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Entertainment Editors/Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2004

NYTimes.com announced today the launch of the "Reader Predictions" sweepstakes as part of its coverage of this year's Tony Awards(R). Those who enjoy the razzle-dazzle of Broadway can test their theater knowledge and predict who will go home with one of the prestigious prizes. Times readers can predict the winners in six categories of the 58th annual Tony Awards(R) for a chance to win a five-night, theater lover's dream vacation for two to London. The prize package, courtesy of Broadway.com, includes roundtrip airfare for two and hotel accommodations at the theater district's Waldorf Hilton London. The randomly selected reader will also receive two tickets to each of two new West End productions: "The Producers" and "The Woman in White."

Results for the "Reader Predictions" poll are posted on NYTimes.com/tonys and updated every 15 minutes to provide a current snapshot of which nominees are leading the race. As of today, NYTimes.com readers had predicted the following winners:

-- Best Play: "I Am My Own Wife" (52%)

-- Best Musical: "Wicked" (67%)

-- Best Actor in a Play: Kevin Kline in "Henry IV" (37%)

-- Best Actress in a Play: Swoosie Kurtz in "Frozen" (41%)

-- Best Actor in a Musical: Hugh Jackman in "The Boy From Oz"

(84%)

-- Best Actress in a Musical: Kristin Chenoweth in "Wicked" (41%)

"We are pleased to offer our readers comprehensive coverage of the Tony Awards(R) as well as the interactivity of 'Reader Predictions,'" said Jason R. Krebs, vice president, sales and marketing, NYTimes.com. "Readers have always trusted The Times for its theater coverage and now they can vote for their Tony favorites, post their own reviews and browse the rich database of theater news, reviews and multimedia features, too."

The launch of the "Reader Predictions" sweepstakes for the Tony Awards(R) builds on the success of the Web site's "Reader Predictions" sweepstakes for the 76th annual Academy Awards(R) this past February. More than 45,000 readers entered the Academy Awards(R) sweepstakes, many of whom accurately predicted the Oscar(R) winners in six major categories.

Additional features available in the Tony Awards section include:

-- Multimedia feature with audio from Times culture reporter

Jesse McKinley, who shares his thoughts on this year's Tony

Awards(R) nominees, including the musical "Wicked," which

received 10 nominations, and "Assassins," which received seven

nominations.

-- Photo galleries of the nominated productions and their

performers, including Kristin Chenoweth who was nominated for

best performance by a leading actress for her role as Glinda

the Good Witch in "Wicked," and Hugh Jackman who was nominated

for best leading actor in a musical for his role as the

charismatic entertainer Peter Allen in "The Boy from Oz."

-- Audio clips of songs from nominated musicals, including "One

Hundred Easy Ways" from "Wonderful Town," "Waiting for the

Light to Shine" from "Big River" and "Sunrise, Sunset" from

"Fiddler on the Roof."

-- Rate and Review, which allows NYTimes.com readers to rate the

Tony-nominated productions, as well as dozens of Broadway, Off

Broadway and Off Off Broadway shows currently in production.

-- Theater Forum allows theatergoers to share their thoughts

about Tony Awards-related questions such as whether Nicole

Kidman's appearance at the awards ceremony will help boost

television ratings, and if "Assassins" should have been

categorized as a revival or a musical.

Relaunched this spring, the theater section of NYTimes.com offers "Critics' Picks" which highlights recommendations and reviews from The Times's esteemed theater critics Ben Brantley and Margo Jefferson. Integrated ticket purchasing and streamlined navigation and search for viewing reviews for Broadway, Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway shows are some of the site's other features. The site also showcases the Hirschfeld Archive, one of the Web's most comprehensive collections of images celebrating the life and works of Al Hirschfeld. Since February, traffic to the theater section has more than tripled to three million pageviews per month and visitors have doubled to more than 500,000 per month.

More than 414,000 readers subscribe to TicketWatch, a free NYTimes.com e-mail with discounted theater and performing arts offers that is sent on a weekly basis to subscribers who have signed up at www.nytimes.com/email. Each e-mail provides a special offer or discount to a specific Broadway or Off Broadway show or performing arts event. The e-mail includes a promotion code to use when ordering tickets by phone or online.

Theater Directory listings are available in print and online. About 80 percent of Broadway shows now use this cost-effective integrated print and online advertising program. Advertisers who place a print advertisement in The New York Times and NYTimes.com theater directories benefit from rate advantages and extended reach of the combined brick and click package.

About New York Times Digital

New York Times Digital is the digital business unit of The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) and includes market leaders NYTimes.com and Boston.com, and an archive distribution business. NYTD's mission is to provide a high-quality, worldwide online audience with trusted editorial content from The New York Times and The Boston Globe.

This press release may be found at www.nytdigital.com and www.nytco.com