CMT ORDERS A SECOND SEASON OF “CAN YOU DUET” FROM FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA

Producers of “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent” Bring Back Music Competition Show To CMT for June Premiere

LOS ANGELES February 3, 2009 CMT is once again looking for country music’s best new duo with their order of eight episodes of a second season of the weekly music competition show CAN YOU DUET from FremantleMedia North America, it was jointly announced today by Eugene Young, chief creative officer for FremantleMedia North America and Bob Kusbit, head of development for CMT. CAN YOU DUET is scheduled to premiere on CMT in June.

“Last year’s premiere of CAN YOU DUET was CMT’s highest-rated original series debut ever and we want to build on that success with another season in search of America’s next best duo.” says Kusbit.

“We’re looking for the next Sugarland, the next Big and Rich, the next Brooks and Dunn,” says Young. “Last year’s program proved that Can You Duet and CMT can discover top tier talent.”

Last year’s winners, Caitlin & Will, signed to Sony Music Nashville’s Columbia Records, and their debut single “Even Now,” is set to impact radio next month. Finalists Joey + Rory signed to Vanguard/SugarHill and released their debut album, Life of a Song in October 2008; and semi-finalists Kate and Kacey (The Coppolas) signed with Big Machine Records

Auditions for CAN YOU DUET will take place through open casting calls, showcases and videotaped submissions. The contestants compete as duos giving viewers a first-hand look at all the on and off-stage drama in creating a dynamic musical duo. The judges (to be announced) will critique each performance and decide who will advance to the next round, be sent home, and ultimately be crowned the best new country duo in America.

CAN YOU DUET is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Jeff Boggs (“Nashville Star,” “Spy TV”) is executive producer. Bob Kusbit, John Hamlin and Melanie Moreau serve as executive producers for CMT.

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative television programs for network, cable and syndicated platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon “American Idol” (FOX), “American Idol Rewind” (syndicated), “American Idol Extra” (Fox Reality), “America’s Got Talent” (NBC), “Celebrity Family Feud” (NBC), “The Osbournes: Reloaded” (FOX), “Hole In The Wall” (FOX), “Farmer Wants A Wife” (The CW), “The Phone” (MTV), “Rock The Cradle” (MTV), “Can You Duet” (CMT), “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” (Oxygen), “Match Game” (TBS), “Family Feud” (syndicated), “Million Dollar Password” (CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, “The Price Is Right” (CBS).

CMT, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and Heartland entertainment, reaching more than 88.5 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.

Source: CMT Press Release