PREMIERE OF CMT'S FIRST SCRIPTED SERIES, "WORKING CLASS," BREAKS RECORDS FOR THE NETWORK

Sitcom is Highest Rated and Most Watched Series Debut in CMT History

NASHVILLE, TN - January 31, 2011 - The January 28, 8:00 p.m. premiere episode of CMT's first scripted sitcom, WORKING CLASS, starring TV veteran Melissa Peterman and Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Ed Asner, was the highest rated and most watched series debut in CMT history among P18-49 and P2+ total viewers, with 1.2 million Total Viewers. The show also posted a .50 P18-49. The 8:00 p.m. premiere was up +198% from the prior four week time period average.

WORKING CLASS premieres every Friday at 8:00 PM, ET on CMT. The 12 episode series follows Carli Mitchell (Melissa Peterman), a single mom from a rough and tumble background, trying to give her three kids a better life by moving them to an upscale suburb. She quickly finds that making the transition to "the good life" is harder than she thought. Reba McEntire and John Schneider appear on the Feb. 4 episode.

WORKING CLASS is executive produced by Jill Cargerman ("Spin City," "Las Vegas," "Gary Unmarried") and Bryan Johnson of The Film Syndicate.

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 91 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.