SUPERSTAR RAPPER 50 CENT
AS SPECIAL GUEST PRESENTER/PERFORMER
AT THE 'MTV AUSTRALIA AWARDS 2008'
AND
MTV PRESENTS THE 50 CENT AND G-UNIT AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2008
TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH
VOTING NOW OPEN AT WWW.MTV.COM.AU/AWARDS

SYDNEY, FRIDAY MARCH 14 2008: With a hit list that just keeps on growing, MTV Networks Australia today announces rap mogul 50 Cent as the latest star to join theaward winning list of performers and presenters announced so far. Thenewly styled show has already announced Oscar nominee and indie cult figure Juliette Lewis who will perform with her band Juliette and The Licks and Grammy Awards winning rapper Eve as both performers and presenters at the MTV Australia Awards 2008 on Saturday April 26. With this year's nominees already causing ripples amongst the press, 50 Cent is sure to stir up added excitement as he makes way down under with G-Unit for the first time since his latest album "Curtis" was released. MTV Australia will also 'present' the50 Cent and G-Unit Australia/New Zealand Tour 2008.MTV Australia Awards 2008 will broadcast on MTV Saturday April 26 from 7:30pm with an encore screening on FOX8 Sunday April 27 from 6pm.

MTV Networks Australia is not only welcoming the rapper and entrepreneur's attendance at the MTV Australia Awards 2008 as a performer and presenter, but the network will back the artist as they 'present' the 50 Cent and G-Unit Australia/New Zealand Tour 2008.

"We're delighted to have the opportunity to bring 50 Cent to Australia to perform at our Awards show," commented Dave Sibley, Managing Director, MTV Networks Australia and NZ. "50 Cent is an incredibly popular artist with MTV viewers. We're committed to delivering high calibre artists to fans in Australia and will continue to work very hard to make 50 cent's trip a roaring success."

"We are thrilled 50 Cent is coming back to Australia.  These shows and the MTV Awards will highlight once again what a great artist he is.  Be prepared….." commented Tim Kelly, GM Marketing, Universal Music Australia.

With 11 Grammy nominations and multi platinum album sales, 50 Cent has already proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in the music world. Attesting to his popularity with fans in Australia, both "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" and "The Massacre" went to #1.   His collaborations with some of the music industry's most influential figures have earned him royalty status amongst his peers and fans alike. The rapper has worked with some of the most highly regarded members of the hip-hop community including Justin Timberlake, Mary J Blige, Akon, Timbaland, Dr Dre and Eminem, who was instrumental in launching the artist's career into the mainstream.

'50', whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III has also had success in several feature films including the semi-autobiographical "Get Rich or Die Trying", and has even been immortalised as a character in the cult cartoon series The Simpsons. 50 Cent has also joined the legion of stars to lend their name to products and merchandise, his joint venture G-Unit encompasses G-Unit Records, G-Unit Clothing, G-Unit Books and G-Unit Radio. In 2004 the rapper joined forces with Glacéau to create and market a grape flavored Vitamin Water drink called 'Formula 50'. In May 2007, Coca Cola announced it would pay $4.1 billion to buy Vitamin Water, the bottled water company in which 50 Cent owns a stake. If all this wasn't enough to enure the rappers legacy would be long lived, 50 Cent has also launched a condom line called Magic Stick Condoms and plans to donate a part of the proceeds to HIV awareness.
 
The MTV Australia Awards 2008 will feature eight live musical performances and eleven awards presented across music, film, television, sport, viewer-generated content and topical pop culture moments.  Seven categories will be viewer-chosen with voting open from now until April 25, 2008.  The remaining three categories – favourites in sports, film/tv actor and international music act will be selected by MTV Australia as a way of acknowledging those who have had a significant influence on the Australian MTV audience and are yet to be announced.

Viewers can have their say at the MTV Australia Awards 2008 by voting for their favourite nominations on line at www.mtv.com.au/awards. Viewers will also be eligible to win tickets to the show simply by having their say online or on mobile. Viewers that register and vote are in the running for the chance to head to the MTV Australia Awards 2008 to party like a rock starwith the full red carpet treatment.

Winners will be announced at the MTV Australia Awards on Saturday April 26 2008. The show will broadcast live on MTV Australia with red carpet arrivals from 7:30pm and the main show due to commence at 8.30pm. The MTV Australia Awards2008 will be accessible to all customers of Foxtel, Austar and Optus platforms. For the first time ever, all subscribers will be able to view the main show when Fox 8 airs an encore screening on Sunday April 27 from 6pm.

The MTV Australia Awards 2008 will give fans a compelling interactive experience across all platforms. Viewers will be able to interact with the show via the red-button, catch exclusive behind the scenes action online at www.mtv.com.au, and watch highlights of the show on their mobile phones.

Major sponsors of the MTV Australia Awards2008 are Sony Computer Entertainment, General Pants, LG Electronics, supported by Nissan Micra and Chupa Chups.

MTV Australia is a 24-hour music and entertainment network targeting 12-32 year olds on the FOXTEL, Optus, AUSTAR, and AUSTAR Digital platforms. Visit www.mtv.com.au

MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Paramount Comedy and Game One seen in 420 million households in 164 countries and 18 languages via 104 locally programmed and operated TV channels and 90 Web sites. 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 International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.