MTV Relaunching CTN as mtvU

MTV Networks said Thursday that it will relaunch College Television Network Jan. 20 as mtvU.

"mtvU will be all about U, the university, but, more important, U, the student," general manager Stephen Friedman said in a release. "Just as college students are experimenting with their lives, we want to be a laboratory for what's new, whether it be new music or recognizing the talents of the students themselves."

One of the network’s priorities will be highlighting up-and-coming artists, and it will place a label, "The Cut," on selected videos that it recommends. Artists chosen for The Cut will also be available for download on mtvU’s Web site (www.mtvu.com), which launches Jan. 20, as well.

MTVN acquired CTN in October 2002, and the network has added 20 universities to its roster since then, bringing its total to more than 720 colleges across the country with a combined enrollment of 5.5 million students.