PARAMOUNT+ ANNOUNCES CAST FOR "THE CHALLENGE: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP"

Franchise's First-Ever Global Tournament to Feature Epic Lineup of "Challenge" Legends Paired with Global MVPs

Feb. 15, 2023 - Paramount+ today announced the highly anticipated cast lineup for the upcoming global tournament THE CHALLENGE: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, which is set to premiere Wednesday, March 8 in the U.S. and Canada with two back-to-back episodes. The series will debut on the service in the U.K., Latin America and Australia on Thursday, March 9, and in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and France on Wednesday, July 5. A first look from the series premiere was also released (watch here). Additionally, MTV will air a one-time sneak preview of the new series with the premiere episode being shown in its entirety on Wednesday, March 8 at 8:00 PM, ET/PT.

In the franchise's first-ever world tournament, each global MVP will be paired with a "Challenge" Legend, a notable veteran from previous seasons of the MTV series, who will serve as their partner to form the most epic teams in the history of the franchise. Together they will work towards the most difficult challenge of them all: the brutal finale worth $500,000.

Meet THE CHALLENGE: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP competitors:

CHALLENGE LEGENDS:

· Amber Borzotra

· Darrell Taylor

· Jodi Weatherton

· Johnny "Bananas" DeVenanzio

· Jonna Stephens

· Jordan Wiseley

· Kaycee Clark

· KellyAnne Judd

· Nelson Thomas

· Nia Moore

· Theo Campbell

· Tori Deal

· Wes Bergmann

· Yes Duffy

GLOBAL MVPS:

· Ben Driebergen ("The Challenge: USA")

· Danny McCray ("The Challenge: USA")

· Justine Ndiba ("The Challenge: USA")

· Sarah Lacina ("The Challenge: USA")

· Emily Seebohm ("The Challenge: Australia")

· Grant Crapp ("The Challenge: Australia")

· Kiki Morris ("The Challenge: Australia")

· Troy Cullen ("The Challenge: Australia")

Additional cast from "The Challenge: Argentina" and "The Challenge: UK" will be announced at a later date following each series' finale. "The Challenge: USA" and "The Challenge: Australia" are currently available to stream on Paramount+, with "The Challenge: UK" available for streaming in the U.S and Canada on Saturday, Feb. 25, and "The Challenge: Argentina" available on Wednesday, April 5.

THE CHALLENGE: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP was created for MTV Entertainment Studios by Bunim/Murray Productions. Julie Pizzi and Justin Booth serve as executive producers. German Abarca, Ernesto De La O, David Sambuchi, Kristopher Schwalenberg and Brad Tiemann serve as co-executive producers. Skye Topic serves as supervising producer, Margaret Morales as producer and Jacob Lane as consulting producer. Dan Caster and Leanne Mucci serve as executive producers with Jared March as supervising producer for MTV Entertainment Studios and Donny Herran as SVP of production, with Angela Liao as executive in charge of production. Follow "The Challenge" everywhere on social at @thechallenge and use #ChallengeWorldChamp to join the conversation.

About Paramount+

Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world's biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis. For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.

About Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios

Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios is one of the preeminent media entities in the world that connects with global audiences through its nine iconic brands - MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, CMT, Pop, Logo, Smithsonian, Paramount Network and TV Land - as well as MTV Entertainment Studios which produces acclaimed series and movies and the award-winning, Oscar-nominated MTV Documentary Films.

About Bunim/Murray Productions

Bunim/Murray Productions (BMP), a division of Banijay Americas, is the leading producer of innovative entertainment content. The Emmy Award-winning company is widely credited with creating the reality television genre with its hit series The Real World on MTV, the first reality game show, Road Rules (MTV), in 1995; the first reality sitcom, The Simple Life (E!), in 2003; and the first reality soap opera, Starting Over, in 2003. BMP's current programming includes Emmy-winning Lizzo's Watch Out For The Big Grrrls (Amazon Prime Video), The Challenge (MTV), The Challenge: USA (CBS), The Challenge: All Stars (Paramount+), The Challenge: World Championship (Paramount+), The Real World Homecoming (Paramount+), Born This Way (A&E), Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project (Oxygen), Ball in the Family (Facebook Watch), Miz and Mrs. (USA Network), Don't Forget The Lyrics (FOX), Family or Fiancé (OWN), After Happily Ever After (BET), Total Bellas (E!) and upcoming The Family Stallone (Paramount+) . BMP, through BMP Films, has also produced Transhood (HBO) They Call Us Monsters (PBS), Valentine Road (HBO), Pedro (MTV), and the Emmy Award-winning Autism: The Musical, and Autism: The Sequel (HBO). Based in Glendale, CA, the company was founded in 1987 by Jonathan Murray and the late Mary-Ellis Bunim, who were inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame in 2012. The company joined Banijay in 2010.