Microsoft Teams With MTV to Provide Exclusive Sneak Peek at the
Debut of the Next-Generation Xbox
Elijah Wood and The Killers will host half-hour global premiere
with a performance from The Killers, airing exclusively on MTV
channels around the world May 12 and 13.
NEW YORK — April 11, 2005—MTV: Music Television and
Microsoft Corp. today announced a global marketing alliance to
unveil the next-generation Xbox® video game system on MTV channels
in the United States, Asia Pacific and Europe, all within a 24-hour
window — a first for the video game industry. The highly
anticipated console will be revealed to video game fanatics, music
lovers and MTV viewers via a high-energy half-hour program titled
“MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed.” The special will
be hosted by entertainment icon, seasoned gamer and Xbox fanatic
Elijah Wood, known globally for the Academy Award-winning “Lord of
the Rings” trilogy. Island Records’ renowned Las Vegas rockers The
Killers will deliver electrifying performances throughout the
special. The global broadcast will premiere Thursday, May 12, at
9:30 p.m. EDT in North America and on Friday, May 13 in other
regions around the globe (local air times below).
Viewers will get an exclusive look at the Xbox vision for the next
generation — one that ensures that the user experience is always
connected, always personalized and always in high definition. The
special will feature never-before-seen, action-packed gameplay of
future Xbox games, a peek into the future of the Xbox
Live™ online gaming service, backstage celebrity
interviews and exclusive insider footage on the making of the
next-generation console.
The inside look at the next-generation Xbox will continue at
MTV.com, where after the special, viewers will find extended event
coverage including behind-the-scenes video, photos and other
special extras. MTV.com will also provide ongoing in-depth coverage
of the next-generation Xbox highlighting the latest news, product
details and previews of hot next-generation games.
“We recognize and celebrate our viewers’ passion for gaming and are
excited to be working with Microsoft to launch such a significant
entertainment product,” said John Shea, executive vice president,
Integrated Marketing and Sponsorship Development, MTV Networks
Music Group. “We’re proud that Microsoft considers MTV the premier
global network to launch its new Xbox gaming console and reveal the
first look to MTV viewers around the world.”
“Just as MTV revolutionized the way the world experiences
music, the next-generation video game console from Xbox will spark
a revolution in how consumers experience games and other forms of
digital entertainment,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president
of worldwide marketing and publishing for Xbox at Microsoft. “We
are ecstatic about our alliance with MTV and unveiling a video game
platform in a way that has never been done.”
“MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed” will be broadcast
around the world. Local market times are as follows:
| North America: |
Thursday, May 12, at 9:30 p.m.
(21:30) |
| Japan/Asia: |
Friday, May 13, at 11:30 |
| Europe: France: |
Friday, May 13, at 19:00 |
| Germany: |
Friday, May 13, at 19:00 |
| Italy: |
Friday, May 13, at 23:30 |
| Netherlands: |
Friday, May 13, at 19:30 |
| Poland: |
Friday, May 13, at 21:00 |
| Portugal: |
Friday, May 13, at 20:00 |
| Romania: |
Friday, May 13, at 20:00 |
| Scandinavia: |
Friday, May 13, at 22:00 |
| Spain: |
Friday, May 13, at 21:30 |
| U.K.: |
Friday, May 13, at 20:00 |
| Australia: |
Friday, May 13, at 19:00 |
About MTV
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom
International Inc., is one of the world’s leading creators of
programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks,
with 100 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, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM
MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these
networks are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with
its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and
its more than 80 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.
MTV Networks launched its first international channel, MTV Europe,
in 1987. Since that time, the company’s international operation has
expanded to every region of the globe, owing much of its success to
a pioneering strategy of using local management teams to create and
market programming that connects with local audiences. The
company’s holdings also include locally operated Web sites
worldwide, as well as mobile entertainment, publishing, home
entertainment, radio, recorded music, licensing and merchandising,
and feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nick Movies.
About Xbox
Xbox (
http://www.xbox.com) is
the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together
for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox
delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful
hardware and the unified Xbox
Live online service. The tag
line, “It’s good to play together,” captures the spirit of Xbox as
the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is
now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.
About Xbox Live
A new frontier in imagination and extraordinary interaction, Xbox
Live offers rich online gameplay. The world’s only unified
global online console games service, Xbox
Live is
continuously innovating to provide members with unparalleled
experiences. This unique service unites gamers in a dynamic
community where they can experience the best online games,
exclusive programming and continuous downloadable content. Xbox
Live launched in the United States in November 2002 and is
available in 24 countries. Gamers can visit
http://www.xbox.com/live for more
information.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader
in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential.
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Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox Live
are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be
the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information, press only:
Carlos de Leon, Microsoft, (425) 703-3824, carlosde@microsoft.com
Katie Goldberg, Edelman for Microsoft, (206) 268-2244, katie.goldberg@edelman.com
Jennifer DeGuzman, MTV, (212) 258-7175, jennifer.deguzman@mtvstaff.com
Mark Levine, MTV International, (212) 846-7241, markj.levine@mtvstaff.com
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional
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http://www.microsoft.com/presspass
on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone
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since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and
analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other
appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp.
