MTV Video Music Awards Returns to New York City in 2006

VMAs Set to Hit Music Fans With Biggest Party of the Year Live August 31, 2006 at 8pm (ET/PT)

2006 VMAs to Live on MTV, MTV2, mtvU, mtvUber, MTV.com, MTV Overdrive, Wireless, and More

NEW YORK, March 22 -- Christina Norman, President, MTV, today announced that the "2006 MTV Video Music Awards" will return to New York City. The 23rd annual awards show will air live from Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, August 31st at 8PM (ET/PT). The return of the VMAs marks the 13th time that the star studded music awards show will be held in New York City and the 10th time at the Radio City Music Hall. Host, performers, nominees, and presenters for the "2006 MTV Video Music Awards" will be announced soon.

The 2006 VMAs will be a multi-screen experience for fans that will live and breathe on every single MTV platform -- MTV, MTV2, mtvU, mtvUber, MTV.com, MTV Overdrive, wireless, and more! More details on the VMAs' multi-screen elements will be announced shortly.

"The VMAs are always the biggest party of the year and in 2006 we will take the show to unprecedented levels with fans interacting with music and stars through every single screen of MTV," said Norman. "The 2006 VMAs will take advantage of the new ways the MTV audience is connecting with entertainment -- broadband, wireless, online -- these additional platforms will make this year's show even more interactive and engaging, beaming the insanity directly to fans."

"New York City is our hometown and we are really looking to showcase the music, culture, and people from every borough of this amazing city on TV, online, broadband, and wireless to fans around the globe," Norman continued.

"We are proud that MTV has made New York City its home for the past 25 years, and once again has selected the Big Apple as host for the 23rd Annual MTV Video Music Awards," said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "An event of this magnitude and cultural importance will generate tremendous media exposure and with the thousands of visitors expected will yield a positive economic impact projected in excess of $25 million."

"We welcome the MTV Video Music Awards back to world's most powerful and commanding stage," said NYC Big Events President, Maureen J. Reidy. With New York City's passion and enthusiasm and our planned celebrations, this year is sure to be the best ever."

Utilizing the well-established business model created by NYC Big Events, a series of events and promotions is being planned for the months and weeks leading up to the live telecast. Extending far beyond the walls of Radio City Music Hall, all New Yorkers and visitors alike will have the opportunity to participate in special MTV performances, exhibits, educational and sporting activities.

"We are proud to welcome MTV's Video Music Awards back home to the Showplace of the Nation, Radio City Music Hall," said Jay Marciano, president, Radio City Entertainment. "Combining one of the world's premiere theatres with one of the most anticipated award shows of the year is the perfect formula for making music history and we look forward to another 10 years of memorable VMA moments at Radio City."

The "2005 MTV Video Music Awards" premiere telecast was the #1 rated cable program for 2005 among 12-34 year olds, and beat out all cable and broadcast programming in this demo for the night according to Nielsen Media Research. Online, MTV.com garnered over 45 million page views the day after the 2005 VMAs, breaking all previous records, and almost 19 million page views the day of the event, marking a 56% increase vs. 2004. In addition, the "My VMAs" content on MTV Overdrive, the network's broadband channel, delivered an impressive 13 million unique streams of VMA content.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

NYC Big Events, Inc. is the City's official organization dedicated to attracting high-profile events, creating new ones and working with existing major New York City events. NYC Big Events' most recent successes include the 2005 Country Music Association Awards, the Worldwide Premiere of Peter Jackson's King Kong in Times Square, the 2005 VH1 Save the Music Benefit Concert, the 2004 Republican National Convention, and the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.

SOURCE MTV
Web Site: http://www.mtv.com