New York, New York (NFIC)

The critically acclaimed Native American Music Awards will be featured in two nationally televised broadcast specials in November on MHZ Networks Worldwide with repeat broadcasts tentatively taking place throughout the year on additional MHZ affiliates, an international package on DirecTV, and through Colours TV. The first special entitled, Best of the NAMMYS, is a one hour program featuring performances from Awards shows held from 1999 to 2003 and will air on November 2nd on MHZ at 8:00PM EST. The second program is a two hour edited version of the Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards which will be broadcast on the MHZ Network on Thursday, November 9th at 8:00PM EST. Up to four repeat broadcasts are scheduled on the network throughout the year. Additional broadcast dates are also expected to be announced from Black Star Communications’ Colours TV which broadcasts on the Dish Network.

The Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards, originally held at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, this past summer, features a wide array of star-studded talent including Little Steven, Calton Coffie (Cops Theme Song) and John Trudell along with other special guest award presenters. The program features dynamic music performances by nominated and award-winning artists including: Keith Secola (Artist of the Year), Pura Fe’ (Best Female Artist), Wade Fernandez (Best Male Artist), Arvel Bird (Best Instrumental), Eagle & Hawk (Best Pop Rock), Douglas Blue Feather (Flutist of the Year), Red Rhythm Band plus a Lifetime Achievement Award presentation to Tiger Tiger and a Hall of Fame Induction of the late Link Wray with a tribute performance lead by his grandson Chris Webb.

Best of the NAMMYS features over one dozen music performances recorded from the Second Annual show to the Fifth. Featured performers include: Crystal Gayle (Cherokee), Bill Miller (Stockbridge Munsee), Thunderbird Sisters (Shinnecock), Bird Singers (Viejas Band of Kumeyaay), Pamyua (Yup ‘ik), Howard Lyons (Onondaga) Felipe Rose of the Village People (Lakota/Taino) and more.

The airing of both programs help commemorate the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month proclaimed by the President of the United States of America. 

MHZ Worldwide is an independent, noncommercial television network delivering international, educational and arts programming to an estimated 18 million households nationwide. Owned by the Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation, the network consists of independent public television stations, cable and satellite television channels across the country including: KCSM in San Francisco, WYCC in Chicago, WNVC in D.C., and DirecTV as part of the network’s international package. (See affiliate list below or visit www.mhznetworks.org.)

Colours Television, www.ColoursTV.org, is broadcast in 12 million households through the Dish Network on Channel 9407. Bought to you by Black Star Communications, Colours TV is America’s first multi-cultural 24/7 cable and satellite network offering fresh entertainment and international programming about urban and ethically diverse cultures.

The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, Indigenous Peoples Music and Foxwoods Media Arts Department provided postproduction underwriting support for the Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards. The Eighth Annual Native American Music Awards was taped in front of a live audience by the Native American Music Awards Inc and Seminole Broadcasting. Founded in 1998, the Native American Music Awards proudly continues to honor the outstanding musical achievements of Native American artists from across the country and celebrate their gift of music around the world.

MHZ Networks and Colours TV have already expressed commitments in airing the Ninth Annual Native American Music Awards in 2007. Membership Submission Forms will be sent out by December 31, 2006.

MHZ Affiliates:

WNVC Washington, D.C., Broadcast Channel 56 (analog), 30-1 (digital broadcast) 2,241,610 DMA HHS

Cable – various 1,587,840 Cable HHS

WEIU – Charleston, IL, Broadcast Channel 50-2 (digital broadcast) 382,460 DMA HHS

Cable 50 – 256,810 Cable HHS

KCSM – San Francisco, CA, Broadcast Channel 43-2 (digital broadcast) 2,359,870 DMA HHS

Cable – various 1,785,510 Cable HHS

WYCC – Chicago, IL, Broadcast Channel  21-2 (digital broadcast) 3,417,330 DMA HHS

Cable – various 2,382,760 Cable HHS

KBTC – Tacoma/Seattle, WA, Broadcast Channel tba 1,690,640 DMA HHS

LSR Access – Colorado Springs, CO  

Cable: Channel 15 Adelphia 90,000 Cable HHS

MPS Cable – Minneapolis, MN         

Cable: Channel 76 Time Warner     80,000 Cable HHS

Globecast (DTH)                     

Cable: Channel 156 200,000 HHS

DirecTV                                       

Cable: Channel TBD international package 200,000 HHS

Cable/DTH Sub-totals:            18,590,350 Cable HHS

*** Actual cable systems and subscriber counts will follow. Public TV affiliates are working out the details of their multiple channel carriage with their respective cable systems. The cable HH# is a “guide only” at this time.

FMI: www.nammys.com