Collaborative Voices Sing Cincinnati's Praises to VH1
to Bring the Network's top 20 Video Countdown to City
CINCINNATI, Aug. 29, 2008 – Cincinnati speaking as one has resonated with VH1 – to the tune that the network's popular Top 20 Video Countdown will tape a remote broadcast in the city that will air beginning Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008.
A unique collaboration of Cincinnati arts and music enthusiasts, elected officials and thought leaders forged a campaign to help attract VH1 VJ Alison Becker and VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown to spotlight Downtown's renaissance on the popular two-hour program that will air three times on the network. VH1 penetrates 90 millions homes. The effort was led by the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission, Over-the-Rhine-based metaphor studio LLC and Time Warner Cable of Southwest Ohio in light of the summer-long success of the 3 Doors Down music video, "It's Not My Time," shot entirely in Cincinnati this past March.
VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown will tape the broadcast from venues such as the newly remodeled Fountain Square, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Backstage District, Findlay Market, Union Terminal and Northside with the initial air date targeted for Saturday, Sept. 13, from 9 to 11 a.m. The two-hour program will repeat Sunday, Sept. 14, and Tuesday, Sept. 16. The taping will occur to allow for a backstage interview with 3 Doors Down at Riverbend Music Center Sept. 6.
The diverse group of city and statewide leaders singing Cincinnati's praises to VH1 included: Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, Sen. George Voinovich, U.S. Reps. Steve Chabot and Jean Schmidt, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, Cincinnati Vice Mayor David Crowley, Cincinnati City Council Members John Cranley, Laketa Cole, Chris Bortz, Leslie Ghiz and Roxanne Qualls, Mayor Mallory's Young Professional Kitchen Cabinet, Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper Ohio State Sens. Eric Kearney and Robert Schuler, Ohio State Rep. Steve Driehaus, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bootsy Collins, 3CDC CEO Stephen Leeper, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau CEO Dan Lincoln, UC President and 2008 Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Chair Nancy Zimpher, and many, many others.
"Retaining and attracting highly mobile, your professional talent is a key economic development initiative for Midwest states like Ohio," Gov. Strickland wrote to VH1 President Tom Calderone. "I cannot underscore enough how much the dedicated and energetic people of Ohio would appreciate VH1's timely spotlight on Cincinnati."
Gov. Strickland concluded by saying: "I encourage you to consider telling the story of the rebirth of a great American city – Cincinnati, Ohio – on your network as it plays a major role in shaping and defining American popular culture."
Sen. Voinovich also wrote to VH1, saying: "I am absolutely confident your host, Alison Becker and her team, will be the toast of the town when filming your Top 20 Video Countdown in Cincinnati. I hope you'll choose to showcase what I know is a wonderful, thriving, first-class American city."
The effort resonated not only with the network's management, but with local leaders as well. "I have never seen such a tenacious public relations effort in my entire career," remarked Pamela McDonald, vice president of government affairs for Time Warner Cable, who was instrumental in the effort by working directly with VH1 management on cross-promotion in the Cincinnati market.
Others in the core leadership group echoed those comments. "We are so appreciative of the vision of VH1 to celebrate the success of the 3 Doors Down video and to spotlight the renaissance taking place in Downtown Cincinnati and in Over-the-Rhine," said Kristen Erwin, executive director of the Film Commission. "We could not dream of a better media outlet to tell this important story of our city's rebirth."
metaphor studio – long a passionate champion of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine resurgence with projects like the Downtown HopAround and iRhine.com – contributed nearly two months of pro-bono work in serving as the effort's catalyst. "We are pleased and proud to support the tremendous work of our Film Commission, a major reason why 3 Doors Down selected Cincinnati for their video location," said metaphor CEO Suzanne Beane. "We applaud VH1 and all the leaders who supported this effort in helping tell the great back story for the 3 Doors Down video. It's been an effort that is clearly off the charts, and it truly is music to our ears."
Providing support and assistance behind the scenes were noted community leaders such as former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, business executive Tom Neyer, former Vice Mayors Alicia Reece and Jim Tarbell, CVB Chair Nick Vehr, UC's Greg Vehr, MidPoint Music Festival co-founders Sean Rhiney and Bill Donabedian, and Brewster Rhoads, Gov. Strickland's point person for Southwest Ohio.
For more information, contact:
Kristen Erwin, executive director, Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission, 513.378.1415
Raymond Buse III, senior vice president, metaphor studio, 513.608.1604
