2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS Are Most-Watched Awards Premiere In Channel History

The premiere of the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS on Wednesday, June 9 scored with 3.04 million total viewers, making it the most-watched awards premiere in channel history. According to Nielsen Media Research, the two-and-a-half hour show scored a 1.42 rating among P18-49, up 19 percent over last year with an average 1.5 million viewers in the key demo. The show's performance from 8-10:30 p.m. drove CMT to become the most-watched network in the time period across cable with P18-49 and W18-49 impressions. More than 10.8 million viewers cumulative* tuned in for all related CMT Music Awards programming, including the live Red Carpet show and encore.

Hosted by Kid Rock, the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS featured performances from country music's biggest stars, including Jamey Johnson, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban with John Mayer and Zac Brown Band. Presenters included "Dancing With the Stars" competitors Erin Andrews and Maks Chmerkovskiy, Laura Bell Bundy, Sheryl Crow, Paula Deen, Kara DioGuardi, Gloriana, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Terrell Owens, Hayden Panettiere, Richard Petty, Kellie Pickler, Jada Pinkett-Smith, LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton, "Jersey Shore's" Snooki and The Situation, David Spade, Taylor Swift, Kenan Thompson, Carrie Underwood, Luke Wilson, Trisha Yearwood and Zac Brown Band.

The ratings success preludes a full slate of music programming for the network this summer. Making its summer return is the CMT hit series, THE SINGING BEE, hosted by Melissa Peterman, and the second annual BIG NEW MUSIC WEEKEND, a world premiere event debuting nine music videos from superstar artists on CMT, CMT.com and CMT PURE. Also premiering are new CMT CROSSROADS: John Mayer AND Keith Urban and CMT CROSSROADS: STEVE MILLER BAND and KENNY CHESNEY.

The 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS can be viewed in their entirety at CMT.com. The show will be retelecast on CMT Friday, June 11 at 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, June 12 at 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. The 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS RED CARPET SPECIAL will re-air on Sunday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. All times listed are ET/PT.

CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 90 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network's digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.

*Nielsen Media Research (cume P 2+ / 1 minute qualifier); related CMT MUSIC AWARDS programming including the CMT MUSIC AWARDS RED CARPET show at 7 p.m. ET, 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS telecast which aired at 8 p.m. ET and the re-telecast at 11:30 p.m ET.

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