CMT and Miss America Organization Reach Multi-Year Deal for Telecast Rights To 'Miss America Pageant'

CMT and Miss America Organization Reach Multi-Year Deal for Telecast Rights To 'Miss America Pageant'

First Pageant To Air On CMT In January 2006

VH1 To Air Supportive Programming Leading Up To Pageant's Debut

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- And the winner is ... CMT! The Miss America Organization has found a home at CMT as the two have reached a multi-year agreement to telecast the prestigious "Miss America Pageant" on CMT in January 2006, it was announced today by Brian Graden, president, entertainment, MTV Music Group and president, Logo; Art McMaster, president and CEO of the Miss America Organization; and Brian Philips, executive vice president and general manager, CMT. CMT will retain telecast rights through 2007, with options through 2011.

CMT plans a multi-million dollar promotional push behind the "Miss America Pageant," engaging all of its resources within CMT and across MTV Networks. As such, VH1 will air "Miss America"-supportive programming leading up to the premiere of the pageant on CMT in January, providing valuable exposure for the pageant to VH1's largely unduplicated audience.

"We're thrilled to be in business with the Miss America Organization," said Graden. "This partnership presents a tremendous opportunity for CMT and MTV Networks, and we look forward to celebrating this American institution across a variety of platforms."

"After thorough discussions and negotiations, we are confident that Miss America has found the perfect match in CMT and MTV Networks," said McMaster. "Miss America's move to cable will give it the proper promotion and attention it deserves. Our brand is rich in both philanthropy and history, and this new multi-platform partnership not only will preserve this institution, but in fact build the Miss America Organization as we begin this new chapter."

"'Miss America' appeals deeply to America's heartland and is a logical extension for CMT. As our music proves, CMT's audience loves honest, authentic storytelling," said Philips. "It will be a privilege to bring this iconic brand home to CMT. This will become a signature event for us."

Paul Villadolid, vice president of programming and development, CMT, will oversee the format and creative direction of the pageant. Villadolid added: "'Miss America' is one of this country's great enduring institutions, and creatively we are introducing new ways to honor the pageant's rich tradition while also exploring some of the great behind-the-scenes stories that our audience will be able to experience for the first time."

In addition to cross channel, print, radio, online and affiliate promotion, the network will utilize its extensive relationships with CMT Radio and CMT.com, America's No. 1 country music website which ranks in the top 10 of all music sites and has enjoyed double digit growth every year since its launch in 1997. CMT also plans to launch a massive grassroots marketing campaign related to the pageant.

Over the past two years, CMT has experienced record growth with 2005 poised to surpass last year as CMT's most-watched year ever. Known for its dedication to music, CMT is America's most popular country music network reaching more than 77 million households. In addition to world premiere videos, live concerts and events by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, CMT also produces original entertainment programming and specials. CMT is owned and operated by MTV Networks.

The Miss America Pageant -- and the scholarship program itself -- is among the most enduring endeavors in modern American history. From its humble beginnings as a "bathing beauty'" contest in the 1920s, the Miss America Organization today is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance, helping young women all across the country to reach their dreams and goals. For more information, go to http://www.missamerica.org/.

Source: CMT

CONTACT: Lisa Chader of CMT, +1-615-335-8405, or lisa.chader@cmt.com ; or Jenni Glenn of Miss America Organization, +1-609-345-7571, ext. 17, or jenni@missamerica.org

Web site: http://www.cmt.com/ http://www.missamerica.org/

------- Profile: Ent