TNN Grabs “MAD-TV” For Its 2001 Schedule

(April 18, 2001 – New York, NY) - TNN has acquired the cable rights to the popular off-net series, “MAD-TV,” a comedy sketch series that parodies, lampoons and satirizes pop culture, it was announced today by Diane Robina, Executive Vice President and General Manager, TNN, and Eric Frankel, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. “MAD-TV” will join TNN’s 2001 schedule as part of its re-branding as TNN: THE NATIONAL NETWORK, America’s first pop culture network. Produced by QDE (Quincy Jones, David Salzman Entertainment), “MAD-TV” is now in its sixth season on Fox, where it ranks #2 with Men 18-49 and #1 with teens. Presenting what TV Guide has called “the most inspired lunacy on television,” “MAD-TV” offers movie satires, tv series spoofs, music video parodies, commercial spoofs, political satire and social commentary, as well as short animated segments adapted from Mad magazine. In addition to a talented cast, “MAD-TV” has featured a variety of well-known guests including Jennifer Love Hewitt, Carmen Electra, Queen Latifah, Patrick Stewart, Neve Campbell, KISS, Sandra Bernhard, Susan Sarandon and LL Cool J. “'MAD-TV’ is a perfect complement to TNN’s new pop culture positioning,” says Diane Robina. “This popular series parodies pop culture phenomena and pop icons in a humorous and entertaining way – just as Mad magazine does. And it’s perfect commentary on the pop culture programming featured on the new TNN.” Coast to coast, TNN is connecting Adults 18-49 to the tops in pop culture such as the World Wrestling Federation’s RAW IS WAR, cable's top-rated series, and is connecting viewers to network decision-makers 24 hours a day through its toll-free number, 1-888-POP-1090. Under the banner of "We've Got Pop," TNN invites its viewers to call and talk about what's pop on television, on movie screens and in their hometowns. Viewers’ voices and faces show up on the network, talking about whatever's on their minds. Since TNN started 1-888-POP-1090, more than 20,000 calls weekly have come in from all over the country. TNN's program schedule will include 50% original programming by the year 2005. MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, NICKELODEON/NICK at NITE, TV LAND, TNN: THE NATIONAL NETWORK, CMT: COUNTRY MUSIC TELEVISION and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of nine digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide. In addition, MTV Networks operates the MTVi Group and Nickelodeon Online, a portfolio of leading Internet properties built to address every interest of today's music fan and Internet-savvy kid. Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution is one of the leading suppliers of programming to the cable and satellite marketplaces. It is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of Warner Bros. feature films, television series, miniseries, television movies and specials to the pay television and basic cable markets, as well as feature films to the broadcast networks. The division currently supplies programming to a dozen broadcast networks, 30 pay television and nearly 100 basic cable networks. # # #