The-N.com Searches for the Next Singing Sensation With Its "Instant Star Karoake Showdown" User Generated Contest

130,000 Votes Cast In Two Weeks; Grand Prize Winner to Be Announced During The N's Instant Star Season Finale May 18

"Show Us Your Degrassi" Event on The-N.com Launches May 25 Leading Up to the Return of The N's Degrassi: The Next Generation on June 29 (Art available upon request)

NEW YORK, May 17 -- Continuing MTV Networks' lead in providing the most innovative entertainment content for today's multiplatform generation of kids, tweens and teens, The-N.com introduces two online events featuring user-generated content provided by teens: the "Instant Star Karoake Showdown" and "Show Us Your Degrassi." Hundreds of teens have already participated in the Instant Star event by submitting homemade karaoke videos in their quests for fame to http://www.the-n.com/ntv/shows/instantstar/karaoke/. More than 50,000 votes for the next karaoke teen superstar were cast in a week's time. The grand prize winner of the contest will be announced during the season finale of Instant Star on Friday, May 18 at 8 p.m. (ET).

In addition, The-N.com launches "Show Us Your Degrassi" on May 25, where users can submit photos and videos themed to Degrassi: The Next Generation on http://www.the-n.com/ntv/shows/degrassi/fan_appreciation/. These original teen created videos and photos, which could include scene re-enactments, parodies, episode introductions or dedications, or original versions of the Degrassi theme song, could appear on-air. Teens can also vomment (video comment) on certain episodes as well as program the Degrassi content in The- N.com's broadband video player, The Click, by submitting playlists of their favorite episodes.

"This generation is interested in active participation with media, rather than passive consumption. About 95% of the teens that use our sites have created and posted content online," commented Tony Zito, Vice President of The N Digital. "These events give them the opportunity to showcase their talents, connect with each other, and bring new vitality to the media properties that they love."

To support the online event, The N will air Degrassi marathons during Memorial Day Weekend leading up to the return of Degrassi with a premiere episode, kicking off on Friday, June 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

Voting initially began April 20 for "Waste My Time" and garnered nearly 50,000 votes (April 20-27); "I Don't Know If I Should Stay" garnered more than 76,700 votes (April 28-May 3). Semifinalists for each Instant Star song are currently facing off in a final round of voting which began on Friday, May 11. More than 250 submissions have come in for the "Instant Star Karaoke Showdown."

Users are asked to download the various Instant Star songs and lyrics from The-N.com, record their karaoke entry using a webcam or video camera, and then upload their entries to the website. Various semifinalists and contest rules can be seen at http://www.the-n.com/ntv/shows/instantstar/karaoke/. Grand prize winners will receive a video iPod, karaoke machine, iTunes gift cards, the Instant Star soundtrack and other series' products. Two semifinalists will receive a karaoke machine and Instant Star themed products.

In the season three finale of Instant Star on May 18, Jude Harrison thinks she's on top of the world and completely in control of her own destiny. Just when she thinks that she has finally made peace with her record label G Major, the rug is pulled from underneath her. The high brow label gets audited and their entire music catalog gets put on the block for sale ... including her own. Jude must finally decide to either follow Jamie and his new found record company or Tommy who has made the greatest sacrifice in order for Jude to regain complete ownership of her music.

Degrassi: The Next Generation, winner of both a Television Critics Association Award and a Teen Choice Summer Series Award, is a fictional, dramatic series that tackles tough issues in a realistic way. Degrassi introduces a new generation of kids going through the trials and tribulations of adolescence in the 21st century at the newly refurbished Degrassi Community School. In 2007, Degrassi outpaced its competition among its target teen demographics. In its Friday premiere telecasts in first quarter 2007, Degrassi delivered more female teens in its time period than all broadcast networks and ad-supported cable networks. It remains the only breakout hit in digital cable.

In 2007, The-N.com is averaging more than 1.8 million unique visitors per month, +19% than the site's traffic in the same time period last year (source: Omniture SiteCatalyst, YTD through April).

About The N

The N, the nighttime network for teens, is a programming arm of MTV Networks and is currently available in 57 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite television. The N's mission is to be the authentic voice for teens and help them figure out their lives with relevant, topical programming on-air and online at the network's Emmy Award-winning web site http://www.The-N.com. The N airs everyday from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (ET). The N and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA; VIA.B).

SOURCE The N
http://www.the-n.com/ntv/shows/instantstar/karaoke http://www.the-n.com/ntv/shows/degrassi/fan_appreciation http://www.The-N.com