Comedy legends Abbott & Costello, sportscaster Marty Brennaman, ABC White House correspondent Ann Compton, football commentator Myron Cope, and humorist Jean Shepherd to be inducted later this Fall.

Chicago (August 8, 2005) - A group of six national and local radio celebrities representing politics, sports, humor and classic comedy will be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame during a nationally broadcast ceremony Saturday, November 5, 2005, National Radio Hall of Fame president Bruce DuMont announced today.

The inductees are:

• The legendary comedy team of Abbott & Costello (the late Bud Abbott and the late Lou Costello)
• Marty Brennaman, Cincinnati Reds broadcaster
• Ann Compton, ABC News Radio White House correspondent
• Myron Cope, Pittsburgh Steelers color commentator
• The late Jean Shepherd, radio humorist

"The National Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2005 personifies radio's unique ability to inform, engage, entertain, and delight generations of audiences over diverse programming formats," said DuMont, who also is president of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. "We're pleased to welcome this year's inductees. Each has made a significant contribution to the medium of radio, and their names will be enshrined for future generations to acknowledge, both in the new Museum of Broadcast Communications and online."

The Museum of Broadcast Communications, home to the National Radio Hall of Fame, is in the midst of a major capital fundraising project to convert its building at State and Kinzie Streets to a new, state-of-the-art, 70,000 square-foot museum featuring working radio and television studios and other interactive exhibits and entertainment space showcasing broadcasting's leading personalities. The new MBC will be the first public museum in the nation built to a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard. Construction is under way and the new museum is scheduled to open in late summer 2006.

Westwood One will produce and distribute nationally the special one-hour radio broadcast of the ceremony. The national broadcast will be heard on WABC/New York, WGN and WLS in Chicago and other major stations from coast-to-coast.

Inductees were selected through a national balloting process that included participation by radio executives, broadcast historians and members of the National Radio Hall of Fame. Ballots were tabulated and certified by the firm of Altschuler, Melvoin and Glasser LLP/American Express Tax and Business Services. Travel and promotional support is being provided by American Airlines and the Renaissance Chicago Hotel.

About the National Radio Hall of Fame

The National Radio Hall of Fame recognizes and showcases contemporary talent from today's diverse programming formats as well as the pioneers who shaped the medium during its infancy. For more information, visit www.radiohof.org.

Tickets to the National Radio Hall of Fame November 5 black-tie induction dinner at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel may be purchased online at www.radiohof.org.

Note to Editors:
View biographical information on the 2005 National Radio Hall of Fame inductees.

Biographical information on the 2005 National Radio Hall of Fame inductees is attached. Photos of inductees are available by contacting Sara Conley, Public Communications Inc. at 312/558-1770 or by e-mail: sconley@pcipr.com.