C5, MTV prep awards simulcast

Channel 5 in the UK will simulcast the forthcoming MTV EMA awards with MTV for the first time, following its takeover by Viacom earlier this year.

The music awards, hosted by Nicki Minaj and taking place in Glasgow on Sunday November 9, will be broadcast with a one-hour time delay on both C5 and MTV in the UK from 21.00.

That means the ceremony will be available to view free-to-air on the terrestrial channel and via MTV on pay TV platforms Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision and Talk Talk.

The deal to share UK broadcast rights follows the £450m (US$759m) takeover of Channel 5 by MTV’s international parent company, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) earlier this year.

The move is expected to bring about greater sharing of content and original commissions between C5 and Viacom’s other digital channels in the UK and internationally.

C5 and MTV UK jointly commissioned reality series 10,000 BC – where 20 volunteers will leave the comforts of modern life behind and live as if they were in the Stone Age – last month.

The 10×60’ series is being produced by ITV Studios-owned London prodco The Garden and GroupM Entertainment and will premiere on C5 next year with a 5×60’ spin-off show airing on MTV in the UK.

Viacom’s kids channel Nickelodeon is also teaming up with C5’s kids brand Milkshake to coproduce animated series Nella the Knight, which will be made in the UK and co-funded by the two broadcasters, who will share rights.

Viacom also announced earlier this month that it is to roll out its US cablenet Spike internationally, beginning with a UK launch on digital terrestrial TV early next year.