CMT LAUNCHES NEW MUSIC CHANNEL “CMT PURE COUNTRY” ON FRIDAY, MAY 26
05/23/06
CMT PURE COUNTRY Marks its Debut With Hank Williams Jr. Introducing His 1983 Video “The Conversation” Featuring Waylon Jennings
New Digital Music Channel to Deliver Country Music Around the Clock and Uninterrupted
NASHVILLE – May 23, 2006 – Building on CMT’s rich country music heritage, the network delivers uninterrupted country music around the clock with the launch of CMT PURE COUNTRY on Friday, May 26 at 6 a.m. ET. The new digital channel will deliver the sounds and images of country music in its most essential form, performed by the genre’s most authentic voices. CMT PURE COUNTRY marks its on-air debut with Hank Williams Jr. introducing his 1983 hit video “The Conversation” featuring Waylon Jennings.
To celebrate the launch, CMT will pre-empt its regular programming to air all CMT PURE COUNTRY on Monday, May 29 at 6 a.m.-1 p.m. ET. Beginning Sunday, June 4, CMT will also debut its new one-hour music block, CMT PURE COUNTRY, airing weekly on Sundays at 9-10 a.m. ET.
“PURE COUNTRY is an exciting new opportunity for the wide range of artists we work with,” said Chris Parr, vice president, music programming and talent relations, CMT. “We willl use our expertise and talent relationships to create and program another truly unique music experience for the fans.”
CMT PURE COUNTRY will serve as a catalyst for music lovers to explore established and emerging artists steeped in the rich tradition of country music. The network will showcase a broad spectrum of artists including Johnny Cash, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Lee Ann Womack, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson and more.
CMT PURE COUNTRY’s programming blocks include:
WIDE OPEN COUNTRY (premieres May 26 at 1-2 p.m. ET) – An extension of CMT’s successful weekly series, WIDE OPEN COUNTRY is a one-hour weekly series featuring music from a wide array of alternative country, bluegrass and Americana performers along with performers from the heart of country music.
STUDIO 330 SESSIONS (premieres May 26 at 7:30-8 p.m. ET) – From the intimate performance series previously seen only on CMT.com, STUDIO 330 SESSIONS features a mix of the best live performances filmed in CMT’s studio with artists such as Dwight Yoakam, Jason Aldean and Little Big Town, among many others.
STUDIO 330 SESSIONS UP-CLOSE (premieres May 26 at 9-9:30 p.m. ET) – STUDIO 330 SESSIONS UP-CLOSE brings to television the full spectrum of an individual artist’s live in-studio performance and interview together for an intimate look at their entire acoustic set. Dwight Yoakam will be the first artist featured.
PURE 12 PACK COUNTDOWN (premieres June 5 at 9-10 p.m. ET) – Count down the Top 12 videos each week as determined only by the fans on PURE 12 PACK COUNTDOWN. Votes submitted online at CMT.com.
PURE VINTAGE (premieres June 12 at 3-4 p.m. ET) – Step back in time for a look at some of country music’s best-loved videos, starting with the early 80s, in PURE VINTAGE.
THIS IS (premieres TBD) – Get an inside look at today’s emerging artists with THIS IS, featuring performance footage, interviews and behind the scenes moments of today’s rising country artists.
CMT MOST WANTED (premieres TBD) – CMT MOST WANTED is a mix of new and classic videos with the big names such as Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, Shania Twain and more.
Carried in over 16 million homes, CMT PURE COUNTRY will be available via Comcast, Charter, Cox, CableOne, Mediaone, Knology, Cequel II, Armstrong Cable and Blue Ridge Cable. Viewers can visit CMT.com for more information about the new network.
As part of the network’s aggressive strategy to expand its music content across multiple media platforms, CMT PURE COUNTRY joins other CMT services already available to viewers such as CMT.com, URGE, CMT Mobile, CMT Video On Demand and through MHD, MTV Network’s high-definition channel. CMT will launch a separate broadband network, CMT LOADED, later this summer.
CMT, America’s No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 82.5 million households in the United States. Go to country music’s biggest web site at www.cmt.com.
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PRESS CONTACT:
Lisa Chader 615-335-8405 lisa.chader@cmt.com
Amanda Murphy 615-335-8408 amanda.murphy@cmt.com
**In Nashville, CMT PURE COUNTRY will be available on Comcast Digital Cable (channel 145).
