LOS ANGELES, CA. (TV Guide Channel PR) -TV Guide Channel continues to patrol the biggest
Red Carpet events in the world with hosts Joan and Melissa Rivers by adding November's Country
Music Association Awards (CMA) to the duo's roster. The mother-daughter team, who made their TV Guide Channel debut earlier this year, have already more than doubled TV Guide Channel's previous awards show ratings with their trademark interviews, humor, fashion commentary and gleeful celebrity-watching. The Rivers's have now set their sights on new territory - the November 15 telecast of the CMA Awards - live from Madison
Square Garden in New York City. Joan & Melissa Live at the CMA Awards, a two-hour live pre-show, begins airing exclusively on TV Guide Channel on Tuesday, November 15 beginning at 6 PM ET (delayed PT).
Additionally, TV Guide Channel will air a one-hour Guide to the CMA Awards on Sunday, November 6 at 8 PM (ET/PT), as well as a CMA Awards Fashion Wrap on Wednesday, November 16 at 8 PM (ET/PT), both hosted by Joan and Melissa.
This year, the CMA Awards event will be held outside of Nashville for the first time ever when "The 39th Annual CMA Awards" is broadcast live on CBS from New York City's Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8-11 PM/ET). Traditionally one of the highest-rated awards specials of the year, more than 37 million people watched all or part of the 2004 CMA Awards, placing it behind only the Academy Awards and in a statistical tie with the Grammy Awards in ratings.
"I have always loved country music," quipped co-host Joan Rivers. "As a child, my entire family would gather in the living room to listen to the Grand Ole Opry, which was very hard as we didn't have a radio. Even though I am older now, I still adore country - in fact, my favorite song is Tammy Wynette's 'Sit By Your Man.'"
"I am very excited to be a part of the CMA celebration this year, especially since it is their first telecast outside of Nashville," said co-host Melissa River. "I'm an enormous country music fan, and can't wait to see many of the artists I know as they walk down the Red Carpet."
"We're thrilled to be part of the CMA Awards celebration, and are delighted to be ringside from the Red Carpet of this historic telecast in New York City," said Ryan O'Hara, president, TV Guide Channel. "We look forward to Joan and Melissa bringing their unique mix of glamour and humor to the CMA Awards Red Carpet as they interview Country Music's biggest stars," said Ed Benson, CMA Executive Director. "We are thrilled to have TV Guide Channel share all the excitement leading into 'Country Music's Biggest Night' with their viewers."
Joan & Melissa LIVE at the CMA Awards is the Rivers's fifth Red-Carpet special of the year for TV Guide Channel, having already provided commentary for the Golden Globes, Grammys, Academy Awards and most recently the Emmys.
TV Guide Channel original programming events are built around the idea that viewers tuning into its scrolling guide services can also learn more about the shows they love through original programming centered on the television landscape. In addition to its ambitious Red Carpet Coverage in '05, TV Guide Channel has launched twelve original series such as TV Candy; Seeing Stars; Ready, Set, Change, and the upcoming original series Infanity. Additionally, the Channel has aired 27 specials dedicated to the world of television, with more planned through December.
