CABLE TELEVISION PROVIDES CLOSE TO 200 HOURS OF HIV/AIDS PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY (JUNE 27)

CONTACT: Thomas Dima Cable Positive 212.459.1605 thomas@cablepositive.org

Cable Positive Unites Cable’s Efforts Through Targeted Public Service Campaign To Reach More Than 70 Million American Households With The Messages of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Awareness

NEW YORK, NY - June 26, 2001

	Magic Johnson
	Dikembe Mutombo
	The Baha Men
	Veronica Webb
	Pru
	Billy Bob Thornton
	Judd Winick

Cable Positive, the national non-profit organization that galvanizes the cable industry’s resources, access and influence in the fight against HIV/AIDS, has united the efforts of cable television to provide more than 70 million American households with close to 200 hours of HIV/AIDS programming throughout the month of June in support of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, 2001. Cable networks and systems will air public service announcements (PSAs) promoting condom use and HIV testing as preventive measures against HIV transmission. This year’s roster of celebrity spokespeople includes: basketball legend Magic Johnson, Philadelphia 76er Dikembe Mutombo, supermodel Veronica Webb, MTV Real Worlder and cartoonist Judd Winick, actor/director Billy Bob Thornton, poet/author Maya Angelou and recording artists The Baha Men and Pru. The PSAs target the communities most at-risk for HIV transmission - communities of color, women and youth.

"By airing Cable Positive’s PSAs, cable network partners reach into more than 70 million households nationwide, and local cable systems reinforce the message to their local communities by airing PSAs promoting HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness," said Steve Villano, Cable Positive Executive Director.

For the 2001 National HIV Testing Day campaign, Cable Positive produced a reel of more than 20 PSAs targeting specific audiences with important information on HIV/AIDS including some in Spanish. Every public service announcement concludes with the toll-free telephone number for the National AIDS Hotline (1.800.342. AIDS) so viewers can obtain more information about HIV testing and education in their community.

Cable network partners for Cable Positive’s 2001 National HIV Testing Day campaign include: BET, Lifetime Television, MTV, CMT, USA Networks, CNN, TNN, CNBC, FOX Sports Net, Bravo, Comedy Central, AMC, Court TV, Discovery, Food Network, TV LAND, FX Networks, MSNBC, The Weather Channel, TLC: The Learning Channel, WE: Women’s Entertainment as well as Spanish Language networks Galavision and Univision who will telecast Cable Positive’s Spanish PSAs. Cable system partners AT&T Broadband, Cablevision Systems Corporation, Comcast, Time Warner, and Charter Communications will reinforce Cable Positive’s HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness message to the following cities hit hard by the disease: New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA; Detroit, MI; Philadelphia, PA; Boston, MA; Phoenix, AZ; and Denver, CO.

The "Roadblock"
Cable Positive’s efforts on behalf of National HIV Testing Day culminate with an industry-wide "roadblock" on Wednesday, June 27 (National HIV Testing Day) at 8 p.m. (EST), where participating cable networks and systems join together to air HIV/AIDS PSAs to reach the more than 70 million cable television households across the country.

Network Programming Highlights Several networks have chosen to further support Cable Positive’s National HIV Testing Day efforts by creating original programming and programming initiatives such as MTV and The Sundance Channel.

• MTV has teamed up with acclaimed film director Joel Schumacher ("Lost Boys," "A Time to Kill," "Batman Forever," etc.) to produce and air a number of PSAs focused on HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness on June 27th. The Schumacher spots show young people talking honestly about getting tested for HIV. The PSAs drive to a toll-free number for those seeking additional information and/or a free copy of The Kaiser Family Foundation's "Its Your (Sex) Life: Your Guide to Safe & Responsible Sex" booklet. By dialing the number, young people can also get information about testing locations via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• The Sundance Channel will air several HIV/AIDS-related films as part of their Fourth Annual Out Loud Film Fest during the week of National HIV Testing Day (June 27). The films include: "Alive and Kicking" -- the story of HIV positive dancer Tonio and his relationship with his therapist after he loses his lover to AIDS; "Benjamin Smoke" - a documentary about the life and times of Atlanta’s punk rock legend, Benjamin, who was filmed shortly before his death from AIDS in 1999; and "Red Hot + Cool: Stolen Moments" -- a concert film documenting the collaborations between old school jazz performers and contemporary hip hop artists in a benefit to raise money in the fight against AIDS featuring MC Solaar, The Pharcyde and Donald Byrd. Please check your local listings for air times.

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 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. For more information about Cable Positive call 212.459.1502 or log on to www.cablepositive.org.