CMT PARTNERS WITH NBC TO RE-BROADCAST “NASHVILLE STAR”
05/27/08
Season Six of NASHVILLE STAR Debuts Saturday, June 14 on CMT
NASHVILLE – May 27, 2008 – CMT has entered into an agreement with NBC to re-broadcast episodes of the sixth season of NASHVILLE STAR, it was announced today by Mary Beth Cunin, vice president, programming strategy, CMT. The music competition series will premiere for the first time on NBC on Monday, June 9 at 9:30-11:00 p.m., ET/PT, and then be retelecast on CMT, beginning Saturday, June 14 at 4:00-5:30 p.m., ET/PT. NASHVILLE STAR begins its regularly scheduled timeslot on CMT Friday, June 20 at 8:00-9:30 p.m., ET/PT.
“Partnering with CMT is a strategic move by Reveille and NBC to create a brand affiliation for Nashville Star with the biggest television outlet for country music,” said executive producer Howard T. Owens, managing director of Reveille, LLC. “To repurpose on CMT was the only natural distribution fit.”
“With CMT favorites like Billy Ray Cyrus, John Rich and Jewel, this show is a natural fit for our audience,” said Cunin. “Nashville Star was one of the first music competition series to recognize that the country music genre holds mass appeal, and we’re thrilled to partner with NBC on the series first broadcast run.”
The sixth season of NASHVILLE STAR will premiere on NBC Monday, June 9 (9:30-11:00 p.m., ET/PT) followed by 90-minute live episodes each week. This year, the longest running cable reality competition series moves into the spotlight on NBC. With a bigger stage to play, the expectations become higher and the competition tougher as each contestant will turn to the celebrity panel that will not only judge them during the live shows, but will also provide a unique mentoring aspect to the series. Host Billy Ray Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") will join country music star, singer-songwriter and acclaimed producer John Rich and Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter and three-time Grammy nominee Jewel, along with acclaimed industry heavy weight and BMI Songwriter of the Year (2006) Jeffery Steele, to bring their unique insights and experience to the show and its contestants. The competition opens the doors for talent 16 years-of-age and older and welcomes not only solo artists to the stage, but also duos and trios who can compete as talented singers, songwriters and musicians. The winner or winners of this year’s competition will receive a major recording contract with Warner Bros. Nashville and the performance of a lifetime when they take to the world’s stage at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
"Nashville Star" is created by Reveille and produced by 495 Productions. Ben Silverman (NBC’s “The Office”), Howard T. Owens ("American Gladiators"), Mark Koops ("The Biggest Loser") and Sallyann Salsano ("Design Star," "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila") serve as executive producers. Jon Small (“Garth Brooks Live in LA”) is a producer.
Visit CMT's press-only Web site www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.
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 87 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.
# # #
PRESS CONTACT:
Amanda Murphy 615-335-8408 amanda.murphy@cmt.com
