MTV, VH1, and CMT Launch Hurricane Katrina Relief Campaign
01 September 2005 - 10:19AM
PR Newswire (US)
Live Multi-Artist, Multi-Genre, Multi-Platform Special NEW YORK,
Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV, VH1, and CMT today announced the first
stage of an ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief campaign -- a
multi-artist, multi-genre, multi-platform live performance special
set to air across all three networks on Saturday, September 10th.
The special will seek to raise much needed funds for The American
Red Cross and similar organizations as they continue their relief
efforts. The campaign will also seek to activate the diverse
audiences across MTV, VH1, and CMT to drive volunteerism,
donations, and general awareness. "In the face of a tragedy of this
scope, we simply have to do everything in our power to offer
support, comfort and hope to all the people directly impacted by
the hurricane. This is always the first and best instinct of all
our millions of viewers, and the artists we know so well. If we can
offer a platform to contribute in some meaningful way, all of our
MTV Networks brands will be there," said Judy McGrath, Chair and
CEO, MTV Networks. "Our goal is to join forces on every medium to
get involved, to volunteer, to contribute in any way we can."
"There's been an outpouring of support and concern and a desire to
help from the artist community, our audiences and our employees. We
feel fortunate to be able to provide a forum to channel all of this
energy and good will and to let the people in the affected states
know that we're there for them," said Van Toffler, President MTV
Networks Music Group. "Many of the artists across our channels are
from the affected areas and have a strong connection to the south.
We are looking to activate every hip-hop, rock, country, R&B,
and pop music fan out there to get involved and help support the
relief efforts." The ongoing relief campaign will kick off with a
live programming block from locations in New York, Los Angeles,
Atlanta and Nashville featuring Ludacris, Green Day, Gretchen
Wilson, Usher, Alicia Keys, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews Band,
Rob Thomas, David Banner, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, and
more. The special will feature performances from country, pop,
rock, and hip-hop artists and will be simulcast across all three
networks, as well as MTV2, mtvU, VH1 Classic, plus MTV Overdrive
and VSpot, the broadband video networks. Additional details will be
announced shortly. Starting immediately, all CMT, VH1, and MTV
platforms will begin an awareness campaign to provide information
to viewers on how to get involved and participate in the relief
efforts. Viewers and users will be directed to web sites and
numbers where they can make donations of money, clothing,
equipment, and anything else that may help the affected areas MTV
News also announced today that it will air a special on the
hurricane relief efforts which will also air on Saturday, September
10th and feature news correspondents Gideon Yago, Sway Calloway,
and SuChin Pak filing from the hardest hit areas. mtvU also
announced today that it will be partnering with its nearly 7
million college students, national fraternities and sororities,
other student organizations and Urban Outfitters to mobilize
clothing drives, donations and volunteer relief efforts. mtvU will
also continue to broadcast special features from the universities
most affected by the hurricane, and will highlight the relief work
of the thousands of college students who have been displaced and
cannot return to their schools. Viacom, MTV Networks parent
company, is making a $1,000,000 cash contribution to the American
Red Cross Disaster Relief Effort and is also instituting a
worldwide employee matching gift program for employee donations.
For any donation made by a Viacom employee to the American Red
Cross Disaster Relief Effort, Viacom will match the amount, over
and above the company's direct cash contribution. Additionally,
Viacom's other media properties, including BET, CBS, and UPN, as
well as Infinity Broadcasting and Viacom Outdoor have a variety of
support efforts underway ranging from special programming, to the
donation of significant air time for public service announcements
for the American Red Cross and other organizations that are
coordinating relief and fundraising efforts. Local television,
radio and outdoor operations are also involved in organizing and
supporting community-based relief efforts. The total value of these
efforts including donated airtime and ad space is estimated to
total tens of millions of dollars overall. The American Red Cross
is asking people to help by making an online contribution to the
Disaster Relief Fund at http://www.redcross.org/ or by calling
1-800-HELP-NOW to donate, signing up with a local chapter to
volunteer or making a blood donation. MTV Networks, a division of
Viacom International Inc. (NYSE:VIANYSE:VIA.B), owns and operates
the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC
TELEVISION, MTV2, mtvU, VHI, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY
CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, MTV INTERNATIONAL and THE
DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 12 digital services,
all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has
licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby
all of its programming services can be seen worldwide. DATASOURCE:
MTV CONTACT: Graham James, +1-212-846-8911, , or Ariana Urbont,
+1-310-752-8079, , or Jeannie Kedas, +1-212-846-4629, , all of MTV;
or Brett Henne of VH1, +1-212-846-6752, ; or Cindy McLean,
+1-615-335-8404, , or Lisa Chader, +1-615-335-8405, , both of CMT
for MTV Web site: http://www.mtv.com/ http://www.redcross.org/
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