Chantilly, VA – The Women in Cable & Telecommunications (WICT) Foundation today announced the results of the 2004 PAR Initiative. Conducted in partnership with Working Mother Media, the PAR Initiative measures the advancement of women in three key areas: Pay Equity, Advancement Opportunities, and Resources for work/life support. 32 companies participated in the 2004 PAR Initiative; 20 of these 32 companies participated in both 2003 and 2004.

“In just one year, we’ve seen change in our industry as a result of the PAR Initiative,” said Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, WICT President and CEO. “It is a testament to the industry’s commitment to diversity that more companies participated this year and that those who participated in both years made such bold steps to address the areas of improvement identified in the 2003 PAR Initiative. While the numbers show that we have taken significant steps, they also highlight areas where substantial improvement is still needed.”

Additionally, WICT today named the winners of the 2004 Forerunner Accolades, given to the Best Programmer for Women in Cable and the Best Operator for Women in Cable. Cox Communications, Inc is the 2004 recipient of the Forerunner Accolade for the Best Operator for Women in Cable. Discovery Communications, Inc. is the 2004 recipient of the Forerunner Accolade for the Best Programmer for Women in Cable. The Forerunner Accolades will be presented at the 20th Annual WICT Foundation Benefit Gala on Wednesday, November 3, 2004, at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C.

"I am honored that WICT has named Discovery Communications as the Best Programmer for Women. We are committed to creating a work environment that encourages women to reach leadership positions within the industry. I am convinced that providing balanced leadership that strengthens the working environment for women is not only common sense, it is good business sense," said Judith A. McHale, President and CEO, Discovery Communications, Inc.

“The Cox culture embodies a diversity of people, ideas and perspectives that are reflective of the communities we serve,” said Jim Robbins, President and CEO of Cox Communications. “We offer employees innovative programs, training and benefits that encourage both flexibility and accountability, and continually monitor our progress in fostering an inclusive environment.”

Some of the key findings of the PAR Initiative:

• Women account for over 38% of the employee population at participating companies, and 38.4% of all managers. Compared to 2003, the percentage of women as employees of cable companies remained stable, while the percent of managers increased from 29% in 2003 to 38.4% in 2004. The addition of the category of “first line supervisors” at this level turned out to have a 40% proportion of women, which helped to increase the numbers.
• Women of color account for 13.5% of all cable employees and 8.55% of all managers. Similarly, the number of women of color cable employees remained stable (13% in 2003, 13.5% in 2004) but women of color managers increased from 6.5% in 2003 to 8.55% in 2004.
• The percent of women middle managers increased from 19.7% in 2003 to 34.1% in 2004.
• The representation of women at the senior level of management stayed nearly level: 27% in 2003; 26.6% in 2004. In the industry, women of color gained at the senior level: 2.9% of all senior executives in 2003; 3.4% in 2004.
• In 2003, 65% of companies had no formal pay equity policy. In 2004, 40% had no formal pay equity policy. In 2004, only 5% of companies conduct no internal pay equity surveys.
• 85% of companies provide leadership training for mid-level and high ranking women. 80% provide leadership training for entry-level women
• 50% of companies offer formal mentoring company wide; 25 % offer formal mentoring only at company headquarters.
• 80% of companies offer flextime (70% in 2003)
• 50% offer full-time telecommuting (50% in 2003)
• 55% offer career track part time positions (45% in 2003)
• 50% offer job sharing (55% in 2003)
• 75% offer elder care referral (55% in 2003)

Released with the results of the PAR Initiative were the Best Companies for Women in Cable lists. WICT released five lists; the Best Operators for Women in Cable; the Best Programmers for Women in Cable; and the Best Companies for Women in Cable in each of the three categories measured by the PAR Initiative – Pay Equity, Advancement Opportunities and Resources for Work/Life Support.

Best Operators for Women in Cable

• Advance/Newhouse Communications
• Comcast Cable
• Cox Communications, Inc.
• Time Warner Cable
• Wide Open West Internet and Cable

Best Programmers for Women in Cable

• Discovery Communications, Inc.
• Home Box Office
• Lifetime Television
• Oxygen Media
• The Weather Channel

Best Companies for Women in Cable-Pay Equity*

• Discovery Communications, Inc.
• Lifetime Television
• Oxygen Media
• Scripps Networks
• Starz Encore Group
• The Weather Channel

Best Companies for Women in Cable-Advancement Opportunities

• Cox Communications, Inc.
• Discovery Communications, Inc.
• Oxygen Media
• Starz Encore Group
• Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Best Companies for Women in Cable-Resources for Work/Life Support

• Cox Communications, Inc.
• Discovery Communications, Inc.
• Home Box Office
• Time Warner Cable
• Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

*All lists are presented in alphabetical order. Order of appearance does not signify results of the PAR Initiative. Copies of these lists as well as the other PAR Initiative materials are available at www.wict.org. Six companies appear on the Pay Equity list because of a tie.

Several components were released today to provide a greater understanding of the results of the PAR Initiative. These components include an executive summary and a PAR Initiative brochure, which includes the five Best Companies lists, an Industry Scorecard and best practices from those companies making the lists. A prescriptive, which provides information and resources for companies, can also be found at www.wict.org. Additionally, each participating company received a confidential scorecard that allows them to compare their own results to the industry averages. The PAR Prescriptive provides a variety of resources to participating companies, categorized by the areas of P, A and R, which will assist with their efforts to grow and improve in these areas.

About the WICT Gala
The 20th Annual WICT Foundation Benefit Gala will be held Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at the Hilton Washington. This year's Benefit Gala theme, " 25 Years of Creating Leaders. Together." upholds the WICT Foundation's role as a catalyst for change through research, development, advocacy and education and provides the opportunity for companies to show their support of the WICT mission to develop women leaders who transform our industry. The evening will also include the presentation of the 2004 Accolade awards. The 20th Annual WICT Foundation Benefit Gala is presented by the WICT Leadership Circle; Cox Communications, Comcast, MTV Networks, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications. For more information or to purchase a gala table, please visit www.wict.org.

About the WICT Foundation
The WICT Foundation is responsible for the advocacy initiatives of Women in Cable & Telecommunications (WICT), the oldest and largest professional association serving women in the cable and telecommunications industry. The WICT Foundation serves as a catalyst for industry change through research, development, advocacy and education. Its current effort, the PAR Initiative, measures and supports the advancement of industry women against the following standards: Pay Equity, Advancement Opportunities and Resources for Work/Life Support. Groundbreaking programs such as the PAR Initiative, and other WICT Foundation research on issues such as work/life balance and the business case for gender diversity, have inspired industry-wide advancements for women.

About Working Mother Media
Working Mother Media is a leading authority on women’s issues whose research has become a benchmark for businesses learning to implement work/family initiatives. Working Mother Media has released the groundbreaking list of 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers for the past 19 years and the Best Companies for Executive Women list for the past five years. The WICT Foundation’s collaboration with Working Mother Media ensures that the PAR Initiative survey findings will be valid, objective and confidential.