NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 1, 2006--

Ernst & Young LLP and Northrop Grumman Corporation have signed on as new funders of CYBERCHASE, the only animated television series for school-age kids dedicated to building an understanding of math as a tool they can use everyday. The two companies join renewing funders Intel and the National Science Foundation as supporters of the popular series, which is entering its fifth season on PBS KIDS GO!

"CYBERCHASE and its related Web site and outreach have become one of the most successful offerings on PBS KIDS GO!," said Tamara Robinson, vice president and director of programming for Thirteen, the public television station that produces the series. "As that impact has grown, CYBERCHASE has attracted support from corporations and foundations that are committed to the future of math education. We are thrilled that Ernst & Young and Northrop Grumman have joined Intel and NSF to support the fifth season. Their support will help inspire an enthusiasm for math in millions of young people from coast to coast."

Season 5 will continue the adventures of the Cybersquad with a focus on "Math & Inventions" - the theme of new episodes, online games, and outreach activities, including the launch this fall of inventions-based activity kits to be used in children's and science museums nationwide. This multi-media initiative helped attract a roster of funders dedicated to math, science and technology education, including two companies making their first investment in children's television.

"We are excited to sponsor CYBERCHASE as a way to reach young minds and interest them in the power of math," said Deborah K. Holmes, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Ernst & Young LLP.

"Developing math skills among young people is essential not just for our business, which is so closely tied to math and problem solving, but also for America's long-term competitiveness and economic stability. This sponsorship underscores our commitment to math literacy for current and future generations."

"Northrop Grumman's heritage is marked by exploration and innovation, and we are working to help spark children's interest in math and science, the building blocks of discovery," said Sandra Evers-Manly, president, Northrop Grumman Foundation. "Northrop Grumman believes it is in our nation's interest to foster a lifelong enjoyment of math and science in our youngest students. That's why we strongly support CYBERCHASE. This program is an excellent example of how these subjects can be made more relevant to our children."

"At Intel we know that mathematics is the key to the 21st century, unlocking careers in engineering, science, technology and opening the door to the world our children will live in. But that's not enough to engage kids and families. CYBERCHASE puts mathematics into the context of entertaining and engaging problems. My own kids have shown me the value of this show, and we at Intel are delighted to make this accessible to children and families everywhere," said Brenda Musilli, director of worldwide education for Intel.

"NSF is pleased to see new private-sector support of CYBERCHASE," says Valentine Kass, Program Director for Elementary, Secondary & Informal Education at the National Science Foundation. "A unique television series, CYBERCHASE has become a highly successful, multi-platform project that engages children in the joys of math. The series draws on extensive research and evaluation, and reaches a high proportion of girls and minority children. It provides a vital resource in the education of our young people."

Targeting 8- to 11-year-olds, CYBERCHASE features a team of curious kids and their cyberbird pal Digit (Gilbert Gottfried) who outwit the ultimate bad guy - Hacker (Christopher Lloyd) - by using math and problem-solving. The award-winning series appears on more than 340 PBS stations and digital channels across the U.S. and reaches more than five million viewers weekly. CYBERCHASE Online, which engages kids in math games and challenges, recently surpassed 1.3 billion page views. National outreach with partners including Girls Inc., National Engineers Week Foundation and the Children's Museum of Houston brings CYBERCHASE workshops and activities to after-school programs and other informal education settings across America, with special focus on reaching girls and minority children.

CYBERCHASE is produced by Thirteen/WNET New York and Nelvana Limited. Executive producers are Sandra Sheppard, Thirteen's director of children's and educational programming, and Frances Nankin. Ellen Doherty is senior series producer.

Major funding for CYBERCHASE is provided by the National Science Foundation, Ernst & Young LLP, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Intel Corporation, Intel Foundation, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by The Volckhausen Family.

This press release can be found in it's entirety, along with the latest CYBERCHASE news and images for media in the Thirteen Online Pressroom at www.thirteen.org/pressroom (click on the CYBERCHASE logo).

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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