Partnership Will Launch Live Tour of Celtic Woman in July 2005
Las Vegas, NV January 27, 2005 - PBS and Clear Channel Entertainment (CCE), a leading producer and marketer of live entertainment events, announced today that they have joined forces to create an exclusive live touring partnership and television production deal. The agreement provides CCE with a first right of refusal to mount live tours of performance shows produced for PBS stations' membership pledge drives. Additionally, it is anticipated that CCETV will produce original fundraising programs for PBS. The announcement was made jointly today by Joe Townley, President of CCETV and Gustavo Sagastume, Vice President of Syndicated and Fundraising Programming for PBS.
The live events will allow local PBS television stations to partner with CCE to promote both the telecast and the live shows as fundraising events.
Joe Townley comments, "This deal exemplifies CCETV's ability to engage multiple divisions of Clear Channel Entertainment to create new and beneficial business opportunities. This has become a major priority for the Television division."
"We are very pleased with this new agreement with CCE, which will be a tremendous benefit to our stations and the people who support them as members," states Gustavo Sagastume. "These concerts are an exciting way for these supporters to experience live the artists they enjoy watching on their local PBS stations."
Steve Sterling, Senior Vice President of CCETV who will oversee new TV production opportunities, adds, "Based upon the long standing relationship with PBS it has become very clear that the ever important fundraising effort is benefiting more and more from live event ticket offers. We are thrilled that CCE resources, for both live touring and TV production, can be applied so effectively for PBS' growth opportunities."
Jonathan Hochwald, Executive Vice President Creative Development, CCE, will oversee the live touring opportunities that result from the new partnership. He added, "PBS has an unparalleled history of introducing audiences to incredible talent and virtuosity. We are thrilled to partner with PBS to create new and compelling live experiences that extend the PBS connection from television to stage."
The first incarnation of this new arrangement will be a concert tour of Celtic Woman, which will be the focus of PBS' pledge drive in March 2005. Local PBS stations will promote ticket offerings for strategically scheduled live engagements. CCE plans to present 20 shows of Celtic Woman between July 8-August 7 in large theatres and amphitheaters.
PBS develops more than 40 shows per year for its pledge drives.
About Clear Channel Entertainment
Clear Channel Entertainment, a leading producer and marketer of live entertainment events is a subsidiary of Clear Channel (NYSE: CCU), a global leader in the away-from-home advertising industry. Clear Channel Entertainment currently owns, operates and/or exclusively books approximately 130 live entertainment venues, including nearly 100 in North America and more than 30 in Europe. In 2003, 69 million people attended approximately 32,000 events promoted and/or produced by the company, including live music events; Broadway, West End and touring theatrical shows; family entertainment shows; museum exhibitions, and specialized sports and motor sports events. In addition, the company's independently operated athlete representation business, SFX, provides management, marketing and financial consulting services to many of the worlds top professional athletes. Clear Channel Entertainment also provides marketing services through LIVE Channel, a company dedicated to creating and executing live events for companies seeking brand promotion. Clear Channel Entertainment operates throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. More information may be found by visiting www.cc.com and www.clearchannel.com.
About PBS
PBS is a private, nonprofit media enterprise that serves the nation's 349 public noncommercial television stations, reaching nearly 90 million people each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is the leading provider of educational materials for K-12 teachers, and offers a broad array of educational services for adult learners. PBS' premier kids' TV programming and Web site, PBS KIDS Online (pbskids.org), continue to be parents' and teachers' most trusted learning environments for children. More information about PBS is available at pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet, averaging more than 30 million unique visits and 380 million page views per month in 2004. PBS is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
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CONTACT:
Jill Goldstein, CCETV, 917-270-1480
Jan McNamara, PBS, 703/739-5028