CMT TO ‘GET SCHOOLED’ WITH 30-MINUTE SPECIAL AIRING ACROSS VIACOM NETWORKS ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
09/02/09
“Get Schooled” Initiative Includes PSAs featuring Trace Adkins, Jason Michael Carroll,
Sheryl Crow, Rascal Flatts, Julianne Hough, Justin Moore and Darius Rucker
NASHVILLE – September 2, 2009 – On Tuesday, September 8 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT, CMT will join all of Viacom's U.S. television properties to simultaneously air GET SCHOOLED: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT, featuring appearances by The President of the United States Barack Obama, pop superstar Kelly Clarkson, and NBA MVP LeBron James. This 30-minute special highlights education challenges and breakthroughs experienced by speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz, music director Jason Halbert and marketing executive Latesha Williams -- three professionals who provide critical support to these leading figures in politics, entertainment and sports. This is the first programming "roadblock" of any kind across all Viacom networks including BET, MTV, VH1, CMT, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV and Nickelodeon.
In addition to this roadblock, CMT will present three “Get Schooled” PSAs targeted specifically to the country music audience, featuring Trace Adkins, Jason Michael Carroll, Sheryl Crow, Rascal Flatts, Julianne Hough, Justin Moore and Darius Rucker that will be available online at CMTONECOUNTRY.com and CMT.com, and will air on CMT and CMT Pure beginning Friday, September 4.
GET SCHOOLED: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT formally kicks off "Get Schooled," a five-year national initiative co-developed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Viacom that creates a platform for corporate and community stakeholders to address the challenges facing America's public schools.
To find out more about “Get Schooled” and the initiative's groundbreaking national television premiere on Sept. 8, visit www.getschooled.com.
"Get Schooled" is a national platform that connects, inspires and mobilizes people - from policymakers and corporate leaders to communities and kids - to find effective solutions to the problems facing our education system. It provides resources and information, community outreach and creative programming that engage a range of audiences around America's education crisis. Get Schooled's co-developers are the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Viacom, including BET Networks, MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures. The initiative combines the Foundation's deep knowledge of education reform with the power of Viacom's diverse brands to raise awareness about the challenges facing America's public education system.
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 88 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.
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PRESS CONTACT:
Natasha Powell 615.335.8412 natasha.powell@cmt.com
