MTV Wins Cable Positive POP Awards’ ‘Network of the Year’ for ‘Exceptional’ HIV/AIDS-Related Programming

MTV on Tuesday was presented with the "Network of the Year" honor at the Second Annual Cable Positive POP (Positively Outstanding Programming) Awards for its original programming promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention, according to a Cable Positive release. Steve Villano, president and CEO of Cable Positive, the cable and telecommunications industry's AIDS organization, cited MTV's "Fight For Your Rights: Protect Yourself" campaign -- a year-long effort in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation that focuses on HIV/AIDS, STD and unintended pregnancy prevention -- as the reason for MTV receiving the honor. The "Fight For Your Rights: Protect Yourself" campaign includes special programming, public service announcements and a sexual health Web site. "MTV has raised the bar for the entire TV industry in terms of creating programming that raises awareness of HIV/AIDS-related issues," Villano said. In accepting the award, Brian Graden, president of entertainment for MTV and VH1, said that he was "especially honored" to receive the award from peers in the cable industry. "AIDS disproportionately affects our audience and we therefore have no choice but to make sure our 'Fight For Your Rights: Protect Yourself' campaign reaches as many people as possible," Graden said. Other winners include:

• POP Celebrity of the Year: Ashanti, "106 & Park" World AIDS Day special on BET;
  
• Outstanding Original Series: "Queer As Folk" on Showtime;
  
• Outstanding Documentary: "MTV News Now: Sex, School and Scandal" on MTV;
  
• Outstanding Newsmagazine: "BET Tonight with Ed Gordon: National HIV Testing Day Special" on BET;
  
• Outstanding Biographical Program: "Born With HIV: Little Warriors" on Discovery Health Channel;
  
• Outstanding Special Programming: "First National Sex Quiz" on MTV.