VH1 Slates Beatles Programming

NEW YORK: VH1 and VH1 Classic are launching a programming event centered on The Beatles in support of the highly anticipated launch of MTV Games’ The Beatles: Rock Band on September 9.

To kick off the programming lineup, The Beatles Anthology simulcasts on VH1 and VH1 Classic on August 26, September 3 and September 9 at 9 p.m. Footage from The Beatles Anthology was compiled from interviews, studio sessions, films and home videos. Production took place over the course of five years.

On September 1, VH1 Classic launches 9 Days of Beatles, featuring documentaries, concerts and films centered on the Fab Four. 9 Days of Beatles premieres with The Beatles Retrospective, hosted by Mark Goodman. VH1 Classic will also premiere the classic movie Help! The Beatles Anthology 2 airs on September 2, simulcast on VH1. A Hard Day’s Night premieres on September 3, while the following day delivers The Making of Sgt. Pepper and Paul McCartney: St. Petersburg Live.

September 5 sees VH1 Classic airing John Lennon Live in NYC, followed on September 6 with the documentary Imagine: John Lennon. Two special concerts highlight September 7 programming: The Concert for Bangladesh Revisited and The Concert for George.

The Beatles programming continues with Storytellers: Ringo Starr on September 8, and wraps with The Beatles Anthology 3 on September 9, the day the new Rock Band game is available. The Beatles: Rock Band introduces, for the first time in a music video game, three-part vocal harmonies, allowing gamers to revel in the unparalleled vocal styling of The Beatles. The Beatles: Rock Band marks the first time that Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Harrisongs Ltdand Startling Music has agreed to present The Beatles music in an interactive video game format.