MTV Latin America Will Produce 'Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged' in Mexico City in March 2008

- Julieta Venegas to Record Twentieth Edition of MTV Unplugged Series
- Special Will Premiere on MTV Latin America, MTV Tr3s and MTV Spain in June 2008 and Will Be Made Available to All MTV Channels Worldwide

MIAMI, Feb. 12, 2008 -- MTV Latin America, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), announced today that Sony/BMG singer/songwriter Julieta Venegas will record the next edition of its MTV Unplugged franchise. This edition of the show marks the franchise's twentieth edition produced by MTV Latin America and the first MTV Unplugged to be taped in Mexico City. Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged will be recorded in March 2008 and will premiere on MTV Latin America, MTV Tr3s and MTV Spain in June 2008 (exact air date to be announced).

The Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged will provide an acoustic platform for the Tijuana native to debut new songs and perform some of her biggest hits in an intimate setting before a live audience. Featuring elaborate arrangements, remarkable instrumentation and surprising artist collaborations, the show will be available to all MTVs around the world and will be offered to select broadcast television channels. In addition, Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged will be released on CD and DVD and will be distributed worldwide in June 2008 by Sony/BMG.

''We are very happy to celebrate the music of Julieta with an MTV Unplugged,'' said Jose Tillan, Senior Vice President of Creative, Content and Music for MTV/VH1 Latin America. ''The show will have an intimate musical platform through which her established hits coupled with some new songs will be performed by a very interesting musical ensemble. I am sure it will delight the MTV audience and guarantee a unique experience for our viewers. This Unplugged is sure to be very special.''

''I am very happy about doing this project with MTV. It really is a great challenge for me to recreate the music I have already composed and take it to another level; to whom I am today,'' commented Julieta Venegas. ''I am looking forward to a great party. Something nice, festive and fun and with the team we're putting together, it's going to be great ... how exciting!''

''We are thrilled to bring forth this MTV Unplugged with Julieta Venegas as it will reveal an intimate Julieta, with lots of charisma and overall showcase her amazing talent,'' commented Miguel Trujillo, General Director of Sony/BMG Music Entertainment Mexico. ''In addition, this event will demonstrate the quality and good taste with which MTV presents its Unpluggeds.''

Julieta Venegas is known not only for her amazing musical talent and as a gifted songwriter, but also for her distinct interpretive style which has allowed her to take her music outside of her native Mexico. Having been invited by various artists to collaborate musically and with her voice, Venegas has demonstrated her remarkable talent and acceptance internationally.

Venegas' last studio album Limon y Sal achieved triple platinum and gold status in Mexico, United States, Chile and Argentina, in addition to almost receiving double platinum status in Spain. Limon y Sal also achieved gold status in Central America, Colombia, Switzerland and Venezuela and her music was edited for the first time with this album in Italy and Switzerland where it has been widely accepted. Throughout her 11-year career, Venegas has garnered several international awards including a 2004 Latin Grammy for ''Best Alternative Music Album.'' In 2004, she was the big winner at the MTV Video Music Awards Latin America, garnering three trophies: ''Artist of the Year,'' ''Best Solo Artist'' and ''Best Artist - Mexico.'' Venegas was also named ''Best Solo Artist'' at Los Premios MTV Latin America 2006 and ''Best Pop Artist'' at Los Premios MTV Latin America 2007.

Jose Tillan, Senior Vice President of Creative, Content and Music for MTV/VH1 Latin America, will serve as Executive Producer of the show. The producer of the show will be Michael Dagnery, Vice President of Ad Sponsored Development and Special Projects for MTV/VH1 Latin America and MTV Tr3s. Vicente Solis, Vice President of Content for MTV and VH1 Latin America, North Cone will serve as Co-Producer.

MTV Latin America's MTV Unplugged concert series includes 19 productions that have prompted recognition from several industry giants. The Ricky Martin MTV Unplugged won two 2007 Latin Grammy awards in the categories of ''Male Pop Vocal Album'' and ''Best Long Form Music Video.'' The Alejandro Sanz MTV Unplugged won three 2002 Latin Grammy awards for ''Album of the Year,'' ''Record of the Year'' and ''Song of the Year.'' Mexican band Mana received a Latin Grammy in the ''Best Pop Group or Duo'' category for their 2000 MTV Unplugged. In 2002, Colombian sensation Shakira garnered a Grammy and two Latin Grammy awards for her MTV Unplugged album and most recently, Diego Torres quadrupled sales in the US and received a ''Best Latin Pop Album'' Grammy nomination for his MTV Unplugged compilation as well.

The MTV Unplugged series creates a space where artists can reinvent their music and perform new and well-known songs in an intimate, acoustic setting before a live audience. The series premiered on MTV U.S. in 1989 with the British rock band Squeeze, while MTV Latin America produced its first episode with Argentine band Fabulosos Cadillacs in 1994. To date, MTV has produced more than 100 MTV Unpluggeds internationally, 19 of which have been produced by MTV Latin America.

MTV Networks Latin America, Inc., a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates MTV Latin America, Nickelodeon Latin America, VH1 Latin America, Viacom Networks Brazil and the MTV Networks Digital Suite, a package of three digital services -- MTV Jams, MTV Hits, and VH1 Soul. Customized versions of the brands in Spanish and Portuguese can be seen throughout Latin America in more than 20 countries. MTV Networks Latin America also connects with its audiences interactively through its websites: www.mtvla.com, www.mundonick.com and www.vh1la.com, as well as through its broadband and community sites: www.mtvrevolution.com, www.mundonick.com/nickturbo and www.lazona.com.

MTV Tr3s is the most-widely distributed TV network dedicated to superserving today's bicultural Latino youth. MTV Tr3s' programming is rooted in the fusion of American and Latino music, cultures, lifestyles and languages. Music programming is at the core of MTV Tr3s and the channel features hitmakers, emerging artists and new sounds that resonate with young U.S. Latinos. In addition to music programming, MTV Tr3s programming slate also features lifestyle series, news, documentaries and other long-form programs that celebrate US Latino hybrid identity and culture.

SOURCE MTV Latin America

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