(PR) Fuse, the national music television network, has signed a three-year agreement with the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, to become the exclusive television partner of the Festival, which takes place on a 700 acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, June 12-15. The deal marks the first time in its seven-year history that Bonnaroo has ever aired on a national television network and will include live on-air programming and on-demand content, as well as extensive marketing and promotion. This year's Festival will feature performances by Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson, Kanye West and Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, along with more than 100 other bands."Fuse recognizes that some of the biggest events in the music calendar are festivals, and when you think about premier music festivals, you can't get much bigger than Bonnaroo. This partnership becomes a major event for Fuse and reinforces our commitment to bringing the biggest and most popular music events to our viewers," said Eric Sherman, president, Fuse. "If you can't make it to Manchester this year, Fuse is providing viewers a unique opportunity to experience the energy and music of Bonnaroo, past and present, and Fuse is the only place on TV you can get it."
"We couldn't be more excited to be working with Fuse as our broadcast partner," said Jonathan Mayers, Bonnaroo Co-founder, Superfly Productions. "We understand that not everyone can make the long trip to Tennessee, so the fact that we can now bring the Bonnaroo experience into millions of homes is amazing."
With more than six hours of programming, fans will get an insider's view into Bonnaroo like never before. "Fuse Live from Bonnaroo," will provide viewers with live primetime weekend coverage from the grounds of the 2008 Festival, including highlights of each day's performances taken from the main stage, artist interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes access.
"Best of Bonnaroo Vol. I" showcasing some the best performances and happenings from the seven year history of the Bonnaroo, will air on Fuse just prior to the Festival and Vol. II and III will air quarterly thereafter. Fuse host Steven Smith will be shooting "Steven's Untitled Rock Show" episodes from the grounds of Bonnaroo and be reporting back live to the Seventh Avenue Studio in New York City on Festival happenings, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes action, which will also be available on www.fuse.tv and Fuse Mobile.
Fuse will also have an on-site presence at "Centeroo," the main festival grounds area, with a Fuse TV experience. The experience will include the ability to produce live TV remotes on site and conduct artist interviews. Visitors will get a true 360 degree experience of Fuse, on-air and online, as well as opportunities to connect virtually with family and friends unable to experience Bonnaroo in person. Fuse's Bonnaroo programming will be supported with a multi-media consumer advertising effort on TV, radio, print and online in conjunction with a watch-and-win Bonnaroo Music Trivia promotion, as well as being included in the Festival newspaper, on the onsite radio station and on Bonnaroo.com.
