CABLE OUTLETS CONTINUE TO JOIN THE FIGHT FOR HIV TESTING DAY

NEW YORK, NY - June 27, 2006

Cable Positive, the cable and telecommunications industry’s AIDS action organization, and various cable networks and systems join the ongoing efforts to raise AIDS awareness, promote HIV testing and reduce stigma and fear surrounding the disease by continuing to air the JOIN THE FIGHT public service announcements (PSAs) on and around National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) on June 27th.

The second phase of the award winning JOIN THE FIGHT CAMPAIGN entitled “Weapons of Mass Instruction” enlisted the support of acclaimed director Bart Freundlich (The Myth of Fingerprints) and celebrity activists Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Producers),  Billy Crudup (Almost Famous, Stage Beauty), Rosario Dawson (movie version of Broadway musical RENT), Jerry Ferrara (HBO’s Entourage),  Jimmy Fallon (former Saturday Night Live cast member),  Allan Houston (recently retired NY Knick), Idina Menzel (Tony award winner for WICKED and in the movie version of RENT), S. Epatha Merkerson (Emmy award winner for HBO’s Lackawanna Blues, Law & Order) and Miss Universe 2005, Natalie Glebova to participate.  Grammy award winning music artist India. Aire has generously donated the song Strength, Courage & Wisdom from her album Acoustic Soul to score the spots.   Produced in collaboration with Kismet Films, every PSA concludes with the url for Cable Positive’s JOIN THE FIGHT area of the website, cablepositive.org/jointhefight, where users can find more information on testing, prevention and can be linked to the CDC’s website, as well as hivtest.org to receive more information about HIV/AIDS and to learn about resources in their community.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 300,000 Americans are living with HIV and do not know it.  Across the country, thousands of HIV counseling and testing sites, state and local health departments, and community-based HIV/AIDS service providers will participate in NHTD events, by holding health fairs, providing community and media outreach, hosting special testing-related events or operating extended hours.  Some of these events may be scheduled in the days and weeks surrounding NHTD.    By partnering with cable networks and systems nationwide to air PSAs promoting HIV testing, safer sex, and AIDS awareness, Cable Positive’s goal is to increase the number of Americans getting tested for HIV, lower the rate of HIV transmission, and save lives. 

ABOUT CABLE POSITIVE

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 will mobilize the talents, resources, access and influence of the cable and telecommunications industry to raise HIV/AIDS awareness; support HIV/AIDS education, prevention and care; and strive to end stigma by creating a more compassionate climate for people whose lives have been affected by HIV or AIDS. Cable Positive has grown to include supporters from every major cable network, multiple system operator, cable system, hardware manufacturer, trade association, media publication, and affiliated industry vendors and suppliers. Since 1992, Cable Positive has raised more than $14.9 million in the fight against AIDS. For more information about Cable Positive, call 212-459-1502 or log on to www.cablepositive.org