MTVNI to Roll Out First Pan-European HD Service

LONDON/NEW YORK/WARSAW,
September 18: MTV Networks International (MTVNI) will launch its first
pan-European high-definition channel in 2008, featuring English-language music
content and a daily morning kids’ programming block that will air shows from
Nickelodeon.

The HD channel will be
operated by MTVNI’s Emerging Markets Group, who will produce and broadcast the
channel 24 hours a day from MTVNI’s Warsaw hub. There, it will join MTVNI’s
other pan-regional European services, MTV European, VH1 European and VH1
Classic European. Four Polish-language channels also operate from Warsaw: MTV
Polska, VH1, VIVA and Comedy Central.

Music content available on
the new HD service from launch will include series from MTVN such as MTV
Unplugged, VH1 Storytellers and CMT’s Crossroads, as well as key music events like the MTV Video Music Awards and the MTV Europe Music Awards. The service will also feature original and
acquired programming to be announced at a later date. There will also be a
daily kids’ programming block airing each morning that will host a stable of
hit shows from Nickelodeon, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar, Ren & Stimpy and
live-action series like Drake & Josh.

Additional information
regarding the launch of the HD service, including the name of the channel, will
be announced in the coming months.

MTV Networks in the U.S. launched
the high-definition channel MHD in January 2006 featuring performances, music
videos, interviews, tentpole events, music festivals, concert series, special
concerts, and other music-related elements. The network features music from a
variety of genres, as well as HDTV acquisitions and original content from MTV
Networks Music Group’s MTV, VH1, and CMT family of services.

“We believe that the
terrific clarity and surround sound aspect of the high definition medium are a
perfect complement to our music, young adult and kids programming,” commented
Bob Bakish, the president of MTVNI. “We are constantly looking for fresh,
innovative ways to bring programming to our audiences and actively embrace a
multi-brand, multi-platform strategy. Launching on HD is the natural next step,
and I’m really looking forward to seeing the channel become the ultimate
destination for lovers of great music and kids’ entertainment.”

Bakish continued: “We look forward to working with our satellite and
cable operator partners across Europe, and ultimately the world, to deliver
compelling product to feed the rapidly growing base of consumer high-definition
screens. With an increasing number of operators expecting to launch HD services
over the coming months, we're confident that this channel will only make their
offers even more appealing.”