MTV Viewers are Taking Over the '2008 Video Music Awards'

MTV Viewers are Taking Over the '2008 Video Music Awards'

Pop Phenoms Jonas Brothers Will Hit Stage for Their 1st Ever VMA Performance

Set to Air Live From Paramount Pictures on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 9pm (ET/PT)

SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV (http://www.mtv.com/) is letting fans participate in the 2008 Video Music Awards by giving them the opportunity to help decide this year's nominees, creating a kickass awards show with the music they want to hear and see. Coming off a heart-stopping performance on "FNMTV (http://www.mtv.com/ontv/fn-mtv/) Premieres," MTV's new Friday night music series, current pop culture sensation the Jonas Brothers (http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jonas_brothers/artist.jhtml) are set to make their first live VMA performance. MTV's 25th annual Video Music Awards will air live and only one time in its original incarnation, on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 9pm (Live ET/Tape Delayed PT). Host, presenters and additional performers will be announced at a later date.

"The VMA's has a long, sometimes twisted, always musical history of monumental moments that define each year and this year will be no exception," said Van Toffler, President, MTV Networks Music, Logo and Films Group. "By empowering our audience to help determine this year's nominees, taking over LA's Paramount Pictures movie studios and backlot for the summer's hottest artists to create over the top performances, your bet is as good as mine as to what may happen."

Each week at 8pm ET/PT on "FNMTV," two new categories will be announced and open for viewers to vote for their favorite artists and videos at vma.mtv.com, from their Verizon Wireless mobile phone by texting the name of the artist to 23882. Then on the following Friday's show, the finalists will be declared as the official nominees for that category. Fans need to act quick as "Best Male Video" and "Best Female Video" are the first to be available for voting. Categories to be announced in the upcoming weeks include: "Video of the Year," "Best Pop Video," "Best Hip Hop Video," "Best Rock Video," "Best New Artist" and "Best Dancing in a Video." In addition, the Ballots for "The 2008 MTV Video Music Awards" were sent to an exclusive industry group who will also determine the nominees for the telecast.

"This is an awesome opportunity. We have grown up watching all the amazing and iconic performances on the VMAs. It is an honor to be a part of something so incredible," said Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas.

On the heels of a sold out summer tour and a platinum debut album, Jonas Brothers are adding to an already impressive resume by making their first ever VMA appearance. Giving fans a glimpse of the chaos and powerhouse performances to come, the pop superstars will perform a new song off their upcoming album A Little Bit Longer which hits stores August 12th.

Official sponsors of "2008 Video Music Awards" are GM, Pepsi, TAG Body Spray, Taco Bell, Rhapsody and Verizon Wireless.

Jesse Ignjatovic/Den of Thieves is the Executive Producer, for the "2008 MTV Video Music Awards." Dave Sirulnick is Executive Producer. Chris Choun/Ish Entertainment is Co-Executive Producer. Jane Mun is Producer. Amy Doyle, Joanna Bomberg and Robin Katz are Music Talent Executives. Robin Reinhardt- Locke is Celebrity Talent Executive. Garrett English is Executive in Charge of Production.

Telescope is the Official Business Advisor of the "2008 MTV Video Music Awards" Nominee Voting period.

Related Links:
FNMTV VMA's Nominees Voting Page: vma.mtv.com
MTV Press Center: www.mtvpress.com

Jonas Brother's Make VMA Announcement: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1591091&vid=258434

2008 VMA Logo: http://mtvpress.com/img/releases_downloadable_art/VMA08_logo_horizontal_ver2.j pg (Due to length of URL, please cut and paste link into browser)

About Telescope Inc.

Telescope is a participation media and mobile marketing pioneer. The company provides mobile, phone, and internet interactivity services. This includes mass-scale participation television with the world's largest phone voting solution; and mobile marketing and content programs, such as user- generated content, social networking; and CRM for media and advertiser clients. Telescope is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with offices in New York and London. Visit us at www.telescope.tv.

About MTV

MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 26 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV has been the number one rated 24 hour ad-supported cable network P12-24 for 16 straight years. Online, MTV.com scored double-digit growth in 2007 and MTV launched ten dynamic online communities and six new virtual worlds. On the go, MTV Mobile is the #1 music brand in the wireless space -- delivering 90% more streams than in 2006. And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE: VIA.B), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in ... www.mtvpress.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: MTV

CONTACT: Jennifer DeGuzman, +1-212-846-7175,
jennifer.deguzman@mtvstaff.com, or Melissa Barreto, +1-212-846-7226,
melissa.barreto@mtvstaff.com, or Emily Yeomans, +1-310-752-8074,
emily.yeomans@mtvstaff.com

Web site: http://www.mtv.com/
http://www.vma.mtv.com/
http://www.mtv.com/ontv/fn-mtv
http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jonas_brothers/artist.jhtml
http://www.telescope.tv/
http://www.mtvpress.com/

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