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CHANNEL 4 TO BROADCAST "NAPSTER LIVE" TELEVISION SERIES PRODUCED BY BLAZE TV
New live music TV series scheduled for broadcast every Saturday night on Channel 4 from April 16 for six weeks beginning with spotlight on rock band Garbage LONDON - (April 5, 2005) - Napster UK, Ltd. a subsidiary of Napster, Inc. (Nasdaq: NAPS), has announced a deal with Channel 4 to broadcast "Napster Live", a series of 6 x 11 minute music television programmes featuring established and emerging acts. Each episode of Napster Live will consist of an exclusive performance of two songs by a featured artist, along with an interview, biography and competition spot. The programmes are being put together by independent television production house Blaze TV, responsible for the UK’s most watched weekly music show CD:UK, and will begin transmission on Channel 4 as part of its T4 Youth and Music programming at midnight on Saturday April 16 with a performance by rock band Garbage. Other acts confirmed for Napster Live on Channel 4 include MOBO-winning UK R&B artist Estelle and hotly-tipped new UK rockers The Subways. Napster Live on Channel 4 is the UK’s first ever national terrestrial television programme to be programmed by a digital music service. Napster Live already exists on the Napster digital music service as audio-only recordings, but the television show is a new format produced exclusively for Napster and Channel 4 by Blaze TV. Its music content will also be made available online at a later date on the Napster UK service. "We're incredibly excited to be teaming up with Napster on what feels like a truly unique and exciting proposition for 4Music," said Neil McCallum, Commissioning Editor, T4, Youth & Music. "The bands booked are exactly the sorts of artists we've been supporting and this allows us to capitalise on bringing even more live music to a wider, up-for-it audience." "To extend the Napster experience to television is the logical next step in the UK roll out of the biggest brand in digital music," said Leanne Sharman, Napster vice-president and UK general manager. "Channel 4 has a deserved reputation for groundbreaking and forward-looking programming as well as championing live music, so we’re delighted to make our TV debut on their platform. Napster is also extremely fortunate to have a partner like Blaze TV whose production skills, expertise and contact book have proven invaluable in creating this series." "In a world where the production and consumption of music are changing so drastically and so rapidly we are delighted to be involved with the market leader in music digital downloading and to have been given the opportunity to create exciting new programming for Channel 4 whose commitment to music, and especially new music, is unparalleled in the UK. We look forward to building a long relationship with Napster," said Conor McAnally, Blaze TV director of programmes. About Blaze TV Blaze is the music and entertainment division of Zenith Entertainment Ltd. Music productions include CDUK, which now broadcasts in the UK, Italy, Germany, Middle East, China and Japan, CD:UK Hotshots, Headliners, Re:Covered, H Side Story and Napster Live. Blaze has won 22 major awards in the past five years including 5 British Academy awards and four Royal Television Society Awards. About Napster Napster, the world’s biggest brand in digital music, is a subscription service that enables fans to access the world’s largest and most diverse online collection of music and experience the largest number of features. Napster subscribers have more ways to discover, share and acquire new music and old favorites with community features like the ability to email tracks to friends and browse other members’ collections. Subscribers to Napster can listen to full-length songs from every major record label and hundreds of independents on demand and transfer songs to their favourite Napster To Go™ compatible MP3 player for a low monthly fee. Napster also offers Napster Light, a "lighter" version of the service for those who just want to purchase songs and albums a la carte. Napster is headquartered in Los Angeles. Copyright © 2005 Napster, LLC All rights reserved. Napster, the Napster logo, Napster To Go, and Napster Light are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Napster, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks used are owned by their respective owners. Napster contact: Adam Howorth Communications Director Tel: +44 (0) 207 1017281 adam.howorth@napster.co.uk Blaze TV contact: Jo Hyland Account Director Premier PR Tel: +44 (0) 20 7292 8331 jo@premierpr.com
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