MTV Networks Music/Logo Group Launches New DVD Studio in Partnership With Paramount Home Entertainment

MTV Networks Music/Logo Group Launches New DVD Studio in Partnership With Paramount Home Entertainment

Featuring Multi-platinum Star Ciara, and Directorial Debut of 'Chappelle's Show' Co-creator Neal Brennan, Original Movies to Use Innovative Distribution Including Both Theatrical and Network Premieres

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV Networks Music, Logo Enterprise Group and Paramount Home Entertainment have joined forces to launch a new cross-network DVD studio that will capitalize on MTV Networks' programming experience, audience connection and access to rising talent as well as Paramount Home Entertainment's expertise in the creation of original programming. Committed to the development, production and promotion of films across all genres suited for each respective channel, the new DVD studio will leverage talent already thriving on-camera and behind-the-camera on all of MTV's networks in music-based, dramatic and comedic films, as well as documentaries. The new division also will distribute films acquired in conjunction with Paramount Home Entertainment, as well as original content.

"The creation of this new DVD studio is in response to our audiences' voraciousness for movies and quality content," said Jeff Yapp, EVP, MTV Networks Music and Logo Enterprise Group. "We're looking forward to building on our partnership with Paramount Home Entertainment to select and develop top-notch projects, and will support the releases on our core networks, which already serve as great platforms for established artists, as well as emerging talent."

"Paramount Home Entertainment has had good success at identifying and producing original content designed for the home entertainment marketplace," said Thomas Lesinski, President, Paramount Pictures, Worldwide Home Entertainment. "The experience of our team combined with MTV Networks' unique relationship with its audience gives us a great opportunity to produce original DVD content that is directly targeted at the MTV, CMT, VH1 and Logo audiences."

"This team is really shaking up the old model by creating and marketing content that has the full, multi-faceted support of the entire MTV Networks arsenal and leveraging that across all of our brands and platforms," said Rich Eigendorff, COO MTV Networks Music Group and LOGO. "The launch of this new DVD studio is yet another illustration of MTV Networks' synergy between more traditional television entertainment and new, multi-platform opportunities."

The new DVD studio is currently working on developing a full slate of programming and partnerships that cover a variety of film genres and serve key niche audiences. Through strategic marketing partnerships, the studio will market a diverse slate of releases with extensive audience reach via on-air promotion on MTV, VH1, CMT and Logo, online sites, wireless applications, outdoor platforms, and MTV Films, among others. Additionally, the studio will collaborate on soundtrack development to extend the entertainment options and maximize the success of each release. The DVD Premiere titles will be distributed nationwide by Paramount Home Entertainment.

From MTV:

The first release under the MTV brand will be "Rumble," a smart and edgy sports comedy starring Faizon Love ("Animal") and multi-platinum selling star Ciara. Layered with a hot Latin and Hip Hop influenced soundtrack featuring popular music from Marques Houston, Frankie J, Lil Rob and Play N Skillz, the movie follows two former rival high school volleyball squads who are forced to battle it out both on and off the court, across racial, socio-economic and romantic lines to truly become one team and reclaim a championship trophy. Cast includes Adrienne Bailon ("Coach Carter"), Sarah Mason ("Quintuplets"), Doug Savant ("Desperate Housewives") and Efren Ramirez ("Napoleon Dynamite"). The film was written by Karol Ann Hoeffner, directed by Neema Barnette and produced by Patrick Faulstich, Karen Firestone, Max Wong and Leslie Belzberg.

From VH1:

VH1, the network that made loving the 80's a national pastime, is putting a new spin on the decade's classic movies with the production of "Totally Awesome." This irreverent homage was written by "Chappelle's Show" co-creator Neal Brennan and Michael Schur of "Saturday Night Live" and NBC's "The Office." The film will be Brennan's directing debut and his first project after his groundbreaking Comedy Central hit which has gone on to be one of the top selling TV DVDs of all time with Season 1 and 2 selling over 5 million units to date. Cast includes Dominique Swain ("Pumpkin"), Mikey Day ("Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out"), Brittany Daniel ("Joe Dirt"), Joey Kern ("Super Troopers"), James Hong ("Blade Runner", "Big Trouble In Little China") and special appearances by comedy stars such as Tracy Morgan. The movie is executive produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and The Weinstein Company.

The DVD studio is overseen by Jeff Yapp, EVP, MTV Networks Music and Logo Enterprise Group and Ellen Pittleman, SVP, Worldwide Acquisitions and DVD Premieres, Paramount Home Entertainment. Loretha Jones, SVP, MTV Films and Home Entertainment, will serve as lead production executive for all MTV and CMT projects, while Maggie Malina, SVP, VH1 Original Movie and Scripted Series, will head up all VH1 productions and Matt Bierman, Vice President Development, will help drive development from the Paramount Home Entertainment side.

Additional projects under the MTV, VH1, CMT and Logo brands, and partnerships will be announced at a later date.

MTV Networks owns and operates the cable television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV2, mtvU, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, TV Land, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, and Spike TV, as well as The Digital Suite from MTV Networks, a package of thirteen digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies, and a leader in the production, promotion, and distribution of entertainment, news, sports, and music. Paramount Home Entertainment is part of the operations of Paramount Pictures. Visit http://www.paramount.com/homeentertainment to learn more about Paramount Home Entertainment's new releases, as well as other classic Hollywood films, television programs, animated titles and family and special interest programming.

Source: MTV Networks Music

CONTACT: Marnie Black, MTV, +1-212-846-7004, marnie.black@mtvstaff.com, or Brett Henne, VH1, +1-212-846-6752, brett.henne@vh1staff.com, or Cindy McLean, CMT, +1-615-335-8404, cindy.mclean@cmt.com, or Brenda Ciccone, Paramount Home Entertainment, +1-323-956-8091, brenda_ciccone@paramount.com

Web site: http://www.mtv.com/ http://www.paramount.com/homeentertainment

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