MTV & NBC CREATE UNIQUE PROGRAMMING PARTNERSHIP WITH GRANADA AMERICA'S "I'M A CELEBRITY... GET ME OUT OF HERE!"
Networks Team Up To Launch Revolutionary Programming Model June 2009
Santa Monica, CA (April 24, 2009) -- A groundbreaking step in the creation of television entertainment, MTV & NBC today announced a innovative partnership to launch a new programming model with Granada America's "I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!" premiering this June. The announcement was made by Tony DiSanto, Head of MTV Programming and Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios and Paul Buccieri, CEO, Granada America.
NBC will announce a full list of talent today.
Beginning Monday, June 1 from 8PM - 10PM (ET), NBC will premiere this groundbreaking series, "I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!" The series will continue airing Tuesday, June 2 - Thursday, June 4 from 8PM - 9PM (ET), Mondays, June 8 - Thursdays, June 18 from 8PM - 9PM (ET) and Monday, June 22 � Wednesday, June 24 from 8PM - 9PM (ET).
Each Sunday, beginning June 7, MTV will air a marathon of the week's episodes including never before seen footage and commentary from cast members in real time, providing an enhanced viewing experience for die-hard fans.
Leveraging the passionate audiences of both MTV and NBC, the networks are jointly casting for the series. Each network will cross promote the series on their air.
"We're always looking for innovative ways to bring great content to our viewers and to build our stars. This partnership with NBC is a symbiotic model where our talent gets a different platform on a broadcast network and we get an exciting new series in real time. In this ever-changing media landscape, it's important to seek out fresh and efficient ways to create and present content � blow-up models, break barriers, and challenge the norm. This is an exciting next step in synergistic programming across networks and an ideal partnership between Granada America, NBC and MTV," said Tony DiSanto, Head of MTV Programming.
"We are thrilled to team up with MTV in an innovative rollout of this entertainment series," said Ben Silverman. "MTV makes the perfect companion network with its young audience demographics as we are always looking for new platforms and marketing models to bring attention to our shows."
"By any measure, this partnership represents a breakthrough in entertainment event programming. Together we have crafted a deal that will ensure that 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' has the optimum opportunity to reach the largest possible audience this Summer and grow into an enduring franchise for both MTV and NBC," said Paul Buccieri, CEO, Granada America.
"I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here" is a groundbreaking, live event airing throughout the month of June � it's the ultimate Swiss Family Robinson as ten celebrities are dropped into the heart of the jungle to face fun and comedic challenges designed to test their survival skills. America is the puppet master, controlling their favorites by putting them into challenges and tasks to win food, supplies and luxury items. In each episode, friendships will be tested, hilarity will ensue and viewers will decide which celebrities stay or leave. While all participants will be playing for their favorite charities, the last remaining star will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle, winning the largest share of the prize for donation.
"I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" is a production of Granada America. Chris Brogden and Jayson Dinsmore serve as executive producers; Michael Brooks and Tamsin Dodgson are the co-executive producers.
About MTV Network:
MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 27 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV is the number one rated full-day ad-supported cable network for P12-24. Online, MTV.com averaged 8.5 million monthly unique visitors during the first quarter of 2009 -- up +6% from Q4/2008 and up +6% year-over-year. Total video streams for the first quarter of 2009 increased 21% over the same time period last year. And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.
About Granada America
Granada America is one of the largest international producers for the US market and a major force in acquiring, developing and producing reality and scripted programming for US networks.
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