National Asian Pop Culture Network Mnet Unveils Fall Programming Schedule
LOS ANGELES, CA – October 12, 2011 – Mnet, the only and first national, 24/7 English-language television network in the U.S. targeting Asian Americans and fans of Asian pop culture, has the coolest shows in Asian American entertainment on its programming schedule this fall including its new original music series Hello Pop!, which unites fans of K-pop using multiple platforms to create a global community. The network is also airing the hottest shows out of Asia including the Annual 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), featuring the most popular stars from around the globe and M Countdown, the #1 rated music show in all of Asia.
Also returning to the network is season two of Mnet's original series Short Notice kicking off on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT with host Christina Lee showcasing today's hottest Asian American talent working behind and in front of the camera. Hit show Culture Japan, with Japanese pop culture authority Danny Choo, also returns in November for a second season. Additionally, Mnet brings viewers a weekly primetime anime block from Bandai Entertainment, TV dramas, reality shows, indie movies, and more.
“Our fall programming solidifies our commitment to bring the best in Asian Pop culture to America and to build on that success with new original series,” said Adam Ware, Mnet's Acting President and CEO. “We're also excited to give viewers an opportunity to take part in a worldwide event this November with the live broadcast of the Annual Mnet Asian Music Awards.”
Mnet -- New Fall 2011 Programming with show descriptions:
- HELLO POP! – Hello Pop! is the place for fans of K-pop to meet and engage. Using music videos as a platform to build a global community, this daily show, hosted by VJ Chrissa Villanueva, encourages participation from its viewers. Fans are invited to show off their love of all things K-pop and submit videos for consideration to [email protected] for segments including M University, #1 Fan, Planet K-Pop, Flashpop and many more! For specific instructions and details regarding video submission requirements, please visit the Hello Pop! Facebook Page at "Hello Pop Mnet!” Hello Pop! airs Monday - Thursday at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
- 2011 MNET ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS (MAMA) – Truly a global event, the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) features the most popular artists from around the world, and will unite fans by broadcasting in November to more than 10 Asian countries as well as 45 countries around the globe including the U.S. and Europe. 1.9 billion viewers will see 15 live performances by some of today's hottest acts with 30 presenters and more than 80 artists participating including Korea's 2NE1, TVXQ, Girl's Generation, Super Junior, Miss A, Wonder Girls, and International acts from the United States, Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong and many more countries.
- M-COUNTDOWN – The number one rated music TV series in Korea is also syndicated throughout Asia and counts down the hottest K-pop hits. Airing Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the series features live performances by artists from the U.S. and throughout Asia.
- SHORT NOTICE - Produced in Los Angeles and hosted by Christina Lee, each episode of this weekly, one-hour, primetime series features award-winning Asian American short films and up-close personal talks with the filmmakers including directors, producers and cinematographers. The series highlights today's hottest Asian American talent working behind and in front of the camera, and showcases their colorful, eclectic, unique perception of what it means to be Asian American. Season two of Short Notice airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning on Thursday, October 13.
- CULTURE JAPAN – The second season of this hit Japanese TV show returns in November and follows Japanese pop culture guru, Danny Choo, as he explores all the things that make Japanese pop culture tick. In every episode, Danny shines a spotlight on the different aspects of Japan that make the country so special. The camera follows him around the streets of Japan as he shares cool places to visit, shows what goes on behind the scenes at anime production studios and offers a slice of life in Japan which U.S. viewers don't get to see very often. Culture Japan airs Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.
- WIDE NEWS – A weekly entertainment news program airing on Sundays 7:30 p.m. ET/PT keeps its viewers up to date on the latest happenings with Korean celebrities and the Korean entertainment industry. Segments include behind-the-scene footage of TV and movie sets with exclusive celebrities and crew interviews, fashion trends with updates on the best and worst dressers in the Korean entertainment world, and a segment titled “Celebs' History,” which is done in the form of a mini documentary and includes in-depth footage and heartfelt interviews with Korea's top stars.
- IN NEED OF ROMANCE - A romantic dramedy that focuses on the lives, loves, marriages, careers and families of single, independent, career women in their 30s airing Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
- MUST - Who loves music more than Koreans? Mnet presents a huge project, featuring music that everybody can enjoy. The public chooses 100 songs by theme and then one song from the list will play every week. Fans will have a common ground in music by combining songs from old artists as well as from newer ones. A variety of artists will introduce remakes of oldies and unknown songs. Must, airing Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, is an event that will capture the hearts and minds of the performers and the panelists.
- TASTY ROAD - A cooking show that travels! In each episode, airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, our celebrity hosts travel to specific places in Korea, and seeks out the finest and freshest seasonal ingredient from the region. The hosts also participate in the activity of getting the ingredient. The dishes are prepared in special recipes, mostly in Western + Asian fusion style.
- BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT BLOCK– A block featuring innovative Anime series returns and airs Wednesdays from 8 pm to 10 pm ET/PT. Mnet is currently airing Outlaw Star and My Otome.
- STYLE CUTS – A style variety show that helps complete the looks of 2034 women. Designer, Ha Sang Baek, makeup artists Son Dae Shik and Park Tae Yoon and fashion model, Lee Hyun offer practical information in this interactive fashion variety show airing Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
- INDIE MOIVE NIGHT – Mnet showcases the best in Asian Cinema with over 40 feature length Asian films from Korea, Japan, China, Thailand and the Philippines on Fridays starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
- WCG ULTIMATE GAMER – Airing on Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET/PT, America's best gamers battle for the title of WCG Ultimate Gamer. The contestants must first master real-life challenges, based on today's top video games, before competing in the games themselves – all to claim the biggest honor in video gaming.
- FIGHTING SPIRIT – Everyone have a chance to win a championship, if the man wants to be a champion. This is the highlight of your life so that dreams come true. 4 mentors (2 host and 2 professional fighters), are divided into teams of RED and BLUE and each team will choose a fighter. The selected fighter will receive an invitation to the cage from the mentors. From the D- date of the fight, each fighter will train with the mentor to prepare for the show. 3 Rounds and 3 minutes is all they have for the challenge. Fighting Spirit will not only focus on the fighter's training, but their life and story behind the challenge. It's not a sports event, but a lifestyle show focusing on the dream. Cast includes Doowon Seo (2009 NEOFIGHT12 welterweight champion, 2005 Jiu-Jitsu champion); Julian Kang (an actor and the younger brother of Dennis Kang, who is a PRIDE FC welterweight grand prix finalist); Daewhan Kim (debuted with East Coast Fight Factory); and Hyungbin Yoon (South Korean Comedian). Fighting Spirit airs Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
About Mnet
Mnet (www.mnet.com) is the only and first national, 24/7 English-language television network in the U.S. targeting Asian Americans and fans of Asian pop culture. The advertiser-supported network – currently distributed in over 30 DMAs – marks the entry into the U.S. marketplace for CJ Entertainment Media Group, Asia's leading vertically-integrated entertainment company and a unit of CJ Corporation. Mnet is headquartered in Los Angeles.
