LANCE SMITH TO HOST SEASON TWO OF CMT'S HIT SERIES 'CAN YOU DUET'

Nearly 5,000 Aspiring Singers Arrive in Nashville to Audition for Competition Series from "American Idol" producers FremantleMedia North America

(NASHVILLE, TN � March 10, 2009) � CMT personality Lance Smith began hosting the second season of CMT's hit series, CAN YOU DUET, on Saturday at the show's casting call in Nashville. Nearly 5,000 aspiring singers � singles and duos � from around the country showed up for their chance to be part of the weekly music competition series from "American Idol" producers FremantleMedia North America that will seek to find country music's next great duo.

Host of CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN, Smith joined CMT as the network's first VJ in 2001. As one of the on-air representatives of the network, Smith has been present at all important industry functions during his tenure including the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, as well as all of the CMT MUSIC AWARDS broadcasts. In addition to his regular series hosting duties, Smith has brought his own unique style to hosting specials such as CMT AT SUMMERFEST and SPRING BREAK specials with Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney.

Unlike other talent competition shows, each contestant on CAN YOU DUET will compete as part of a duo, sometimes working with different partners as the competition progresses. As a result, viewers will witness first-hand all the on and off-stage drama to be had in creating a dynamic musical duo. In addition to critiquing each performance and deciding who will advance to the next round, be sent home, and ultimately be crowned country music's next great duo, Judd � along with two more, yet to be announced judges filling the panel -- will also serve as a mentor to guide, groom and develop the duos along the way.

"Can You Duet" is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Jeff Boggs (Nashville Star, Spy TV) is executive producer. Bob Kusbit, John Hamlin and Melanie Moreau serve as executive producers for CMT.

About CMT

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 88 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.

About FremantleMedia North America

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative television programs for network, cable and syndicated platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "American Idol Rewind" (syndicated), "American Idol Extra" (Fox Reality), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "Celebrity Family Feud" (NBC), "The Osbournes: Reloaded" (FOX), "Hole In The Wall" (FOX), "Farmer Wants A Wife" (The CW), "The Phone" (MTV), "Rock The Cradle" (MTV), "Can You Duet" (CMT), "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" (Oxygen), "Family Feud" (syndicated), "Million Dollar Password" (CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, "The Price Is Right" (CBS).

About MTV Networks

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 150 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/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, 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 300 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.