MEDIA RELEASE
16 November 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MTV NZ Screens Programing for World Aids Day
MTV NZ (Channel 35, SKY Digital) will screen a selection of programming for World AIDS Day on Friday December 1, as part
of MTV’s on going multimedia HIV and AIDS Staying Alive prevention campaign.
“Staying Alive is a partnership between MTV Networks international and other organisations to provide information on
HIV/AIDS prevention,” says Pip Jamieson MTV NZ Marketing Manager.
“Since it was launched in 1998 Staying Alive has produced a wide range of programming and major concerts to promote
awareness about the disease.
We are delighted to premiere Staying Alive 48 fest and screen other AIDS/HIV awareness programming in New Zealand on
World AIDS Day."
Staying Alive 48 fest (screens 2.30pm and 10pm) will premiere on December 1 across MTV’s global network of television
channels to a potential audience of 1.4 billion viewers. It follows the progress of a group of youth delegates invited
to the AIDS 2006 Conference in Toronto. MTV challenged the delegates to write, shoot and edit a short film about or
inspired by HIV/AIDS in just 48 hours. The 30-minute documentary is hosted by singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado and
features appearances by Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Fefe Dobson, Mya and Richard Gere.
Staying Alive This Is Not A Commercial, (screens 2pm and 9.30pm) takes a look at HIV and AIDS awareness advertisements
produced over the years.
These included ones that use messaged based on fear, humour, and safe sex, not having sex and through the voice of
celebrities and “real” people.
MTV asked people from all over the world what they thought of the advertisements, which ones might be banned in their
country, the impact of fear-factor campaigns and whether it is realistic t expect young people not to have sex.
A range of celebrities, including Missy Elliot, the Hives and Sean Paul also give their comments on topics including
condom commercials, not having sex and he responsibility they have as celebrities to spread the message of AIDS
awareness.
Transit (screens 12pm and 7.30pm) is a two-hour fast- paced movie shot on location in St Petersburg, Mexico City,
Nairobi and Los Angeles. It tells a powerful story about love, sex and youth, drive by a strong music soundtrack.
Featuring an international cast that includes British actress Shelley Conn (Charlie and The Chocolate Factory) and
Humberto Busto (Amores Perros), Transit uses fiction to deliver crucial HIV/AIDS prevention messages.
The film follows eight characters on a journey across four continents. Tatjana (Anna Slynko) thinks she has found a man
who can take her away from St Petersburg. In Mexico City, Champion (Busto) struggles to find himself a girlfriend under
the shadow of his good-looking best friend Blanco (Cesar Beas). In L.A Asha (Conn) discovers that her boyfriend Vip,
(Kris Iyer) has been cheating on her and in Kenya Matthew (Victor Gatonye) finds himself in Nairobi’s burgeoning hip-hop
culture. The characters eventually meet and form relationships. However these relationships are more complex then they
appear when it’s discovered that all their stories are interlinked.
Tune in to MTV NZ (Channel 35. SKY Digital) for WORLD AIDS DAY
Programming, Friday December 1
Staying Alive 48 Fest 2.30 and 10pm
Staying Alive: This Is Not a Commercial 2pm and 9.30pm
Transit 12pm and 7.30pm
ENDS