MTV Networks Heralds the November Launch of Caribbean Channel Tempo with 'Caribbean Rising' - an Exciting Series of Concerts Across the Region

NEW YORK, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Tempo, the new cable television network dedicated to Caribbean music and culture, has announced it will celebrate the channel's November launch by hosting a series of concert events in various Caribbean markets. Jamaica will kick off the concert series (October 15 & 16), followed by events in Barbados (October 21), St. Maarten (October 25), St. Croix (October 27), Nevis (October 30) and Trinidad & Tobago (November 5). Cable & Wireless, the leading International telecommunications company, has joined forces with the Network as its lead sponsor for these events.

Tom Calderone, General Manager, VH1, is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of Tempo. "Tempo represents MTV Networks' ongoing commitment towards offering programming to underserved consumers -- in this case, the prominent and ever-growing Caribbean community," said Calderone.

"We are thrilled to be celebrating Tempo's debut with some of the best musicians from the region and around the world. The response from artists has been incredible, and they're excited about the opportunity to reach their audiences through this platform," said Frederick Morton, Senior Vice President, MTV Networks. "Additionally, we're very proud to be partnering with Cable and Wireless on these events, and look forward to working with them in the future as Tempo grows."

The concert events will showcase the diversity of the Caribbean with over 80 artists from across the region and beyond, featuring all the different genres of music from the Islands including, Reggae, Dance Hall, Reggaeton, Soca, Pan, Quelbe, Calypso, etc. Among the artists appearing are: Luciano, Morgan Heritage, Elephant Man, Bounty Killa and Lady Saw (Jamaica); Rihanna, Rupee and Allison Hinds (Barbados); Ebony & Steelpan Orchestra, Control Band, King Beau Beau, and Youth Wave (St. Maarten); Midnite, Extaushaun, Stanley & 10 Sleepless Nights and Xpress Jam Band (St. Croix); Ivy Queen, King Meeko, and Beres Hammond (Nevis); Machel Montano, Shurwayne Winchester and Maximus Dan (Trinidad & Tobago). **(For a complete list of artists performing, please see attached.)**

Contacts: Lynne Davis Toni Herron 212-846-5737 [e-mail]

In addition, several U.S. entertainers who are of Caribbean heritage will also perform including -- The Game (Jamaica), Musiq Soulchild (Jamaica), Angie Stone (Nevis), Wyclef Jean (Nevis), Mario (Jamaica) and Doug E. Fresh (Trinidad & Tobago).

"All of us at Cable & Wireless are excited to be working with Tempo -- on the upcoming launch concerts, and on bringing exclusive Tempo products such as ring-tones and wallpapers to our bmobile customers," commented Rachelle Franklin, Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Cable & Wireless Caribbean comment.

In addition to Cable & Wireless, other sponsors include American Airlines, Heineken, Jamaica Tourist Board, St. Maarten Cable TV, Nevis Tourism Authority, The Cayman Island Department of Tourism and Innovative Cable TV -- as well as a number of local and regional businesses.

Launching on November 21, 2005 across the Caribbean (and in the U.S. in 2006), Tempo targets all people with a passion for the Caribbean lifestyle. The channel provides a mix of original and acquired programming that is vibrant, relevant to its audience and true to the spirit of the Caribbean and its culture. At launch, Tempo will debut in 400,000 homes in 20 Caribbean markets, reaching an estimated 2.5 million viewers.

Tempo joins Viacom's roster of popular and highly-targeted cable networks which includes MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET and Spike TV.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 90 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Cable & Wireless is one of the world's leading international communications companies. It provides fixed and mobile voice, data, IP (Internet Protocol) and broadband services to business and residential customers, as well as services to other telecom carriers, mobile operators and providers of content, applications and internet services.

Cable & Wireless' principal operations are in the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, Panama, Macau and Monaco. For more information about Cable & Wireless, go to http://www.cw.com/.

TEMPO "CARIBBEAN RISING" LAUNCH EVENTS ARTIST LINE-UP Jamaica -- 10/15 Jamaica -- 10/16 Barbados -- 10/21 Iwayne Wayne Marshall Natalie Burke & Chantal Luciano Assasin Little Rick Morgan Heritage Bounty Killa Krosfyah Jimmy Cliff Elephant Man Edwin Yearwood Richie Spice Kiprich David Kirton TOK Lady Saw Allison Hinds Turbulence Leftside & Esco Johnnie King Barrington Levy The Game Rihanna Musiq Soulchild Voicemail Rupee Sasha Vyba Kartel Arturo Tappin Toots and the Maytals Mario Statement Marlon Binns Stone Love Kimberly Innis Bushman Razz & Biggy Toni Norville Selah Renaissance Cherine Anderson Little Hero Sparkles Buzz Signal Swamp King Erica "Milk" Sewell Gary "GQ" Hardie Doneisha Prendergast Doneisha Prendergast Gary "GQ" Hardie Erica "Milk" Sewell St. Maarten -- 10/25 St. Croix -- 10/27 Elvis White Stanley & 10 Sleepless Nights Mix Master Pauly Xpress Band Mix Ebenezer Methodist Steel Pan Sweet Mickey Ricardo Richards Steel Pan Ebony & Steelpan Orchestra Extaushaun Control Band Machel Montano King Beau Beau Midnight Youth Wave Pedrin Pacheco Y su Orchestra Mighty Dow and Super Mix Band Nevis -- 10/30 Trinidad & Tobago -- 11/5 Masud Sadiki H20 Flow Pepper Ranks Maximus Dan King Meeko Shurwayne Winchester & Traffik Kasanova Bunji Garlin & Asylum Crucial Banks Doug E. Fresh Marcia Griffiths Machel Montano & Xtatik Morgan Heritage Beres Hammond Luciano Angie Stone Ivy Queen Wyclef