VH1, Jack Black and Channel 101 Join to Stem Tide of 'Unacceptable Media'

'Acceptable.TV' Launches on the Web Today and Premieres on VH1 on March 23 at 10PM

NEW YORK, March 14 -- VH1, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with executive producers Jack Black, Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab and the team from Channel 101, have announced the first step in reforming the runaway user-generated content movement with the newly formed "Acceptable.TV." The accompanying Web site launches today and will be followed by a weekly TV series premiering on VH1 on March 23 at 10pm ET/PT.

Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab became pioneers of the do-it-yourself TV movement with Channel 101, a competitive forum for digital shorts founded in 2003, anticipating the YouTube revolution by a several years. Realizing they could not stand by while the tidal wave of user-generated content threatened to overwhelm the internet, they created the new "Acceptable.TV" founded on the principle that, in Black's words, "some stuff is just not acceptable."

The TV show "Acceptable.TV" builds off the innovations of Channel 101. Each week television viewers will see five new three-minute episodes of proposed TV series. Viewers will then be able to vote, via the Web site http://www.acceptable.tv, for two of the series to return with a new episode. The three shorts with the fewest votes are "cancelled" and replaced by new pilots the following week. Additionally, each week, the broadcast will spotlight the user-generated pilot which receives the most votes on the Acceptable.TV site. While one user-generated short will air each week, it will not be in direct competition with the shorts produced by the Acceptable.TV staff. Creators are encouraged however, to submit a second episode, which will be entered into the next user-generated video competition on the site. All shows -- acceptable and unacceptable -- will be shown on the Web site.

The site features original shorts starring Jack Black, Channel 101 co- creator Dan Harmon and other actors in the Acceptable.TV ensemble. While Black will appear in this first wave of the show and site launch, his main role on the project is that of executive producer. He is not an official cast member, but could appear in subsequent episodes as his schedule permits. The shorts explain the purpose of the Acceptable.TV site and the TV show. The site also offers comedic and informative "tutorials" on how would-be digital filmmakers can begin the process of creating and submitting their own "acceptable" TV. Once the on-air show begins, users will be able to watch and vote for their favorite shorts as well create and upload content for on-air consideration.

"Acceptable.TV" is executive produced by Jack Black, Dan Harmon, Rob Schrab and Benjamin Cooley. Cooley will also oversee the series for Black's Electric Dynamite Productions. Eric Falconer serves as co-executive producer; Drew Hancock serves as Supervising Producer/Director. VH1 SVP of Films and Scripted Series, Maggie Malina, will oversee television production for VH1, along with Michael Hirschorn, EVP Original Programming and Production, VH1. Series collaborators include Dan Harmon (co-creator of "The Sarah Silverman Program" and co-writer of "Monster House"), Ryan Ridley (creator of the Web series "Wastelander"), Justin Roiland (creator of the viral video sensation "House of Cosbys"), Romanski (writer of "South Park" and "The Sarah Silverman Program"), and JD Ryznar (creator of the equally early, equally viral, and equally sensational "Yacht Rock").

The "Acceptable.TV" site was envisioned and created by VH1 and the Channel 101 team. The site's development is part of the MTV Networks' Music Group initiative -- announced in late 2006 -- to build select standalone, vertical Web properties. The site is powered by Revver, which enables third-parties to use its online video hosting, ad matching and monetization capabilities.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul and VSPOT, VH1's broadband channel. Connect with VH1 at http://www.VH1.com.

VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

SOURCE VH1
http://www.vh1.com http://www.acceptable.tv