MTV2 and Time Warner Cable Announce Rock Battle NYC: The Search for an Opening Act for the Rock Band Live Tour

MTV2 and Time Warner Cable Announce Rock Battle NYC: The Search for an Opening Act for the Rock Band Live Tour

MTV2 Judges To Choose Top 5 Acts To Perform Live on September 29th at Webster Hall for a Chance to Open the Tour

NEW YORK, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV2, in partnership with Time Warner Cable in New York City, is searching a top NYC band to open the Rock Band Live Tour featuring Panic At The Disco and Dashboard Confessional at the NYC-area tour stop. From now until September 22nd, fans can vote online at nyc.mtv2.com for their favorite NYC bands. MTV2 will review the top 20 and select five acts to perform at an exclusive event for Time Warner Cable customers at NYC's Webster Hall on September 29th.

"MTV is thrilled to partner with Time Warner Cable in innovative ways that drive value for its customers and our audiences," said Michael Joseloff, Vice President, Content Distribution & Marketing at MTN Networks. "This campaign positions Time Warner Cable as the premiere destination for local music and generates deeper engagement around the Rock Band franchise. "We look forward to continuing to embrace NYC music fans by showcasing their favorite emerging artists across all Time Warner Cable's platforms."

This weekend, Time Warner Cable customers in NYC had access to an exclusive presale window to purchase $2 tickets for the Rock Battle NYC event. Tickets go on sale to the general public today for $18, with proceeds benefiting a local New York City charitable organization. More information can be found by visiting www.websterhall.com.

"Time Warner Cable is delighted to bring this exclusive opportunity to New York City and give local artists a once in a lifetime chance to perform with some of today's hottest bands," said Harriet Novet, Regional Vice President, Time Warner Cable's New York City Region. "This partnership allows our customers to take part in the voting process and purchase tickets at a very minimal cost, which is a great way to give back to the communities we serve. After the concert, we will offer exclusive "Rock Battle NYC" on our local Video On Demand platform on Channel 1111," Novet added.

From September 3rd through September 12th, bands were able to submit online entries to Rock Battle NYC. Fans are able to vote for their favorites beginning today through September 22nd, with the top 20 bands being reviewed by MTV2's music experts to make it to the September 29th show. That night, celebrity judges including Brendon Urie and Ryan Ross from Panic At The Disco, and Chris Carraba from Dashboard Confessional will help choose the best performance, with the winner joining the Rock Band Live Tour for one big night at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on November 2nd.

MTV2 cameras will film the entire Rock Battle NYC show, and Time Warner Cable viewers will have access to exclusive video on demand content, including full musical performances, judge feedback, and interviews from the night's events.

The award-winning Rock Band 2 standalone made its debut on the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on Sunday, September 14, 2008 with an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 standalone wireless drums and guitars will also arrive at retail later in the week. In addition, look for the epic Rock Band 2 TV commercial featuring AC/DC's rock anthem "Let There Be Rock" that premiered during the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards at www.rockband2.com.

Rock Band Live (http://www.rockbandlivetour.com/) will travel across the country with headline acts Panic At The Disco and Dashboard Confessional, together on stage, with very special guests Plain White T's, The Cab, and possibly YOU! The concert tour will let Rock Band bands rock their way onto the main stage with a truly interactive experience that allows fans to compete in head-to-head competitions for the chance to play on the main stage in-between the tour acts' sets.

For more information on the tour and ticket sales, please visit www.rockbandlivetour.com.

About MTV Networks

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 150 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/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, 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 300 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.

About Time Warner Cable's New York City Region

Time Warner Cable's New York City Region serves over 1.4 million customers in four NYC boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and western Brooklyn), Mt. Vernon, Hudson Valley (Orange, Sullivan, Ulster Counties and parts of Dutchess, Greene and Delaware Counties) and Bergen and Hudson Counties, New Jersey. Visit timewarnercable.com/nynj.

Time Warner Cable is the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., with technologically advanced, well-clustered systems located mainly in five geographic areas -- New York State (including New York City), the Carolinas, Ohio, southern California (including Los Angeles) and Texas. As of June 30, 2008, Time Warner Cable served approximately 14.7 million customers who subscribed to one or more of its video, high-speed data and voice services, representing approximately 33.6 million revenue generating units.

Source: MTV2

CONTACT: Tom Biro of MTV, +1-862-485-0711, Tom.Biro@MTVstaff.com; or
Harriet Novet of Time Warner Cable's New York City Region, +1-212-379-5980,
Harriet.Novet@twcable.com

Web site: http://www.mtv.com/
http://www.websterhall.com/
http://www.rockbandlivetour.com/
http://www.rockband2.com/
http://www.timewarnercable.com/nynj

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