MTV To Broadcast Nelson Mandela Birthday Special, Including Discussion of HIV/AIDS, Other Issues
MTV, owned by Viacom, later this month is scheduled to air a one-hour special broadcast, including discussions of HIV/AIDS and other issues, to mark former South African President Nelson Mandela's 85th birthday, Reuters reports (Reynolds, Reuters, 6/30). The program, to be hosted by singer Beyonce Knowles and produced in association with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, UNAIDS, World Bank, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Family Health International's YouthNet, will premiere on MTV at 8 p.m. ET on July 18 as part of the "Fight for Your Rights: Protect Yourself" sexual health awareness campaign. The show will be available for free to third-party broadcasters throughout the world, and many have already signed on to air the special, including CCTV (China), Doordarshan (India), SABC (South Africa), TV Africa (pan-African network) and Network Ten (Australia). In addition, for the second year in a row the European Broadcasting Union will distribute the campaign's programming free via satellite to its 71 member broadcasters in 52 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The program is expected to be viewed by more than two billion young people. Mandela said, "It is important to talk openly about subjects like HIV/AIDS, war, political leadership and religion so that young people can make informed decisions about these issues, and to understand that they have the most vital role to play in helping to shape the future. It has been a pleasure meeting the young people participating in MTV's program because, ultimately, it is their lives and futures we are all celebrating" (MTV release, 7/1). Viacom and the Kaiser Family Foundation are partners in the KNOW HIV/AIDS campaign, which is aimed at raising HIV/AIDS awareness through public service announcements, television and radio programming and free print and online content (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 6/26).
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