MTV2, Man's Best Friend, is rolling out a slate of brand defining originals, daily features and a cast of MTV2 on-air personalities. Distributed in nearly 80 million homes, MTV2 already the highest concentration of both men 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today, and coming off its highest rated year ever, will expand its programming with a new lineup of original shows and blocks that are unapologetically guy. Invading the U.S. each week for the first time in English, and the inspiration behind the Jack Black blockbuster movie "Nacho Libre", is the Mexican wrestling phenomenon "Lucha Libre" which promises to take MTV2 viewers to new heights with high flying acrobats and death defying stunts. Plus, audiences will get a mix of hip-hop music, guy lifestyle and action sports programming with new series "Rock N Jock," a mash-up of sports and music, "Funk Flex Full Throttle" and new destinations like "Balls Out Comedy Fridays" and "Sucker Free" Sundays. In addition, MTV2 will introduce viewers to new on-air talent, including Maxim Magazine hot listed Desi Sanchez, Olympic athlete, Todd Richards, automotive guru DJ Funkmaster Flex, popular DJ and radio personality, DJ Envy, and former Fall Out Boy/Rock Roadie, "Dirty".
"The new destination line-up, hosts, and visually arresting on-air packaging presents a personality that is reflective of the taste and lifestyle of young males and further defines MTV2 as Man's Best Friend," said Chris McCarthy, Senior Vice President of Strategic Development and Digital TV Networks, MTV. "With new original shows like 'Lucha Libre' and 'Funk Flex Full Throttle' along with the shows we know guys can't get enough of."
In addition, MTV2 will continue to curate the best of MTV's guy content with new host segments, news updates, new packaging and image spots that speak just to guys.
NEW MTV2 PROGRAMMING LINE-UP:
"Balls Out Comedy" Fridays
Fridays, 11pm ET/PT starting on 4/16
"Fur TV"
o Fur TV peeps into the lives of three dirty, rotten puppets; Mervin, Lapeno and Fat Ed. The show uses Muppet-style puppetry but in a not so Muppet adult setting.
"The Atom Show"
o "The Atom Show", a 15 minute best of Atom.com will feature all-original Web programming developed exclusively for Atom by top comedic talent as well as videos uploaded by viral hit makers, sketch comedians, animators and independent filmmakers.
"Rock N Jock" Saturdays (Hosted by Todd Richards and Dirty)
Saturday, 11:00am-3pm ET/PT - MTV2's new four-hour music & sports programming block
o Anchoring the block will be MTV2's original show, "Rock N Jock Countdown" which counts down the top videos that rocked the week, from the best sporting events around the country. Hosts Todd Richards and Dirty have exclusive access to the athletes changing the face of sports today.
"Lucha Libre" (May 2010)
o "Lucha Libre" is the action-packed wrestling phenomenon from Mexico, with the beloved masked Luchadores, who inspired the blockbuster hit Jack Black movie "Nacho Libre." MTV2 will tailor the pop culture classic adding its own MTV flair to this historically highly rated series, and bringing it to the US for the first time ever in English.
The block rounds out with action sports favorites such as "Nitro Circus," "Fantasy Factory," "Viva La Bam," "Rob & Big," "Bully Beatdown" and more.
"Sucker Free" Sundays
Sundays, 12pm - 4 pm ET/PT starting on 3/21 - MTV2's extended four hour music and hip-hop destination block
"Sucker Free Countdown" (Hosted by DJ Envy)
o DJ Envy will serve up the top 15 videos of the week. He will also sit down with the freshest faces in music, catch up with legends in the industry and get the inside scoop on entertainment and sports geared to the hip-hop culture. In addition, viewers will hear recaps of the top stories that grabbed the headlines throughout the week.
"Funk Flex Full Throttle" (May 2010)
o Each episode of this series will focus on Funkmaster Flex, "the evangelist of hip-hop car culture," creating the latest in customization on today's hottest new cars as well as his signature classic car collection and will feature music celebrities like Diddy, 50 cent, Lil Kim, Fabulous, Fat Joe and Jim Jones stopping by for auto advice.
The block rounds out with the best hip-hop and urban content including "ABDC," "Pimp My Ride," "Wild 'N Out," "Yo Momma" and more.
Weekday Hip-Hop Destination
Mondays thru Thursdays, 3pm ET/PT starting on 3/15
"Sucker Free Daily"
o During the week, DJ Envy will present the hit videos taking over the hip-hop game on "Sucker Free Daily." From club bangers to tracks that make the speakers jump, "Sucker Free Daily" is the show to see for the hot new music taking over the airways. For the latest news in music, movies and entertainment, "Sucker Free News" segments will feature the biggest hip-hop stories hitting the wire. In addition, "Sucker Free Daily" will download music fans on the best online music videos from the top hip-hop websites.
MTV2 will also carry on the tradition of curating the best male-skewing shows including "Fantasy Factory," "Rob and Big," "Jackass," "Silent Library," and "Nitro Circus" as well as music, lifestyle and action sports programming.