All-Music Network Partners with Documentary Filmmaker
to Cover National Political Conventions
(New York, July 26, 2004) – Fuse, the nation' s only viewer-driven, all-music network, announced today the kick-off of its "Electile Dysfunction 2004" campaign to conquer youth voter apathy and give young voters of today – and tomorrow – a forum to voice their issues for the 2004 presidential election.
Coinciding with the kick-off of the Democratic National Convention on July 26 and continuing through Election Day on November 2, Fuse will air rousing and provocative voter turn-out PSAs and on-air programming that call on its 12-34 year old viewers to respond to daily online polls and surveys to discuss the real issues that most affect their lives and their votes.
Fuse VJs will bring viewer issues directly to the politicians, delegates and celebrities in special reports from both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions which will be featured on Fuse' s flagship live daily telecast, "Daily Download" (Monday through Friday, 6:00 – 7:00 PM ET) . During the Republican National Convention, Fuse will air expanded two-hour live coverage featuring debates between artists, politicians and young viewers, from its street-front New York City studio located directly across from Madison Square Garden, the site of the RNC (Monday, August 30 through Friday, September 3; 6:00 – 8:00 PM ET) .
"Fuse' s ' Electile Dysfunction 2004' campaign will take the heart of the political system to task with a bold call-to-action for young voters to ' Get Up The Vote' in this year' s presidential election," said Marc Juris, president of Fuse. "As the only music network that gives viewers a choice in the music they watch, Fuse will amplify our audience' s voice by airing the issues that truly effect their lives and their votes."
"From the war on terror and gay marriage, to file sharing and junk food in school cafeterias, Fuse viewers are voicing the issues they want the candidates and campaigns to address," said Rob Weiss, Head of Programming for Fuse.
As part of Fuse' s "Electile Dysfunction 2004" programming, the network will air a series of provocative 30-second artist PSAs encouraging young viewers to vote on Election Day, staring musicians such as Black Eyed Peas, Chingy, Jadakiss, Ying Yang Twins, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Coheed and Cambria, Yellowcard and many more.
Fuse has also teamed up with documentary filmmaker David Burrows to co-produce exciting, behind-the-scenes coverage at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Burrow' s non-partisan film "America Speaks Out" will continue the discussions by offering viewers an expanded VIP look at how political conventions come together, who attends them and why.
"We want to offer Americans more insight into the political conventions than what they' ll see on the networks. We' ll be attending fundraisers, concerts, invitation-only parties, protests and even catching private conversations in the hallway," Burrows said. "It will be an entertaining, educational and most humorous venture into the world of politics," he added.
A portion of proceeds from the documentary will benefit various charities already addressing important issues of education, healthcare and free speech. Several charities benefiting from the project will include: The Creative Coalition, Children' s Medical Center of Dallas, Project Vote Smart and Music For All Foundation.
For more information:
www.Fuse.tv/vote
www.AmericaSpeaksOut.org
About Fuse:
Fuse, a network of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, is the nation' s only all-music, viewer-influenced television network, featuring music videos, exclusive artist interviews, live concerts and specials — all rooted in the music experience. Fuse reflects the rapidly changing interests and attitudes of its 12-34 year-old audience by uniting the media platforms that are at the center of their communication and entertainment – TV, online, and interactive games – and by incorporating their opinions and suggestions into its on-air and online programming. More information about Fuse is available at www.fuse.tv .