(February 19, 2004 – New York) – Last night, Fuse music network surprised onetime "American Idol" wannabe William Hung with the offer of a lifetime – a record contract and music video production deal with Koch Entertainment, the largest independent record company in the country. Most famously remembered for his charmingly stilted, off-key, and ultimately failed rendition of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" at the Fox "American Idol" season auditions, the Hong Kong-born UC Berkeley civil engineering student has become an overnight pop culture phenomenon.
"As the underdog music video network, Fuse instantly identified with William's drive to do his best and 'have no regrets at all,'" said Marc Juris, president of Fuse. "Everyone one of us is joyfully guilty of singing our favorite song at the top of our lungs with wild abandon, all the while completely off-key and uninhibited. That's what William did and instantly won the hearts of America. Fuse reached out to our friends at Koch who will help make his dream of becoming a recording artist come true!"
Hung performed his now famous rendition of "She Bangs" during halftime at a UC Berkeley men's volleyball game on Wednesday night. At the end of his halftime performance, Fuse VJ Marianela Pereyra, Fuse President Marc Juris and Koch Entertainment Executive Vice President Allan Grunblatt surprised him with the offer for a recording deal with Koch entertainment, a music video for his
first single to air on Fuse television and a check for $25,000 should William decide to accept the offer.
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.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Rainbow Media owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; as well as the on-demand services: Mag Rack, Uncensored On Demand, World Picks On Demand and World Picks Networks. Rainbow Media's other businesses include its regional programming services MetroChannels, News 12 Networks and Rainbow Sports Networks in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow Media is also a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net.