NEW YORK and SEATTLE (RealNetworks, Inc.)- In another remarkable development in the incredible outpouring of television industry support for the relief and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it was announced today that the "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy" Concert to be held at Madison
Square Garden on Tuesday,
September 20th at 7:00 p.m. EDT will now be made available for viewing over the
Internet through a partnership with RealNetworks (Nasdaq: RNWK), the leading creator of digital media services and software. Teaming with cable operators and satellite providers, Real's webcast can dramatically expand the audience for this historic celebration of New Orleans music and culture.
The benefit concert will be available exclusively on the Web via https://www.real.com/katrina at 7:00 p.m. EDT/4:00 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, September 20th. The full concert will also be available for two future viewings in the coming weeks.
The Webcast will cost the same as the televised pay-per-view event, $19.95, with all proceeds going to support relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina. In addition, the RealNetworks Foundation will match the show's initial online viewing proceeds dollar-for-dollar with a grant to Katrina relief efforts.
In addition to being made available on the Internet, cable operators and satellite providers including Adelphia, Cablevision, Charter, EchoStar's DISH Network and DIRECTV, along with iN DEMAND partners -- Bright House Networks, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable, are offering the concert for $19.95 on pay- per-view with 100% of the proceeds going directly to support the long-term relief and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The concert will begin live at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 20th.
This unique television event will pay tribute to the culturally indelible music of New Orleans. The concert is being hosted by Ed Bradley, who will be joined by Scarlett Johanssen, Paul Newman and Jessica Lange in the effort to help support the long-term relief and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. They will help host and introduce New Orleans musical legends, including Bette Midler; Diana Krall; Dixie Cups; Elvis Costello; Jimmy Buffett; John Fogerty; Lenny Kravitz; Ry Cooder; Simon & Garfunkel; Allen Toussaint; Buckwheat Zydeco; Clarence "Frogman" Henry; Dave Bartholomew; the Dirty Dozen Brass Band; Irma Thomas; Kermit Ruffins; the Neville Brothers; the Meters; The Rebirth Brass Band and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews.
Madison Square Garden is underwriting 100% of all concert production costs related to "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy" New York City's Concert for the Gulf Coast, and has pledged an additional $1 million dollar donation to begin the event's fundraising efforts. 100% of all money raised from sponsorship and ticket sales will go directly to organizations involved in the region's relief and rebuilding efforts, including the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund; Habitat for Humanity; MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund and the Children's Health Fund.
