WASHINGTON D.C. - Anne Sweeney, Co-Chairman of Disney Media Networks and President of Disney-ABC Television Group, will give a keynote address at this year's Aspen Summit, the premier annual event hosted by The Progress & Freedom Foundation. Sweeney, named of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" by Forbes magazine, is scheduled to deliver her address on Monday, August 21st, the first full day of the conference. She is the 2 nd prominent media executive to be named a 2006 Aspen Summit keynoter; Viacom and CBS Corp. Chairman Sumner Redstone also will speak at the event.

"The intersection of media and technology is at the center of every current Internet policy debate," said PFF President Ray Gifford, "and nobody understands that better than Anne Sweeney. We are thrilled that she will be joining us in Aspen and sharing her thoughts with our audience of policymakers, executives and academics."

"Disney continues to play a central role in entertainment and news not only in the United States but worldwide," Sweeney said. "In the digital era we have been a leader in embracing new methods of distribution and consumption of our unique, family-friendly content. I’m excited about participating in a Summit known for its collection of forward-looking digital economy leaders."

Sweeney, named the "Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment" by Hollywood Reporter, overseas Disney's entertainment and news properties, including ABC Television Network, consisting of ABC Entertainment, ABC Kids, ABC Daytime and ABC News; Touchstone Television; and Disney ABC Cable Networks Group, which includes Toon Disney, SOAPnet, ABC Family and Jetix. Sweeney is also responsible for Walt Disney Television Animation, Buena Vista Worldwide Television and Walt Disney Television International, and has responsibility for managing Disney's equity interests in Lifetime Entertainment Services, A&E Television Networks and E! Entertainment Networks.

Prior to joining The Walt Disney Company in 1996, Sweeney spent three years as Chairman and CEO of FX Networks, Inc. and twelve years at Nickelodeon in various positions. Sweeney has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 2004 Muse Award from New York Women in Film & Television, the 2002 Women in Film's Lucy Award, the Cable Television's Public Affairs Association's President's Award, and numerous awards from the Women in Cable & Communications. She was also inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable "Hall of Fame" in 2005 and the American Advertising Federation's Advertising Hall of Achievement in 1996.

Anne Sweeney will join other high caliber keynote speakers at the 12th annual PFF Aspen Summit. They include the aforementioned Sumner Redstone; FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein; Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras; and Richard C. Notebaert, Chairman and CEO of Qwest Communications International Inc.

This year's Aspen Summit will offer discussion panels on a full range of pertinent topics, including intellectual property, e-commerce, communications, and media regulation. This year's event will also include a public policy luncheon panel, with panelists comprised of Congressional Committee staff and officials from various federal agencies. More information on panel topics and participants can be found on online agenda.

The 2006 PFF Aspen Summit will be held at the St. Regis Hotel in Aspen, Colorado. Registration can be performed online. Members of the media have their registration waived and should contact Amy Smorodin at asmorodin@pff.org or (202)289-8928.

The Progress & Freedom Foundation is a market-oriented think tank that studies the digital revolution and its implications for public policy. It is a 501(c)(3) research & educational organization.