show to Canada's YTV."

NARUTO was introduced to audiences in Japan in October 2002 on TV TOKYO and is now considered one of the most popular and successful animated shows in Japan's history. The series is co-produced by Shueisha, Inc., PIERROT CO., LTD. and TV TOKYO. It has achieved immense success as a manga and TV title as well as a licensed property for toys, trading card games and videogames. NARUTO makes its TV debut in the U.S. on Cartoon Network this fall.

"We are very pleased to feature NARUTO in our fall line-up and we are confident that Canadian TV viewers will be as enthralled with the show as audiences in Japan and the U.S.," said Phil Piazza, Vice President, Programming, Corus Kids Television."

First introduced into the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999, NARUTO, by revered creator Masashi Kishimoto, quickly became Japan's most popular ninja manga. In 2000, NARUTO was expanded into a series of graphic novels and is currently in its 28th volume, with over 50 million copies sold in total in Japan. Weekly Shonen Jump is published by one of Japan's largest publishers, Shueisha Inc. and is considered the world's most successful comic magazine with almost 3 million copies printed weekly in Japan alone.

About YTV

YTV, Canada's #1 youth network, is seen in over eight million homes across Canada. As a major force in Canadian kids' entertainment, YTV has triggered over $1 billion in Canadian independent production; developed a website that averages over 40 million monthly page views; published a successful kids' magazine, Whoa!; and conducts a highly respected annual survey, The YTV Tween Report. YTV is owned by Corus Entertainment, a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in both specialty TV and Radio. Corus also owns Nelvana Limited, an internationally recognized producer and distributor of children's programming and products. The Company's other interests include music, television broadcasting and advertising services. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) Exchanges. Corus' Web site can be found at www.corusentertainment.com

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.

Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.viz.com.

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