MTV's "The Real World" Goes to Sydney for Season 19  1/9/07

G'day!!! MTV's 'The Real World' Goes Down Under

Production for 'The Real World: Sydney' Begins in Q1 '07

NEW YORK, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV: Music Television and Bunim-Murray Productions announced today that the 19th season of "The Real World" will begin production in Sydney, Australia Q1 '07. The next season of the popular MTV reality series is scheduled to premiere Q4 '07 and is slated for 24 episodes.

Currently in its 18th season, "The Real World" series continues to generate strong ratings and is consistently the highest-rated show on cable among P12-34. Season to date, "The Real World: Denver" has reached 74 million total viewers and is the most watched in its time period among P12-24 across all of television.

"'The Real World's' global appeal has always been about giving the audience access into the lives of the diverse cast of characters as they deal with living in a foreign environment and we're happy to take the show abroad for the next season," said Lois Curren, Executive Vice President, MTV Series Entertainment. "The rich, dynamic culture of Sydney is the perfect backdrop for a new season that will undoubtedly satisfy its loyal fanbase as well as attract legions of new viewers."

"We are extremely thrilled to be bringing the show to Australia for its 19th season," said Jon Murray, 'The Real World' Co-Creator and Chairman & President of Bunim-Murray Productions. "Australians are fun-loving people who love to party so 'The Real World' cast should feel right at home!"

"The MTV team will be in Sydney for several months, employing dozens of local crews and showcasing our city to a huge US audience," said Linda Tizard, Acting Chief Executive of the NSW Film and Television Office. "The New South Wales Film and Television Office has assisted with locations and other logistical advice and we're thrilled that they've chosen Sydney as the first 'The Real World' location in the southern hemisphere. This is a wonderful boost to the New South Wales film and television industry."

"The Real World" pioneered reality-based television debuting its first season in New York City. Each season, the show brings seven young strangers to live together in a new town and rolls the cameras 24-7, witnessing as their lives intersect, their ideas are challenged and their passions emerge.

Past seasons of "The Real World" have taken place in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Miami, Boston, Seattle, Hawaii, New Orleans, Chicago, Las Vegas, Paris, San Diego, Philadelphia, Austin, Key West and Denver.

"The Real World" was created for MTV by Jon Murray and Mary Ellis-Bunim of Bunim-Murray Productions, and Jon Murray and Jim Johnston serve as Executive Producers. Laura Korkoian is Co-Executive Producer and Ken Chien is Supervising Producer of "The Real World: Sydney." Drew Tappon and Jacquelyn French are Executives in Charge of Production.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

About Bunim-Murray Productions

Bunim-Murray Productions is the leading independent producer of innovative entertainment content. The company is widely credited with creating the reality television genre with its hit series THE REAL WORLD (now in its 18th season on MTV). Bunim-Murray's other current programming includes ROAD RULES (with its return on MTV slated in January 2007), REAL WORLD ROAD RULES CHALLENGE (MTV), THE SIMPLE LIFE (renewed for its fifth season on E!) and THE BAD GIRLS CLUB (which recently premiered on Oxygen). Bunim-Murray also recently launched M Theory Entertainment, a spin-off entity focusing on new media initiatives, to better reach the Digital Generation. Bunim-Murray Productions is based in Van Nuys, CA. It was founded in 1987 by Jonathan Murray and the late Mary-Ellis Bunim. 

SOURCE MTV

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