Verizon Wireless to Sponsor Online and Mobile Content; Post Bonus Content on V Cast

MTV today announced that "Valemont," its all-new scripted, supernatural mystery series, co-produced with Electric Farm Entertainment, will premiere on Tuesday, September 29. "Valemont" is the first short-form series of its kind: a co-branded project that seamlessly weaves the narrative throughout linear, digital and mobile platforms. For six consecutive weeks, two and a half minute episodes of "Valemont" will premiere in the commercial pods directly preceding "The Hills" (10 p.m. ET/PT) and following "The City" (10:30 p.m. ET/PT). The concluding 23 episodes of the series will be made available online at MTV.com and on V Cast Video from Verizon Wireless, along with other bonus footage.

"Valemont" follows 18 year-old Sophie, played by Kristen Hager ("Wanted," "Aliens vs. Predator," "I'm Not There"), as she infiltrates Valemont University, an exclusive and distinguished East Coast college that her brother Eric attended. As Sophie delves deeper into the mystery of her brother's disappearance from school, more details emerge about her family and the origins of the elite Valemont students.

Eric will be played by Eric Balfour ("Six Feet Under," "24," "The O.C.") and "Valemont" will co-star Nikki Blonsky ("Hairspray," "Ugly Betty"), Jessica Parker Kennedy ("Smallville") and Dillon Casey ("Warehouse 13").

Verizon Wireless' phones will play an integral role in the storyline, as each episode begins with a video clip or text message from Eric's mobile device. The phones will provide clues to characters in the show, as well as to viewers watching at home - through SMS messages that fans can register to receive - and through an online gaming experience at ValemontU.com. In addition, a five second Verizon Wireless billboard will close each new episode of "Valemont," driving to additional exclusive content on V CAST.

"With 'Valemont,' we're taking storytelling to new heights by incorporating central parts of the show's narrative on-air, online and on mobile," said John Shea, Executive Vice President of Integrated Marketing, MTV Networks. "What's great about this integration with Verizon Wireless is how the mystery of 'Valemont' unfolds for its characters across platforms, mirroring the way the audience receives information and interacts with the show."

At ValemontU.com, visitors can apply to the school and receive an interactive Verizon Wireless phone that immerses them into the inner-workings of the private university as a part of the story. Registered users will then engage with clues, tasks and messages that are embedded throughout the site's offerings, which include campus photos and maps, blogs from professors and students, and active in-character student Twitter accounts. MTV and Verizon Wireless will promote Valemont University as a "real" educational institution with listings on Ratemyprofessor.com, mtvU.com and on VerizonWireless.com/Valemont.

About MTV

MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 27 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV is the number one rated full-day ad-supported cable network for P12-24. Online, MTV.com grew a healthy +9% from 1Q09, averaging 23.6M unique visitors for the second quarter of 2009. The site continues to grow video content streams, up significantly from 1Q09 by +15%, generating a whopping 262.2M streams in Q209, a +7% increase from the same time period last year. And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in. . . www.mtvpress.com.

MTV
Jeannie Kedas, +1-212-846-4629
Jeannie.Kedas@mtvstaff.com
or
AJ Sarcione, +1-310-752-8082
AJ.Sarcione@mtvstaff.com
both of MTV
or
Katrina Moran of Electric Farm, +1-818-237-6623
Katrina@electricfarment.com