ABC & Facebook Partner on Series Premiere of DANCING WITH THE STARS

ABC and Facebook are partnering to bring real-time social conversations to the television screen, as ABC will be the first entertainment network to integrate Facebook's newest tools for broadcast partners on Primetime television with the season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 (8:00-10:01p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Facebook will be bringing the conversations already taking place about "Dancing with the Stars" online to the TV screen by enabling the audience to see how many people on Facebook are talking about the contestants, where the couples are generating the most buzz, whether they are more popular among males or females, and where their fans live. Real-time conversations about the show from Facebook users will be displayed during the broadcast.

"Being the first entertainment partner to Leverage this new technology exhibits our commitment to producing the best live experience possible," said Marla Provencio, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, ABC Entertainment Group. "We are always looking for ways to innovate and engage our loyal fan base, and feel 'Dancing with the Stars' in particular is the perfect fit to kick off this new initiative."

Added Nick Grudin, Director of Partnerships at Facebook, "Debuting with 'Dancing with the Stars' as our first entertainment partner is a natural fit. From cheering for their favorite contestants to debating judging decisions, the show drives passionate conversation from viewers. Now the TV audience will get a real-time snapshot of the social discourse across the nation."

The new season of "Dancing with the Stars" will feature celebrities Elizabeth Berkley, Corbin Bleu, Brant Daugherty, Bill Engvall, Valerie Harper, Keyshawn Johnson, Christina Milian, Bill Nye, Jack Osbourne, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Leah Remini and Amber Riley.

"Dancing with the Stars" is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green, Ashley Edens-Shaffer and Joe Sungkur are executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs. "Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1.
About Facebook

Founded in 2004, Facebook's mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what's going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them.

About ABC Entertainment Group

Formed in 2009, the ABC Entertainment Group, comprised of ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios, develops and produces compelling programming across all day parts for both national and international broadcast and digital platforms, as well as for national syndication. ABC Studios' current hits include "Army Wives" (Lifetime), "Castle," "Cougar Town" (TBS), "Criminal Minds" (CBS), "Grey's Anatomy," "Nashville," "Once Upon a Time," "Perception" (TNT), "Revenge" and "Scandal." The ABC Television Network is also home to the Emmy-winning "Modern Family" and comedy favorite "The Middle"; reality phenomenon "Shark Tank" and long-running hit "Dancing with the Stars"; "General Hospital," which just celebrated its 50th anniversary on the network, along with daytime talk shows "The View," "Katie" and "The Chew"; and Jimmy Kimmel Live, which successfully launched its new 11:35 p.m. time period earlier this year. The network also boasts some of television's most prestigious awards shows, including The Academy Awards, the Country Music Awards, The American Music Awards and The Billboard Music Awards.

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