CONTACT: Thomas Dima 212.459.1605 thomas@cablepositive.org

CABLE POSITIVE FUNDS HOWARD UNIVERSITY STUDENT TO PRODUCE HIV/AIDS-RELATED PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA)

Comcast-D.C. Places PSA in Heavy Rotation to Support Cable Positive's National HIV Testing Day Efforts to Reduce Youth HIV Transmission

NEW YORK, NY - June 24, 2002
Cable Positive, the cable and telecommunications industry's national non-profit HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention organization, awarded first year Howard Univeristy graduate student, Sharon Newton, $1,700 to produce one 30-second HIV/AIDS public service announcement (PSA) targeting urban youth. Through a partnership with Howard University, Cable Positive offered Howard University students the opportunity to submit a proposal to produce an HIV/AIDS PSA. Comcast DC, the cable system partner for the program, has placed Newton's spot, "Certainty", into heavy rotation in support of Cable Positive's National HIV Testing Day (June 27) efforts to get Americans tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The PSA will run more than 300 times cross channel from June 17 to July 7.

"This program allowed Cable Positive to provide a young person with a voice about HIV/AIDS, strengthen our relationship with Comcast Cable, and form a partnership with one of Washington D.C.'s premier AIDS service organizations (ASOs)," said Steve Villano, Cable Positive's President and CEO. "We are definitely pleased with the results of the program and the work of the partnership between Cable Positive, Comcast, Metro TeenAIDS, and Howard University."

Cable Positive worked with Howard University's Department of Radio, Television, and Film to promote the program on campus. To receive funding, students were asked to submit a treatment, timeline, budget, and plan to track results. A committee of top cable industry executives selected Newton's proposal from a pool of applicants this February.

Youth focused ASO Metro TeenAIDS, is featured on the PSA. Their toll-free telephone number is displayed at the end of the PSA, enabling viewers to find out more information about HIV/AIDS and learn about where they can get tested for HIV in Washington, DC.

"I certainly think that receiving the grant from Cable Positive to produce the PSA was a great opportunity and learning experience, both in terms of production and in terms of raising participant's awareness about HIV/AIDS, says Sharon Newton. "I sincerely hope that the work done through this program will in some way help."

Cable Positive is a national non-profit organization that was founded in February 1992 by three concerned cable executives with the mission of organizing cable's resources in the fight against AIDS. Cable Positive is dedicated to unifying the talents, resources, access and influence of the communications industry to raise AIDS awareness; to fund AIDS education, research and care; and to promote a more compassionate climate for people whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS. Cable Positive has grown to include supporters from every major cable network, MSO, system, hardware manufacturer, trade association, media publication, and affiliated industry vendors and suppliers. Since 1992, Cable Positive has raised more than $9 million in the fight against AIDS. For more information about Cable Positive call 212.459.1502 or log on to www.cablepositive.org.

(Source: Top 100 Cable Systems 2002: A Special Supplement to Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News)