VH1 Rolls Out Series, Specials

Pasadena, Calif. -- VH1 is rolling out a number of new series and movies
aimed at building viewership among its adults 25-through-54 target group.

Forever Wild, debuting Jan. 18 and hosted by rocker Sebastian Bach, will
focus on the wildest moments of heavy metal rock music.

In March, VH1 series premieres include Ultimate Albums, which looks at
the social relevance and musical importance of popular albums, and Being,
which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the music industry from the eyesof such popular artists as Shakira,

VH1 executive vice president of programming and production Fred Graver
announced at the Television Critics Association tour here.

Those launches come on the heels of two series VHI bowed Jan. 15:
Driven looks at the early starts of such pop artists as Shania Twain,
Marilyn Manson, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Madonna; and VH1 TV
Moments
, which chronicles the rise and fall of music stars through their
appearances on television.

Graver said the network will screen several movies and specials over the next
few months, including PMRC, based on the music-censorship warning-label
hearings in Washington, D.C., in the 1980s.

The movie, slated to premiere April 17, stars Jason Priestly and Mariel
Hemingway.

Also on the slate: Inside Hate Rock, a VH1 news special airing Feb. 12
that focuses on music that advocates white supremacy and racial
hatred.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.