NEW YORK, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV and Verizon Wireless today announced a new event series titled "MTV Live" which will feature live artist performances from some of the biggest names in music. The monthly series will be recorded in front of a live audience at the Hard Rock Cafe NY in Times Square and will be presented as a multi-platform program across MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Tr3s, MTV.com and on MTV Mobile on V CAST. "MTV Live" will be powered by Verizon Wireless and the first episode will premiere on MTV on February 6 at 11:30pm with a commercial free performance by Fall Out Boy. Artists Nas, Akon, and Gym Class Heroes have been booked for future shows.

"MTV Live" will be specifically customized for each screen. In-show features will include a live text-to-screen element that will allow Verizon Wireless subscribers to submit comments and shout-outs from their cell phones that will appear as a crawl across the bottom of the screen in real-time during the show. Additionally, video footage shot on cell phones during the performance will be edited into several of the platform offerings. MTV Mobile on V CAST will feature exclusive performance content from each show and will also offer artist interview segments. "MTV Live" will be available online at http://www.mtvlive.mtv.com/.

"'MTV Live' is a new way for us to connect music fans with their favorite artists by incorporating a wide variety of on-air, online and on-mobile elements throughout every show," said Christina Norman, President, MTV. "This partnership with Verizon Wireless enables us to make the biggest footprint for the artists across multiple screens and really bring the live performance experience to our audience on different devices."

"MTV and Verizon Wireless are two powerful brands, with significant relationships in this rapidly changing music landscape," said Tim Rosta, Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing, MTV. "This program will result in a strategic alliance that will amplify these relationships and bring new music to a larger audience."

"Verizon Wireless is an industry leader in providing quality entertainment for enjoyment by customers anytime, from anywhere on the Verizon Wireless network," said John Harrobin, vice president marketing and digital media. "By bringing "MTV Live" to the handset, we not only satisfy the growing appetite of our customers but we also expand a relationship with MTV that delivers fresh, creative content for V CAST customers."

"MTV Live" is executive produced by Paul A. DeBenedittis, Tony DiBari, Tim Healy and Nancy McDonald and produced by Fearless Entertainment.

Fearless Entertainment is a full service music marketing and production company that develops cutting edge programming and services for some of the world's most prominent corporate and cultural organizations. Fearless Entertainment uses music as its center point because music is both the most personal as well as the most universal means of communicating to a target audience. http://www.fearless-entertainment.com/.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 120 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

CONTACT: Jay Jay Nesheim of MTV, +1-212-846-7166,
Jayjay.nesheim@mtvstaff.com

Web site: http://www.mtv.com/
http://www.mtvlive.mtv.com/
http://www.fearless-entertainment.com/