SNOOP DOGG TO HOST

30.08.07

MTV Networks International today unveiled details of a diverse and exciting new format for the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007 (MTV EMAs) which take place in Munich’s OlympiaHalle on 1 November 2007 and are sponsored by Sony Ericsson and edc by esprit. Hip hop debonair Snoop Dogg will take the reigns as he hosts Europe’s biggest music event - with performances from Mika and Foo Fighters, in the first year that audiences take control of the voting for nominees in the all-new categories.

Fresh from his performance at last year’s awards, Snoop Dogg will ascend the throne and guide MTV audiences through one of the most exhilarating nights in music. The universally acclaimed star that has sold more than 17 million albums in the US alone and 25 million albums worldwide will enrapture audiences with his unique Doggystyle presenting. There’s little doubt that as he currently works on his forthcoming album Ego Trippin and single ‘Sexual Eruption’ Snoop Dogg will enliven audiences in Munich this November.

‘Munich get ready cuz tha Bigg Boss Dogg is takin’ over your city and hosting this years EMAs. Presenters in the past have been great, but this year I'm takin’ it to a whole new level. I've called up the homeys from east to west and I guarantee it’s gonna be off tha chain, ya dig.’ - Snoop Dogg

Bringing a touch of flamboyance to the show will be music’s newest star Mika who shot to fame with his track ‘Grace Kelly’. Mika’s track topped the charts both in Europe and around the world with over 4 million copies being sold. His debut album Life in Cartoon Motion sailed to the #1 spot in the UK Album chart whilst going gold and platinum around the world. With his current single ‘Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)’ taking over the radio airwaves Mika prepares to get Munich dancing when he performs for the first time on the EMA stage.

‘I’m really excited about performing at the MTV EMAs this year in Munich - my first one ever! Its been a great year for me and performing at the EMAs will be the highlight.’- Mika

Also making a triumphant return to the MTV EMA stage are rock legends the Foo Fighters. With a career spanning over a decade, Foo Fighters have built one of the biggest and most loyal worldwide followings in recent rock history with a back catalogue of hits including the chart toppers 'Best of You', 'Times Like These' and 'All My Life'. The multi platinum selling band will release their forthcoming sixth studio album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace in September, featuring their new hit single, "the Pretender". Foo Fighters are guaranteed to shake the foundations of Munich's OlympiaHalle.

‘We're delighted to be playing the MTV EMAs again. The crowds in Europe never fail to blow us away and we're sure Munich will be no exception!'
- Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters

The MTV EMAs are constantly reinventing the awards show genre and for the first time in EMA history, MTV audiences will have the power to decide who gets nominated and ultimately who wins at this year’s ceremony. The MTV EMAs represent the definitive poll of the music choices of European youth, and this year’s event will have unique online and mobile components that will be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition to this, the MTV EMAs will show support for home grown and emerging talent through a brand new award category – New Sounds of Europe, in partnership with Sony Ericsson. Giving its audiences a first look at the acts on the cusp of breaking onto the international stage, MTV audiences in 18 markets will nominate their favourite up and coming artist to compete in a European-wide competition on the MTV and Sony Ericsson website. Semi-finalists in 18 markets will ultimately be narrowed down to three acts flown to Munich. On show day, online and live sms voting will commence, closing during the live awards, when the act with the most votes wins the New Sounds of Europe award and performs during the show.

Voting for News Sounds of Europe starts today – go to www.mtvema.com or www.sonyericsson.com/mtvema.

‘We’re really excited to be bringing this year’s MTV EMAs live from Munich’s OlympiaHalle, and Snoop Dogg as our host is guaranteed to keep everyone entertained with his unique style. For the first time ever, MTV’s audiences are taking total control of the awards by choosing nominees and winners. With the debut of the New Sounds of Europe Award, the EMAs will be introducing new artists and music to Europe and the world in an unprecedented way. This will be our best show yet!’ - Richard Godfrey, Senior Vice President of Content & Music, MTV Networks International & Executive Producer of the MTV EMAs.

The Main Categories are:


Album Of The Year*
Headliner* - (Most Impressive Live Band of The Year)
Most Addictive Track*- (Favourite Track of The Year)
Inter Act* - (Band That Has Been The Most Interactive With Fans and Online)
Band Of 2007*
Solo Artist Of 2007*
Ultimate Urban* - (Favourite RNB or Hip Hop Act)
Rock Out* - (Favourite Rock or Alternative Act)
New Sounds of Europe* - (The Ultimate European Breakthrough Act)
Regional Award*
Free You Mind
Video Star
Artist’s Choice - (The Most Popular Act Chosen by Music Artists)


* Categories voted for by European audiences. Free Your Mind & Video Star awards chosen by MTV.

To vote, audiences are able to log on now to the MTV EMA website www.mtvema.com, and decide who they would like to see nominated in each of the categories.

An artist shortlist for each category - chosen by MTV, will be available online for audiences to nominate from. In addition to the lists provided, audiences will be given the option to add to the shortlist anyone who they would like to nominate who is not already included.

The five acts with the most votes will become the category nominees which will be announced late September. Audiences will then vote to decide who from these five nominees will become the ultimate winner. Winners will be announced at the MTV EMAs on the 1 November 2007.

The MTV Europe Music Awards Munich 2007 will premiere on MTV at 8pm GMT/9PM CET.

Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on the awards visit:
www.mtvema.com

-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:

Doug Wright / Maria Barham / Nadine Bibi
LD Communications
+44 (0) 207 439 7222
doug.wright@ldcommunications.co.uk
maria.barham@ldcommunications.co.uk
Nadine.bibi@ldcommunications.co.uk

About MTV Networks International
MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Comedy Central, Game One and IFILM. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 506.7 million households in 160 countries and 32 languages via 141 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 300 digital media properties. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

About Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications serves the global communications market with innovative and feature-rich mobile phones, accessories and PC-cards. Established as a joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in 2001, with global corporate functions located in London, the company employs over 7,500 people worldwide, including R&D sites in Europe, Japan, China and America. Sony Ericsson celebrated the 5th anniversary of the start of the joint venture on 1st October, 2006. Sony, Walkman and the Walkman logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. For more information on Sony Ericsson, please visit www.sonyericsson.com

About Esprit
The Esprit Holdings Limited share price is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, the Hang - Seng - Index and the MCSI index Hong Kong, as well as the FTSE All World Index for Hong Kong. Esprit in numbers: The Group operates approximately over 640 directly managed retail stores worldwide and distribute over 12,000 wholesale points-of-sales internationally, occupying over 817,000 square meters directly managed retail space in more than 40 countries. In the business year 2005/06 Esprit Holdings Limited achieved consolidated sales of 2,4 billion Euro (per 30.06.2006). The Net profit exceeded up to 375 millions Euro with an impressive growth of 16,4% compared to last fiscal year. The consolidated sales of the first half of the business year 2006/2007 confirm Esprit’s success and grew 23.4 %, compared to last years 1,4 billions Euro (per 31.12.2006).