MTV to Rock Jocks on Super Bowl Show

http://news.excite.com/news/r/000823/04/variety-insided-2

NEW YORK (Variety) – As yet another sign of Viacom synergy, MTV will produce the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXV, which will air Jan. 28 on its corporate sibling CBS. MTV is also planning to air at least a two-hour block of NFL-themed programming on the day prior to the Super Bowl.

The NFL and CBS announced that MTV has been selected to produce the halftime show during Super Bowl XXXV.

With MTV having earned the reputation for executing some of the most successful and riveting live programming production specials, the NFL and CBS are looking to the music network to produce a spectacular music and entertainment halftime show.

Super Bowl XXXV will be held on Jan. 28, 2001 at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. and will air on CBS. Details to be forthcoming.

“We’re thrilled that the NFL and CBS has selected MTV to produce the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show,” said Van Toffler, president, MTV/MTV2. “Not only do we plan on staging an unforgettable music production, but we’re excited it will be airing on our new sister network, CBS. Our goal is to produce an incredible event that the Super Bowl audience will enjoy and remember for years to come.”

“MTV is recognized worldwide as the leader in music television because it continually invents new and exciting ways to deliver entertainment value,” said NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. “We are delighted to have MTV join us on Super Bowl Sunday and look forward to what promises to be a great broadcast on CBS and an innovative and memorable halftime show produced by MTV.”

“We are fortunate to work in a company that can combine the strengths of organizations like CBS and MTV,” said Sean McManus, president, CBS Sports. “While CBS Sports is concentrating all its efforts on broadcasting the biggest sporting event of the year, our friends at MTV will draw upon their expertise to present viewers with what will surely be a brilliant halftime production.”

The Super Bowl XXXV halftime show will be executive produced by Dave Sirulnick and Salli Frattini. Dennis Despie, veteran halftime show producer, will be back to produce the show for Select Productions, and Patrick Byrnes will be producing for MTV.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc., owns and operates five cable television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV 2, VH1, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, and TV Land all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. Information about MTV and MTV 2 is available on MTV Online, on America Online (Keyword: MTV) and the World Wide Web (http://mtv.com).