Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - November 17, 2003
-- Concert Special '46664' Airs Immediately Following at 10:00 PM, Featuring Beyonce, Bono, 50 Cent and More as Part of Nelson Mandela's Worldwide Music-Led Campaign for HIV/AIDS Awareness
NEW YORK, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Today there are 42 million people on the planet living with AIDS. In 2002, there were 5 million new infections world wide, 45,000 of them in North America. As many as one third of those infected with HIV in the U.S. don't know it.
These unsettling statistics serve as a stark reminder that in 2003 HIV/AIDS is still an epidemic of global proportions and cannot be forgotten. VH1 News Presents: "AIDS: A Pop Culture History" premieres on World Aids Day, Monday, December 1 at 9pm. Hosted by Ashley Judd, "AIDS: A Pop Culture History," will reveal how pop culture influenced the way the public has experienced the epidemic over the past 20 years. With interviews by some of entertainment's biggest names including, Sharon Stone, Paul Michael Glaser, Russell Simmons and Clive Davis, "AIDS: A Pop Culture History," will explore the influence of pop culture on the American psyche as well as the limits of its reach.
In the late 80s and 90s the disease was in the media spotlight largely due to the spread of AIDS among celebrities, filmmakers, actors, musicians and sports stars. There was a sense of urgency in getting the word out about AIDS awareness and safe sex, but by the late 90s, complacency took it's place. As the American public turned its attention to other concerns, the message so carefully crafted in the 80s and 90s seemed to have gotten lost. This special intends to bring the severity and importance of this disease back into the consciousness of people's minds.
Rosie Perez, Greg Louganis, Olympic Gold Medalist, Sharon Stone, Kenneth Cole, Paul Michael Glaser, Actor/Director, Russell Simmons, Chilli and T-Boz, TLC, Alicia Keys, Clive Davis, Daniel Lipman and Ron Cowen, Writers of 'An Early Frost', Producers of 'Queer as Folk', Kate Roberts, Director of YouthAIDS, Kevin Frost, amfAR and Larry Kramer, Writer/Activist are among a variety of actors, athletes, activists, and various celebrities who have come together to share their personal thoughts on the disease and the lives it has claimed.
Immediately following "VH1 News Presents: AIDS: A Pop Culture History," VH1 will air the 90-minute version of the concert special, "46664" at 10:00 pm. This concert is part of Nelson Mandela's worldwide music-led campaign, 46664, to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa, and to call on citizens around the world to pressure their governments to respond to AIDS as an international emergency. "46664" will take place at Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town on November 29th, the weekend before World AIDS Day. 40,000 people will attend the 3-hour show, which will be broadcast free to hundreds of millions around the world via TV, Webcast and radio. Those who have committed to joining South African artists on-stage in Cape Town include 50 Cent, Anastacia, Baaba Maal, Beyonce, Bono, Johnny Clegg, The Corrs, Eurythmics, Moloko, Ms. Dynamite, Queen and more.
In 2003 VH1 embarked on its first-ever campaign dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness. The campaign includes Public Service Announcements, Online resources and Programming that identify the growing concerns currently surrounding HIV/AIDS. The initiative is part of Viacom's KNOW HIV/AIDS campaign. For more information visit http://www.vh1.com/interact/know_HIV/ . For more information on "VH1 News Presents: AIDS: A Pop Culture History", please log onto VH1.com
"VH1 News Presents: AIDS: A Pop Culture History" is a production of VH1, with Mark Anstendig serving as Senior Producer and Brad Abramson as Executive Producer. Michael Hirschorn and Shelly Tatro also serve as Executive Producers.
MTV Networks owns and operates the cable television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV2, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, TV Land, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, and TNN, as well as The Digital Suite from MTV Networks, a package of thirteen digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide. s:/ press/vh1news-03-aidpopculture-release.doc .
*All times ET/PT
Contact: Lori Hornik /VH1 212-846-7131
Jenni Woodward/MTVN 310-752-8796
SOURCE VH1
Web Site: http://www.vh1.com
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