Spike TV and Major League Eating (MLE)(TM) Announce Four-Event Pact

Spike TV and Major League Eating (MLE)(TM) Announce Four-Event Pact

The First Event, the 'ST. PATRICK'S DAY CHOWDOWN,' Featuring Corned Beef and Cabbage, Beef Tongue and Green Donut-Eating To Air on Spike TV on St. Patrick's Day

NEW YORK, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking to take a bite out of the competition, Spike TV will telecast four MLE(TM) (Major League Eating) events in 2007, it was announced today jointly by Kevin Kay, General Manager, Spike TV and the directors of MLE. The first event, "MLE: ST. PATRICK'S DAY CHOWDOWN"(TM) will air on St. Patrick's Day emanating from Savannah, Georgia and involve the consumption of corned beef and cabbage, beef tongue and green donuts. The event will air same day tape on Spike TV Saturday, March 17 (7:00-8:00pm ET/PT).

"Guys are hungry for new and exciting sports on television that satisfy their craving for gut-busting action," notes Kay. "Spike TV is proud to be the new television home of competitive eating."

"Competitive eating is an increasingly popular sport and entertainment product and we're thrilled to be part of Spike's action-packed programming," said Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating.

The first annual "ST. PATRICK'S DAY CHOWDOWN"(TM) will occur in historic Savannah, Georgia on the banks of the Savannah River during one of the country's largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The preliminary rounds will involve such delicious gastronomical delights as beef tongue and the famed Irish dish of corned beef and cabbage. The final event, a green donut-eating contest, will include the two top eaters from the prelims.

Top MLE eaters will participate in the "ST. PATRICK'S DAY CHOWDOWN"(TM) including the legendary Takeru Kobayashi, Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, "Humble" Bob Shoudt and ChipBurger Simpson. George Shea, MLE's Chairman, will join Richard Shea to host the Spike TV telecast.

This marks Spike TV's first foray into competitive eating and the first multi-event television deal for the MLE. Brian J. Diamond is Senior Vice President, Sports & Specials, Spike TV. Peter V. Symuleski serves as Executive in Charge of Production for Spike TV. David Baer is Executive Producer for Shea Baer Productions, which will produce the series.

Major League Eating(TM) (MLE) is the world body that governs all stomach- centric sport. There were 100 MLE events in 2006. Major League Eating was developed by the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE), which was established in 1997 by George and Richard Shea, who have represented Nathan's Famous since 1988 and were responsible for developing the July 4th International Hot Dog Eating contest into its current form. Major League Eating produces events in the USA, England, Japan, Germany, Thailand and Canada.

Spike TV is available in 91 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc.

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Source: Spike TV

CONTACT: David Schwarz, Spike TV, +1-212-767-8639;
Shana Agron, Spike TV, +1-212-767-4275

Web site: http://www.spiketv.com/

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