Country Music Television is placing more emphasis on long-form
programming.
Complementing its presentation of music videos, CMT announced the addition of
new installments to a number of its original series at its upfront presentation
to agencies and advertising executives in New York last week.
The MTV Networks unit said it would debut Elton John and Ryan Adams May 26
and Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow June 16 as part of its critically acclaimed
CMT Crossroads series, which pairs two artists from diverse
backgrounds.
The network has also doubled production of Inside Fame, its
first-person biography series, and it is now airing two new episodes monthly.
Upcoming episodes will feature Steve Earle, Montgomery Gentry and Rodney
Crowell, among others.
The network, now in just under 60 million homes, will also continue to air
its weekly performance series, Grand Ole Opry, from country music's
legendary stage, and CMT Most Wanted Live, its daily interactive and
performance show, co-hosted by Katie Cook and Greg Martin.
MWL provides the latest country-music news and information, artist
appearances and performances, world-premiere videos and input from the live
audience and viewers via CMT.com. The series
has featured more than 100 celebrity appearances and performances since its
launch less than one year ago.
Network officials also talked up the upcoming premiere of country music's
first-ever video-music awards, the CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards,
live from Nashville, Tenn., June 12 at 9 p.m.
CMT viewers have already cast 1.4 million votes at CMT.com. A news conference
to announce the finalists for one-dozen viewer-voted categories is slated for
Tuesday.
