CMT ORDERS A SECOND SEASON OF “CAN YOU DUET” FROM FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA
02/03/09
Producers of “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent” Bring Back Music Competition Show To CMT for June Premiere
LOS ANGELES – February 3, 2009 – CMT is once again looking for country music’s best new duo with their order of eight episodes of a second season of the weekly music competition show CAN YOU DUET from FremantleMedia North America, it was jointly announced today by Eugene Young, chief creative officer for FremantleMedia North America and Bob Kusbit, head of development for CMT. CAN YOU DUET is scheduled to premiere on CMT in June.
“Last year’s premiere of CAN YOU DUET was CMT’s highest-rated original series debut ever and we want to build on that success with another season in search of America’s next best duo.” says Kusbit.
“We’re looking for the next Sugarland, the next Big and Rich, the next Brooks and Dunn,” says Young. “Last year’s program proved that Can You Duet and CMT can discover top tier talent.”
Last year’s winners, Caitlin & Will, signed to Sony Music Nashville's Columbia Records, and their debut single "Even Now," is set to impact radio next month. Finalists Joey + Rory signed to Vanguard/SugarHill and released their debut album, Life of a Song in October 2008; and semi-finalists Kate and Kacey (The Coppolas) signed with Big Machine Records
Auditions for CAN YOU DUET will take place through open casting calls, showcases and videotaped submissions. The contestants compete as duos giving viewers a first-hand look at all the on and off-stage drama in creating a dynamic musical duo. The judges (to be announced) will critique each performance and decide who will advance to the next round, be sent home, and ultimately be crowned the best new country duo in America.
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.
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), “Match Game” (TBS), “Family Feud” (syndicated), “Million Dollar Password” (CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, “The Price Is Right” (CBS).
CMT, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and Heartland entertainment, reaching more than 88.5 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.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 137 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, LOGO, 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 200 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.
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PRESS CONTACTS:
Cindy McLean 615-335-8404 cindy.mclean@cmt.com
Carrie Simons 310-710-5442 Carrie@triple7pr.com
Manfred Westphal 818-748-1148 manfred.westphal@fremantlemedia.com
