CMT AND RYAN SEACREST PRODUCTIONS PARTNER FOR NEW REALITY SHOW STARRING TELEVISION PERSONALITY MELISSA RYCROFT

"Melissa and Tye: A New Reality" to Premiere on CMT in April

PASADENA, CA - January 14, 2012 - CMT is joining forces with Ryan Seacrest Productions on a new reality series, it was announced today by Jayson Dinsmore, EVP, development and programming, CMT. The eight-episode series, MELISSA AND TYE: A NEW REALITY (working title), starring television personality Melissa Rycroft ("Dancing With the Stars," "The Bachelor") will premiere on CMT in April.

"America has fallen in love with Melissa Rycroft, but she has been in the homes of CMT viewers since her time on 'Dallas Cowboys Making the Team,' says Jayson Dinsmore, EVP development and programming, CMT. "We are excited to have her back on CMT as she gives us access to her new role as wife, mother and someone who is now in the glare of the Hollywood spotlight."

"Melissa has had an interesting life journey - from having her heartbroken to marriage and motherhood - that we believe many people will relate to. I've had a chance to work with her, and I think everyone will appreciate her tenacity and spirit as she pursues her Hollywood dream. She's bound to have some ups and downs, and we're hoping audiences will want to tag along for the ride," said show Executive Producer Ryan Seacrest.

There's nothing worse than being dumped - on national TV. Yet Melissa Rycroft, the former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and America's favorite bachelorette definitely got the last laugh. She found the ultimate redemption by becoming a hugely popular contestant on "Dancing with the Stars," which ignited a television hosting career. But her greatest success came when she re-connected with the "real" man of her dreams, home town boyfriend, Tye Strickland. Now married with an eleven-month old daughter, Melissa is about to embark on her biggest journey yet - moving to Los Angeles from Texas to pursue her Hollywood dreams. MELISSA AND TYE: A NEW REALITY will follow the couple as they navigate the trials and tribulations of being new parents, making a long-distance relationship work and making their dreams become a reality.

One week after the most talked about season finale of ABC's "The Bachelor," "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft stepped onto the dance floor in heroic fashion on "Dancing with the Stars." With just two days to prepare for her nationally televised ballroom dancing debut, Rycroft displayed character and strength overcoming nerves, anxiety and the pressure to perform in front of a live audience. Paired with professional dancer, Tony Dovolani, Rycroft "waltzed" her way into America's hearts and into a third-place finish on season eight of the hit ABC series.

In December of 2010 Rycroft married her longtime sweetheart Tye Strickland in a seaside ceremony in Mexico that received worldwide attention and soon after, took on co-hosting duties on "Dick Clark's Rocking New Year's Eve" where she appeared alongside host Ryan Seacrest. In 2009, Rycroft joined ABC News as a special contributor for "Good Morning America," where she's appeared on the morning news broadcast delivering fun and uplifting stories from across the country and from Hollywood's most glamorous red carpets. Rycroft was a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and appeared on two seasons of CMT's "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team." She graced the cover of the April 13, 2009 issue of People Magazine and was featured among their 100 Most Beautiful People of 2009. Rycroft has also been named to Maxim's Hot 100 list.

MELISSA AND TYE: A NEW REALITY is produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions, with Ryan Seacrest as executive producer. Jayson Dinsmore and Eliot Goldberg serve as executive producers for CMT.

CMT, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 92 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 Ryan Seacrest Productions

Ryan Seacrest Productions (RSP) is a leading television production company. RSP produces the hit series "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," the highest-rated show on the E! network and the spin-offs "Khloé and Lamar," "Kourtney and Khloé Take New York" and "Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami." RSP also produced the Emmy Award-winning ABC reality series "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution."