CMT PRESENTS A REASON TO STAY HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF HOLIDAY-THEMED PROGRAMMING

CMT Premieres Include LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA, Faith Hill, Joy To The World: A Soundstage Special Event, CMT GIANTS: ALAN JACKSON, THE 12 DAYS OF REDNECK CHRISTMAS and More

NASHVILLE � October 30, 2008 � Christmas comes early this year when CMT kicks off the holiday season with a line-up of yuletide specials including, LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA and THE 12 DAYS OF REDNECK CHRISTMAS, as well as music events including CMT GIANTS: ALAN JACKSON and Faith Hill, Joy To The World: A Soundstage Special Event. December also brings the premiere of the latest CMT Film, NASCAR: THE RIDE OF THEIR LIVES featuring new, exclusive interviews with famed NASCAR personalities telling the story of the sport.

Highlights from CMT's holiday schedule include:

LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S STAR STUDDED CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA - Friday, November 21 at 9:00 p.m. � 10:30 p.m., ET/PT

Larry The Cable Guy joins CMT for the second annual LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA. The 90-minute special features Larry hosting a lineup of guest stars including country music superstar Toby Keith; comedian Lewis Black; Fred Willard; comedienne Victoria Jackson; and entertainer Tony Orlando, who also serves as Larry's co-host; and performances by Rodney Atkins and Emily West. The country music duo Montgomery Gentry closes the show with a special performance of Robert Earl Keen's holiday hit, "Merry Christmas from the Family."

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" THANKS FOR GIVING WEEKLONG EVENT - Monday, November 24 � Friday, November 28

CMT presents a weeklong marathon of the hit series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" with episodes that feature special appearances by some of country music's biggest stars including Tim McGraw, Lee Ann Womack, Randy Travis as well as other popular favorites Jeff Foxworthy, Mr. T and many more. The week will conclude when CMT premieres "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - Holiday Wishes," a two-hour special episode, on Friday, November 28 with special guests including Laura Bush, James Denton and Wayne Newton and a performance by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

FAITH HILL, JOY TO THE WORLD: A SOUNDSTAGE SPECIAL EVENT, PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD - Sunday, November 30 at 8:00 p.m. � 9:00 p.m., ET/PT

Backed by an orchestra led by esteemed conductor David Campbell, Faith Hill performs holiday favorites from her upcoming Christmas album, Joy to the World. Hill and the orchestra deliver booming orchestral arrangements on the title track "Joy to the World" and swinging, big-band versions of more lighthearted fare such as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "Holly, Jolly Christmas." A choir accompanies Faith on more spiritual songs such as "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Silent Night," and "A Baby Changes Everything."

CMT GIANTS: ALAN JACKSON - Saturday, December 6 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT

CMT honors the extraordinary life and music of the legendary Alan Jackson in the 90-minute special, CMT GIANTS: ALAN JACKSON taped at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The tribute will feature performances by superstars including George Strait, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, Lee Ann Womack and Miranda Lambert with other guests to be announced.

THE 12 DAYS OF REDNECK CHRISTMAS - Friday, December 12 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT

After documenting redneck couples outrageous journeys down the aisle, host Tom Arnold finds families with equally as unique holiday traditions in the special, The 12 Days of Redneck Christmas. The Griswold's have nothing on these redneck families with their over-the-top decorations and wacky holiday traditions.

CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN: MUSIC CITY MADNESS � Saturday, December 13 at 11:00 a.m., ET/PT

Lance Smith hosts a round-by-round recap in this special CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN featuring the original online talent search, CMT.com's MUSIC CITY MADNESS. Top 20 will reveal the top two finalists of the competition, and highlight the best, craziest and most unique submissions.

NASCAR: THE RIDE OF THEIR LIVES - Saturday, December 13 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT

The new film RIDE OF THEIR LIVES, produced by CMT FILMS, NASCAR Media Group and NASCAR, tells the history of NASCAR as presented in first-person accounts by the people who lived it. Featuring new, exclusive interviews with famed NASCAR personalities Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison and Darryl Waltrip, the film tells the story of how family dynamics weaved a thread through a half century of racing and and how the sport grew from its humble Southern roots into a national spectacle. The film also features never-before-seen footage spanning NASCAR's entire history from the archives of NASCAR Media Group, as well as the final interview with Bill France Jr., son of NASCAR Founder and Former NASCAR President (1972-2000), Bill France. Other drivers spotlighted in the film include Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Tim Richmond and Wendell Scott.

CMT ONLINE AWARDS 2008 - Friday, December 26 at 3:30p.m., ET/PT

Ride the digital wave as Kellie Pickler hosts the 3rd annual, CMT ONLINE AWARDS - the groundbreaking, irreverent, one-of-a-kind celebration of internet excellence. The awards for CMT.com's biggest stars, music videos and clips are fan-voted in the truest sense; the winner in each category received the highest numbers of streams, clicks and views on CMT.com. Presenters include: Jessica Simpson, Taylor Swift, Trace Adkins, Larry the Cable Guy and Hulk Hogan.

CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN OF THE YEAR - Saturday, December 27 at 11:00 a.m., ET/PT

Host Lance Smith counts down the biggest hit videos of the year featuring some of country music's biggest stars in this special episode of CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN, including Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift and many more. In addition to the year's best videos, Smith relives the best moments of 2008 with a look back at the most interesting and revealing interviews of the year.

CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 87 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network's digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.