fuse Launches Local Market Tour Connecting Viewers Directly to the Brand

fuse Get Malled tour to stop in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago & New York

f.y.e. – for your entertainment and MIKE AND IKE® Sign On As Sponsors

New York, July 17, 2006 – fuse, the nation's only viewer-influenced music network, announced today that it will launch a local markets tour, bringing the network and its multiple tiers directly in contact with fuse viewers. fuse's Get Malled tour, the network's first grassroots promotional initiative, will visit hometown malls in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and New York, allowing viewers to experience the national brand on a personal, localized level. The fuse's Get Malled tour kicks off July 17th at Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia, followed by Independence Mall in Boston on July 31st, Gurnee Mills Mall in Chicago on August 5th and ending at the Palisades Center in New York on August 15th. To drive advance awareness and event coverage fuse is working with top rated radio stations in Philadelphia with Wired 96.5, in Boston with WFNX 101.7 and in NY with Z100.

fuse will chronicle the tour in a 16-part, hourly series reflecting all the antics happening in each location. The fuse's Get Malled tour will feature artist segments, music videos, interviews, contests and a behind-the-scenes look of each city. The show, hosted by fuse VJs Marianela from Daily Download and Steven Smith from Steven's Untitled Rock Show, will showcase familiar fuse faces along with up-and-coming, on-air talent. Former Full House actress Jodie Sweetin, best known for her role as middle-child Stephanie Tanner, is the tour's official celebrity co-host. fuse's Get Malled tour will also feature special guest appearances by Jesse Metcalfe from the movie John Tucker Must Die (Philadelphia), actor Justin Long from the upcoming movie Accepted (Boston), She Wants Revenge (Chicago) and Sugarcult (New York). The fuse's Get Malled tour premieres on air Monday, July 31st at 5PM EST.

Today's announcement comes on the heels of a number of significant brand developments led by Catherine Mullen, who was named General Manager of the network six months ago. These included the development of the network's original music programming schedule; the expansion of content across multiple media platforms including fuse OnDemand, fuse.tv and fuseMobile; the creation of a domestic and international program development team; and the launch of the popular, dancing music show Pants-Off, Dance-Off.

"fuse's Get Malled tour is another key example of our commitment to listen to our audience," stated Catherine Mullen, Executive Vice President and General Manager of fuse. "The primary goal of the tour is to provide a platform for top name artists and celebrities to interact directly with our viewers on a local, grassroots level, while continuing to build the fuse brand."

The fuse's Get Malled tour features a comprehensive, multi-platform roll-out strategy with exclusive content available across all platforms including the linear network, fuse.tv, fuseMobile and fuseOn Demand. The network's wireless service, fuseOnTheGo will host exclusive content. Beginning August 7th through August 25th, 3-minute mobisodes will be available, featuring artist segments, music videos, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. fuseMobile will act as a gateway for viewers to participate in polls, txt/chats and contests. Throughout the month of August, fuse OnDemand will include celebrity video playlists, featuring artists appearing at the Get Malled tour. fuseOnline will feature a Get Malled webpage ten days prior to each event, with a call-to-action for fans to visit the malls and participate. fuse.tv will prompt viewers to submit "Your Mall Stories" for fuse's media blog. Viewers will be able to submit questions for mall guests for web-exclusive Q&A's and web-exclusive video clips. In addition, a 'Best Of' fuse's Get Malled special will air in October.

f.y.e. – for your entertainment, the leading specialty retailer of music, is the tour's presenting sponsor, and MIKE AND IKE® candies, is the tour's associate sponsor. f.y.e. – for your entertainment will receive logo presence at the top of each fuse's Get Malled tour hosted segment and :30 customized promos will run throughout fuse programming each day (M-F) to tout that specific day's f.y.e. "Download of the Day," 1,000 of which will be provided to fuse viewers. Online, the f.y.e. "Download of the Day" will be promoted at fuse.tv/downloads. At all 4 mall locations, the f.y.e. retail outlet will host the show open of the fuse's Get Malled tour at the location. As associate sponsor, MIKE AND IKE® chewy fruit flavored candies will receive customized vignettes, branded segments during the fuse's Get Malled tour show and inclusion into the audience goody bag distributed at each event. fuse will also co-host a branded sweepstakes with MIKE AND IKE® brand candies on fuse.tv where the grand prize winner receives an all-expense paid trip to fuse studios in NYC.

About fuse
fuse is the nation's only viewer-influenced, music television network, featuring music videos, exclusive artist interviews, live concerts, series and specials. fuse reflects the rapidly changing interests and attitudes of its 12-34 year-old audience by uniting the media platforms at the center of their communication and entertainment – TV, Web, mobile technologies and interactive gaming by incorporating their opinions and suggestions into the network's on-air and online programming. More information about fuse is available at www.fuse.tv.

About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic programming with linear networks including national networks – AMC, fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; its regional programming service – Rainbow Sports Networks; on-demand networks including Mag Rack and sportskool; and the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere – the VOOM HD Networks. Rainbow's other businesses include its film distribution, production and exhibition division – IFC Entertainment; in addition to its advertising sales division – Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation – and its full service network programming origination and distribution company – Rainbow Network Communications.

Press Contacts

  • Lisa Rogen
    Rainbow Media for fuse
    (917) 542.6216
    L1Rogen@rainbow-media.com