Los Angeles, CA ?EApril 16, 2003 ?EDream Stage Entertainment (DSE), home to mixed-martial arts and full-contact sports PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE FC), announced today a number of significant developments at the company. The largest digital satellite television provider in Japan, SKY PerfecTV!, has signed on as a partial owner of the company. Also announced was the promotion of Nobuyuki Sakakibara as DSE's new president, and the 2003-2004 PRIDE FC event schedule -- featuring PRIDE FC's debut in the U.S., in January 2004 in Las Vegas.

"This is a tremendously exciting time for PRIDE FC," said Yukino Kanda, PRIDE FC?? Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Talent Relations. "With a major corporate commitment from SKY PerfecTV!, a new president, a growing fan base, and some first-rate events on the horizon, including the debut in the US - our future looks very bright."

Nobuyuki Sakakibara founded PRIDE FC in 1997 and joined Dream Stage Entertainment in 1999 as chief producer. In the summer of 2002 he was promoted to managing director. Prior to joining DSE, Sabakibara worked for Tokai TV Promotional Co., Ltd. where he produced events including the Tokai Classic" International Golf Tournament and the annual summer music festival "Kai-Yu-Sai."

With a rapidly growing fan base in North America, PRIDE FC is experiencing another banner year. Together with its pay-per-view carriers and partners, PRIDE FC will soon be able to bring the incredible excitement of PRIDE FC to virtually every cable and satellite home in the U.S. and Canada. A new relationship with iN DEMAND PPV, will enable PRIDE FC to reach an additional pay-per-view audience of 28 million. iN DEMAND will begin carrying PRIDE FC events on June 13, 2003.

The tentative schedule of PRIDE Fighting Championships 2003:

June 13th, 2003
PRIDE FC: Bad to the Bone (PRIDE 26)
Featuring: Emelianenko Fedor (Russia, current Heavyweight champion) vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (Japan)
Location: Yokohama Arena
PPV Carriers: iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN Entertainment, UrbanXtra, DishNetwork, Bell ExpressVu, Viewer's Choice Canada

August 10th, 2003
PRIDE FC Middleweight Tournament (elimination rounds)
Location: Saitama Super Arena
PPV Carriers: iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN Entertainment, UrbanXtra, DishNetwork, Bell ExpressVu, Viewer's Choice Canada

Late October ?EEarly November 2003
PRIDE FC Middleweight Tournament (semifinal and final rounds)
Location: Tokyo Dome or Saitama Super Arena
PPV Carriers: iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN Entertainment, UrbanXtra, DishNetwork, Bell ExpressVu, Viewer's Choice Canada

January, 2004
PRIDE FC USA (PRIDE 27)
Location: Las Vegas
PPV Carriers: iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN Entertainment, UrbanXtra, DishNetwork, Bell ExpressVu, Viewer's Choice Canada

March, 2004
PRIDE FC 28
Location: Saitama Super Arena or Yokohama Arena