Spend the Holiday Season with muchmusic usa Not One

Music Network Bans Sappy Christmas Songs in Favor of Music that Rocks!

New York, NY/Pasadena, CA – Western Show – December 6, 2002 – Throw another log on the fire, put on your favorite flannel shirt, serve up the egg nog, and turn on muchmusic usa during the month of December, and while you are at it – just to be safe – you might want to wear some ear muffs, cause its gonna be a loud month! muchmusic usa, the nation’s only viewer-driven all music network, announced today that unlike other music networks, it will not play one sappy Holiday music video throughout the month of December and will instead premiere a number of programming specials that rock!

“Lets be honest for a second, where does it say that since its December one has to see Hall and Oates’ version of “Jingle Bell Rock,” 841 times? And why, just because it’s the Holiday season, should my network force our young viewers to watch the Kinks’ “Father Christmas,” video? It does not make sense!” muchmusic usa President Marc Juris explained. “As a gift to our viewers, muchmusic is providing an alternative to the stale repurposed Christmas programming of other music video networks and are very excited to be premiering a series of programs that focus on new music. I can’t think of a better way for the whole family to enjoy the festive yuletide season, than joining together to watch the likes of Korn, Garbage, and No Doubt. It will be a joyous and wondrous time for all.”

Among those muchmusic usa programs debuting during the month of December:

Addicted to DVD
With many new rock DVD now in stock for the holiday season, muchmusic usa is airing a series of specials, entitled “Addicted to DVD,” which showcases specific artists and previews video clips from their latest DVD releases. Among those profiled: IncubusMorning View Sessions (12/2 – 8 PM ET); Marilyn MansonGuns, God and Government World Tour (12/3 – 8 PM ET); KornLive at Hammerstein Ballroom (12/4 – 8 PM ET), MetallicaLive Sh*t: Binge & Purge Seattle (12/5 – 8 PM ET); Live Sh*t: Binge & Purge San Diego (12/6 – 8 PM ET); and Ben FoldsLive (12/14 – 2:30 PM ET).

Voodoo Music Festival
For the second year in a row, muchmusic usa will exclusively feature the Voodoo Music Festival 2002, the all-day New Orleans celebration that brings together the best of rock, rap, hip-hop and jazz. Hosted by punk pop stars Sum 41, the mmusa special will showcase top concert attractions including No Doubt, Garbage, The Crystal Method and many more. The festival will premiere on muchmusic usa on December 5 at 9 PM ET.

Celebrity Tastemaker
muchmusic usa’s Celebrity Tastemaker, the show that brings high-profile artists with its fans to discuss musical preferences and experiences on-air and online, will premiere a number of new specials throughout the month of December. On December 6 at 9:30 PM ET, Disturbed will be featured, as the discuss how they dealt with their video “Prayer” from being banned from all major networks except for muchmusic usa. In addition, on December 13 at 8:30 PM ET multi-platinum artist, No Doubt, is showcased, as they discuss their rise to fame and a decade of domination. Finally, rockers Incubus are featured on December 20 at 8:30 PM ET.

Random Intelligence – Teen People’s “What’s Next?”
To find out what is destined to be the next big name to hit the charts, muchmusic usa will feature an exclusive airing of the Teen People‘s annual “What’s Next?” concert. The half-hour Random Intelligence episode will feature highlights, interviews and performances by a slew of A-list performers including Avril Lavigne, Dirty Vegas, Sahara Hotnights and others. This special will premiere on muchmusic usa on December 8 at 6 PM ET.

Kiss Off ’02

On December 22 at 2 PM, with the help of some very special – and very naughty – Kiss Off girls, the special will take a month-by-month look at the steamiest videos aired on muchmusic usa in 2002.

muchmusic usa is fastest growing all all-music channel (Nielsen 11/02). Through the use of the Internet, muchmusic usa empowers its viewers to control every aspect of its broadcast, allowing them to do everything from select the music video rotation to dedicate videos. Last year, muchmusic usa was ranked among the top five most popular networks with teens ages 13 to 17 years old according to Myers Media Brand Tracker, placing higher than NBC, ABC, CBS, UPN, Cartoon Network and The Disney Channel and higher than any other digital network. To find local channel designation for muchmusic usa in your area, log on to http://mmusa.tv/content/channel/and submit your zip code.

About muchmusic usa
muchmusic usa is the nation’s only viewer-driven all music network, featuring music videos and live concerts in an all-music-all-the-time format. The network programming is viewer influenced and generated. On muchmusic usa, viewers voice their opinions, influence what’s on the air, participate in discovering new music and even create music video programming to air on the network. For more information about muchmusic usa, please visit our Web site at www.mmusa.tv.

muchmusic usa is owned and managed by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. A subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) and NBC, Rainbow has been at the forefront of innovation in programming for more than 20 years. Rainbow also manages AMC, WE: Women’s Entertainment, Bravo, IFC, Mag Rack, muchmusic usa, Rainbow Sports Networks and News 12 Networks as well as the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. In addition, Rainbow is a fifty-percent partner in Fox Sports Net.

Press Contacts

  • Matthew Frankel
    Rainbow Media Holdings
    516-803-5141

  • Sal Cataldi/Sydney Masters
    Cataldi PR
    212-244-9797