ccma announcement 2

CMT Signs Historic Sponsorship Agreement to Present Country Music Week and Broadcast the Canadian Country Music Awards

Toronto, Ontario, August 4, 1999 - CMT Canada announced that it has entered into an unprecedented sponsorship as the presenter of Country Music Week 1999 -- beginning September 10 in Ottawa, Ontario. This arrangement includes the rights to co-present (with General Motors' Chevy Truck Division) and rebroadcast the 1999 Canadian Country Music Awards show. CMT also unveiled extensive plans to televise comprehensive coverage surrounding Country Music Week.

The annual awards show will be broadcast live from the Ottawa Civic Centre Monday September 13 on CBC Television. CMT will rebroadcast the program the following day (Tuesday September 14) at 8:30pm and 11:30pm EST. This will mark the first time that two television networks have presented an award show in Canada and the first time that the national country music network has broadcast the program to its 7.2 million subscribers.

"CMT is extremely proud to present Country Music Week and the CCMA Awards Show," said CMT General Manager, Vicki Dalziel. "CMT prides itself on its reputation of being an integral partner in Canada's country music industry. We recognize our responsibility to the industry and to our viewers and take it very seriously. This association with the CCMA, Country Music Week and the Awards Show helps to ensure that we continue to maintain a leading role in Canadian country music."

Dalziel also went on to add that she was extremely pleased to be able to join forces with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "We've had the pleasure of teaming up with the CBC before. They have an unrivalled reputation for their professionalism and their commitment to Canadian programming. We look forward to this cooperative venture," said Dalziel.

CMT's special Country Music Week programming will begin Tuesday, August 31 with the premier of CCMA Scrapbook. CMT Program Manager, Ted Kennedy explained that the 2 hour special program will be an entertaining retrospective on the 1999 CCMA Award nominees. "We'll look back on the artists' formative years, their families, the streets they lived on, the parks they played in, the schools they attended to the first club they performed in. It will be an insightful look into their lives away from the spotlight," said Kennedy.

Live "cut-in" reports from Ottawa will begin September 10 offering CMT viewers coverage of the various Country Music Week activities leading up to the Awards Show.

On Sunday, September 12 at 11am EST, CMT programming will turn 100% Canadian. Greg Shannon will host 9 consecutive hours of special programming featuring the music of Canada's premier country artists paying particular attention to the music of the CCMA nominees. Broadcast live from Ottawa, Shannon will visit various locations throughout the nation's capital.

CMT's special CCMA coverage culminates Tuesday, September 14 with the rebroadcast of the Canadian Country Music Awards show at 8:30pm EST. To lead into the awards show, the network has recruited music artist Stephanie Beaumont to host a 30-minute pre-show titled, Backstage at the CCMA's (starting at 8pm EST). This lighthearted program will offer a candid behind-the scenes look at the making of this year's award show, as CMT cameras rove backstage, into artist dressing rooms, through master control room and more.

Beaumont will be joined by Greg Shannon immediately following the main award show broadcast for CCMA Party Zone -- a 30-minute post-award show featuring reactions from the winners and runners-up. Beaumont and Shannon will report live from the gala parties that are normally reserved for artists and industry insiders. For the benefit of viewers in Western Canada, CMT will rebroadcast the three shows at 11:30pm EST.

Canadian Country Music Association President, Tom Tompkins applauded CMT's extensive sponsorship and ambitious production initiatives. "The additional exposure and promotion for the artists and events surrounding Country Music Week is a win for everyone involved including Canadian country fans," said Tompkins.

CMT - this Country's Music Television is the only 24-hour music and entertainment network that combines an engaging, entertaining blend of music videos with interesting programs and relevant features that focus on country music's artists and their music. CMT is seen in over 7 million Canadian homes and is featured on the Internet at www.cmtcanada.com.

CMT is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., one of Canada's fastest growing entertainment companies. It's core assets are comprised of 11 radio stations, a number of specialty television stations including YTV, Treehouse and CMT, and minority interests in Teletoon, Telelatino and Comedy Channel. Corus is also a key player in the digital music market (DMX) and local cable advertising services.