Munich To Host 14th Annual MTV Europe Music Awards

MTV Networks International To Broadcast Europe’s Premier Multi-Screen Music Awards Live From Munich’s OlympiaHalle Arena on 1st November 2007

London/Munich, 12 March 2007: MTV Networks International (MTVNI) today revealed that it will be taking this year’s fourteenth annual MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) to Munich. Anchoring itself in Germany for the third time since the inaugural Awards in Berlin, the prestigious event will take place this year on 1st November at Munich’s premiere entertainment arena, OlympiaHalle, home to major international music and sporting events.

“Munich is one of Europe's great cities and will make an outstanding backdrop for the show. In OlympiaHalle, we have one of the world's best music venues that is perfectly equipped to cater for the technological demands of this global multi-platform event and will be a terrific setting for the glittering line up of artists. This year's show will build on last year's multi screen experience to allow audiences to experience the thrill of the event on any platform - whether at home, in person or on the go. We are planning many new elements to this year’s EMA festivities....watch this space!” commented Richard Godfrey, SVP Content & Music MTVNI and Executive Producer, EMAs.

Christian Ude, Lord Mayor of the City of Munich, commented: “I relish the prospect of this superlative musical event - an event that is so highly regarded, especially by youngsters and young adults around the globe. Munich will be an enthusiastic host to the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007. This event offers the city a tremendous opportunity to share its youthful vigour and vibrancy with the world."

“The MTV Europe Music Awards has been staged in Berlin and Frankfurt to much acclaim, and we’re delighted that Munich now has the opportunity to colour the event with its own local culture and personality. Munich is an eclectic city with strong music roots. The OlympiaHalle Arena has a stellar reputation as a leading entertainment centre attracting some of the biggest names in music – the perfect venue to welcome the EMAs to Munich”, added Catherine Mühlemann, Manager Director, MTV Networks Central.

Global communications company Sony Ericsson continues their two year partnership with the MTV Europe Music Awards. This year’s integrated multi-platform alliance will see the telecoms leader presenting a brand new interactive concept at the Awards, reflecting the undisputable parallel between music and technology in the lifestyles of European youth.

Built in 1972, the OlympiaHalle Arena hosted the gymnastics and handball events at the 1972 Olympics and is part of the large sporting precinct Olympic Park. The Arena also played host to the 1991 World Figure Skating Championships but additionally has opened its gates to some of the world’s biggest entertainment artists with recent and scheduled concerts including Shakira, Nelly Furtado, Snoop Dogg & P Diddy, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Aerosmith. Visitors to the Olympic precinct can take in the spectacular panoramic view of Munich and the Alps from the top of the Olympic Tower which is also used as a radio and TV broadcasting centre.

Since it’s inception in 1994, the MTV Europe Music Awards has established a reputation as one of the most sensational, maverick music award shows in the world. Ground-breaking multi-platform viewing options including live artist web-chat, exclusive web and mobile performances and WAP content downloads combined with dazzling performances from A-list stars makes for an electric atmosphere where anything can – and does – happen. Highlights included Justin Timberlake’s phenomenal performance of a medley of his hits, Snoop Dogg’s blistering outdoor set in Copenhagen’s town square against a backdrop of giant ice sculptures and Muse’s laser show performance of hit single ‘Starlight’. Past performers have included global music superstars Madonna, U2, Christina Aguilera, Foo Fighters, Aerosmith, Green Day, Coldplay, P Diddy and Robbie Williams.

Created with the aim of honouring the music and artists that Europeans love, the MTV Europe Music Awards take place in a different European city every year. Past host cities include Copenhagen (2006), Lisbon (2005), Rome (2004), Edinburgh (2003), Barcelona (2002), Frankfurt (2001), Stockholm (2000), Dublin (1999), Milan (1998), Rotterdam (1997), London (1996), Paris (1995) and Berlin (1994).

Last year, the MTV Europe Music Awards broadcast to a potential worldwide audience of more than 1.4 billion people in 179 countries including a live broadcast across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In addition to its 56 TV channels globally, MTV has 47 websites, 19 broadband services and 17 mobile TV channels and mobile video-on-demand services – including distribution to the majority of the world’s video-enabled mobile handsets.

About MTV Networks International
MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Comedy Central, Game One and IFILM. MTV Networks' brands are seen in 496.1 million households in 162 countries and 32 languages via 132 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 200 digital media properties. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).