COUNTRY FANS GET LOADED AT CMT.COM -- CMT UNVEILS THE ULTIMATE COUNTRY FAN’S DESTINATION WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW BROADBAND NETWORK “CMT LOADED”
07/24/06
CMT LOADED Boasts the Largest Online Collection of Country Music Videos,
Along With Hosted Series, Exclusive Performances, Outtakes and More Only at CMT.com
NASHVILLE – July 24, 2006 – CMT today announced the launch of its new broadband network, CMT LOADED, the largest online video collection designed specifically for country music lovers, with more than 500 exclusive performances and interviews, original productions, and thousands of country music videos plus videos from across all genres. Available free and on demand at CMT.com, the 24-hour broadband network features rare or exclusive footage from a wide array of artists such as Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Hank Williams Jr. and Jeff Foxworthy, as well as original content from established CMT shows.
“CMT LOADED marks a new era for country music fans who want to connect with their favorite artists and shows, on their terms, at their convenience." said Brian Philips, executive vice president and general manager, CMT. “We have everything real fans want – killer music, all access footage, and more of the artists they can’t find through traditional mainstream channels.”
With five distinct channels and more than 40 original shows in production for CMT LOADED, CMT plans to aggressively pursue new and original short form content to enhance its online offering and cross-promote the linear channel’s original series and landmark specials, such as CMT MUSIC AWARDS, CMT CROSSROADS and MISS AMERICA. The video library is expected to add up to 300 clips per month.
The addition of CMT LOADED follows the network’s continued expansions across emerging platforms including the new digital network CMT PURE COUNTRY, as well as other CMT programming already available to viewers on CMT.com, URGE, CMT Mobile, CMT Video On Demand, and through MHD, MTV Network’s high-definition channel.
At launch, CMT LOADED features the following channels and original programming:
MUSIC
LIVE AND LOADED
CMT takes fans front and center to the biggest and best performances of the year on LIVE AND LOADED. Exclusive performances on CMT LOADED by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Dierks Bentley at Summerfest.
CMT PRIME CUTS
Country music fans can check out the Top 10 most-streamed videos on CMT PRIME CUTS – from the latest music and news, to the hottest shows on CMT – the best on CMT LOADED live here.
WIDE OPEN COUNTRY (hosted)
WIDE OPEN COUNTRY brings alt-country and bluegrass artists to the forefront with exciting performances, never-before-seen videos and behind-the-scenes looks. Featured artists include Cross Canadian Ragweed, Los Lonely Boys, Kathleen Edwards, Del McCoury and Roy Orbison.
STUDIO 330 SESSIONS
Shot live-to-tape in CMT’s Nashville studio, STUDIO 330 SESSIONS are “stripped down,” spontaneous performances of new material and signature hits from established country stars and promising new artists. Upcoming artists include Jewel, David Lee Roth, Danielle Peck, Dwight Yoakam and more.
CUSTOM BUILT (hosted)
CMT LOADED builds it the way fans want it on the new CUSTOM BUILT series. Themed playlists feature videos of country favorites Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, among others.
CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN (hosted)
From our successful series on-air to CMT LOADED, CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN counts down the week’s hottest country music videos, as well as exclusive content and bloopers from the show hosted live each week in CMT’s Nashville studio. Hosted by Lance Smith.
VIDEO REPLAY (hosted)
CMT LOADED experts dust off the video vaults and bring back the best interviews and classic country videos from such artists as Garth Brooks, Alabama, Trisha Yearwood, George Strait, Randy Travis, Shania Twain, Clint Black and Alan Jackson for VIDEO REPLAY.
PURE COUNTRY
Sample the top videos from CMT’s new all-video channel, CMT PURE COUNTRY. PURE COUNTRY delivers the sounds and images of country music in its essential form, performed by the genre’s most authentic voices.
ON TV – Previews, highlights and extras from current CMT programming, as well as interviews swept straight from the cutting room floor. CMT LOADED features exclusive and never-before-seen content from its hottest shows including the funniest moments from COUNTRY FRIED HOME VIDEOS, “Full Throttle” mini-sodes from TRICK MY TRUCK, and an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming CMT special CROSS COUNTRY with Randy Travis and Josh Turner.
NEWS – America’s No. 1 online resource for country music news just got better with the addition of broadband video featuring interviews, backstage coverage and more with CMT host Katie Cook.
MOVIES – Get an insider’s glimpse into the movies that matter to country music fans on CMT LOADED.
FEATURED – From the most extensive country music video database on the Web, get all the best videos any way you want them on CMT LOADED.
CMT LOADED offers a maximum viewing experience with television quality programming. Viewers can tune in around the clock to see the videos they want to see, however they want to see them.
Martin Clayton, vice president of digital media for CMT and Lewis Bogach, vice president, program production and development for CMT, oversee the development of original music and entertainment programming for CMT LOADED.
America’s No. 1 country music Web site, CMT.com hosts an online catalog with thousands of full-length streaming music videos, exclusive album listening parties, CMT Radio and more. CMT.com has grown some 66% in usage over the past year and boasts one of the highest average minutes per user among cable networks. In 2005, CMT.com introduced its exclusive online performance franchise “Studio 300 Sessions,” which features stripped down acoustic performances from established country music stars and emerging artists filmed live in the CMT studio. In addition to CMT Loaded, the company’s broadband experience, CMT.com utilizes the digital music service URGE to enhance fans’ interactive experience with exclusive CMT music programming and a broad catalogue of music choices across all genres.
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 82.6 million households in the United States. Go to country music’s biggest web site at www.cmt.com.
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PRESS CONTACTS:
Amanda Murphy 615-335-8408 amanda.murphy@cmt.com
Lisa Chader 615-335-8405 lisa.chader@cmt.com
