mtvU Taps Recent Wesleyan Grad Kim Stolz as New VJ

mtvU Taps Recent Wesleyan Grad Kim Stolz as New VJ

Up-and-Coming Actress, Model and Indie Music Geek to Host mtvU Series 'The Freshmen'

College Students to Decide Which New Music Videos Get Airtime on mtvU Every Week

NEW YORK, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- After thousands of submissions and a year long search, mtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network, today announced recent Wesleyan University graduate Kim Stolz as the channel's newest VJ. The self- described "music dork" will host several of mtvU's emerging music shows, including flagship series "The Freshmen" -- a weekly rundown of new music videos from artists bubbling up on the college scene. Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, Matisyahu and Franz Ferdinand have all debuted videos on the show and then graduated to MTV and MTV2.

Beginning in July, college students will be able to vote for their favorite "Freshmen" videos each week on mtvU.com, broadband channel mtvU Uber and via mtvU's mobile phone partners. The video with the most student votes will automatically enter full broadcast rotation on mtvU.

Kim is an electro-clash and indie pop fanatic who models and acts in her spare time. She was one of the final contestants on the fifth season of "America's Next Top Model," has appeared on the hit UPN series "Veronica Mars," and modeled for Women's Wear Daily, Seventeen and ELLEgirl. In addition to hosting duties on mtvU, Kim will also write a new music blog on mtvU.com and each week post music videos from the up-and-coming artists in her current rotation.

"Kim's so obsessive about new music and emerging artists, we decided to not hold the America's Next Top Model antics against her," said Ross Martin, head of programming for mtvU. "She's a role model, a college kid for the rest of her life, and a perfect host of The Freshmen."

"I'm psyched that at mtvU I'm able to work in both television and music, put all those countless hours I spent scoping out new music to good use, and continue modeling," Kim said. "It's still sinking in that my new job consists of interviewing hot new bands, traveling to college campuses across the country and being completely tapped in to the music that's going to break big in six months."

Every week, "The Freshmen" debuts five new videos from developing artists connecting with the college audience. During the show, college students watch new videos premiere and then weigh in with their reactions. With the addition of online and mobile voting, college students and new music fans now have the power to determine which new "Freshmen" videos get regular airtime on mtvU, distributed to over 730 college campuses and nearly seven million students nationwide.

Kim is also signed to prestigious modeling network Elite Model Management. She's worked with top designers including Marc Jacobs, modeled for Brooklyn Industries and walked the runway for Alice and Olivia Fall 2006 and the Gen Art 2006 Fashion Show, among others. Kim has been an active supporter of LGBT causes and attended the 2005 "Out 100" Awards, which honor annual significant contributions to gay life. Kim graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in Government and International Politics. For more information on Kim Stolz, please visit her VJ page on mtvU.com.

About mtvU

Broadcast to over 730 colleges across the country, with a combined enrollment of nearly seven million, mtvU is the largest, most comprehensive television network just for college students. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, mtvU can be seen in the dining areas, fitness centers, student lounges and dorm rooms of campuses throughout the U.S. mtvU is dedicated to every aspect of college life, reaching students everywhere they are, through a three pronged approach -- on-air, online and on campus. mtvU focuses on content including music videos from emerging artists which can't be seen anywhere else, news, student life features, events, pro-social initiatives and more. mtvU is always on campus, with more than 300 events per year, including exclusive concerts, giveaways, shooting mtvU shows and more. For more information about mtvU, and for a complete programming schedule, visit www.mtvU.com.

mtvU Uber makes mtvU the first MTV Networks channel distributed in its entirety via broadband, streaming 24/7 and on demand, featuring all of mtvU plus exclusive new music, original shows and student-produced programming for college students and music fans everywhere.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Source: MTV

CONTACT: Jason Rzepka, mtvU, +1-212-654-9198, jason.rzepka@mtvstaff.com,
or David French, MTV/MTV2/mtvU, +1-310-752-8110, david.french@mtvstaff.com

Web site: http://www.mtv.com/
http://www.mtvu.com/

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