Spike TV Acquires Off-Network Cable Telecast Distribution Rights to 'The Shield' From Sony Pictures Television, Beginning March 2006

Spike TV Acquires Off-Network Cable Telecast Distribution Rights to 'The Shield' From Sony Pictures Television, Beginning March 2006

NEW YORK, July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Spike TV has acquired the off-network cable telecast distribution rights to the award-winning crime/drama series "The Shield" from Sony Pictures Television. Spike TV will premiere "The Shield" one night a week beginning March 2006.

"We're aggressively seeking out quality programming that will compliment our male-branded strategy," says Robert Friedman, Senior Vice President of Programming for Spike TV who negotiated the deal for the network. "The Shield has tremendous audience appeal and is one of the most talked about series on cable. We're excited to offer the show to a whole new audience on Spike TV."

"The Shield" made history by becoming the first ad-supported cable series to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series in 2003. Series star Michael Chiklis has been honored with a Golden Globe Award in 2003, an Emmy Award in 2002 and the Television Critics Association Award for Best Actor in a Drama series, all basic cable firsts. In its fourth season, the cast was joined by five-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close bringing with her a new ratings surge. The series has been nominated for two 2005 Emmy Awards -- Glenn Close for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and CCH Pounder for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Shawn Ryan is the creator and executive producer of "The Shield" for Fox Television Studios in association with Sony Pictures Television. Scott Brazil and Kevin Arkadie are co-executive producers.

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. SPT produces and distributes top-rated, award-winning programming in every genre, including series, movies and family entertainment for network and cable television; first-run syndicated series; off-network syndicated programs; and theatrical releases. The combined Sony/MGM library of film and television is one the largest of its kind in the world. SPT ( http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com/ ) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 88 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, mtvU, VH1, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, MTV INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 12 digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Source: Spike TV

CONTACT: Robert Pini, +1-212-846-8074, or robert.pini@spiketv.com, or Debra Fazio, +1-212-846-6240, both of Spike TV-NY; or Paula Askanas, of Sony Pictures Television, +1-310-244-3790, or paula_askanas@spe.sony.com

Web site: http://www.spiketv.com/

------- Profile: Ent