• January 6, 2003

Viacom will team up with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, in a global media campaign to combat HIV/AIDS through public service messages (PSAs), television and radio programming, and free print and online content. KNOW HIV/AIDS started Monday in the U.S. with a weeklong concentration of PSAs-with total ad placement value in excess of $120 million in 2003-as well as the rollout of special programming, and will continue throughout the year. The initiative targets the general population and groups hardest hit by the disease-young people under 25, people of color, women, and men who have sex with men. A total of 49 television, radio and outdoor ads have been produced for the initiative, and will be placed strategically across Viacom's broadcast networks CBS and UPN and 200 affiliates; cable networks MTV, BET, VH1, CMT, MTV2, TV Land, Nick at Nite, Nickelodeon, Showtime, The New TNN and 50%-owned Comedy Central; more than 180 Infinity radio stations in the top 50 markets and on billboards, buses and bus shelters in the top 15 markets. In addition, a number of popular television shows have incorporated HIV/AIDS themes in upcoming episodes, including Becker, The District, Enterprise, Girlfriends, Half & Half, One on One, The Parkers, Presidio Med, and Queer as Folk.