A Question For You: MTV is tapping into the ESPN X Games market, is this a good thing? Or should MTV stick to music? You tell us.

See Also: PR: MTV Alternative Sports & Music Festival (6-2-97)

Santa Monica, CA, August 25, 1997 -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION will present its first ever professional "Sports and Music Festival" in Austin, Texas beginning October 17. The event will feature live performances by 311, Sugar Ray and Reel Big Fish as well alternative sports stars, such as Arlo Eisenberg, Barrett Christy, Dave Mirra, and Andy MacDonald. MTV personalities Kennedy and Peter King will host the event, presenting the competitions, and taking viewers behind the scenes to learn more about the athletes and the lifestyles surrounding these sports. MTV's "Sports and Music Festival" will air on MTV during the weekend of November 7-9 with 10 hours of original programming.

Top international athletes from in-line skating, BMX bike, skateboarding and snowboarding received invitations to show off their best moves for the Austin spectators and the MTV audience. The festival setting will create a more relaxed atmosphere for the athletes to compete and allow them to enjoy the great music along with the audience. In a professional sports first, the athletes will judge each other's efforts in each sport via electronic voting. This process encourages the athletes to try new moves and push the envelop because peer voting will ensure that creativity is rewarded. Joining Peter King and Kennedy will be current and past stars of each sport so the audience will get the best understanding of what the athletes are trying to accomplish.

In another first, MTV will build the largest single half pipe ever for the athletes to navigate. In addition, the snowboarding competition will feature an 80-foot high and 250-foot long snowboard ramp that will be filled with snow and serve as host to the "Big Air" event.

Athletes from far reaching territories such as Brazil, Canada, Denmark, and Japan as well as the U.S. will show off their latest maneuvers during live performances by 311, Sugar Ray and Reel Big Fish and other top alternative artists. The main stage will be combined with a half pipe to allow athletes to ride as bands are performing. The full roster of bands will be announced in the coming weeks, and a second stage will feature local Austin acts.

Tickets will be available beginning September 1st via Star Tickets. They can be purchased at all regular Star Tickets outlets and by calling 1-888-597-STAR or 1-800-966-SHOW.

"We are very excited about MTV's first 'Sports and Music Festival,' because it allows us to showcase some of today's hottest sports and music in a very unique way," said Salli Frattini, Vice President/Executive in Charge of Production, MTV. "'MTV Sports changed sports television in 1992 by showcasing alternative athletes in an innovative way, and this event should redefine what you expect from a sporting event."

"The music sets the mood in a lot of cases," said Andy MacDonald, a top professional skateboarder. "I think that with the Sports and Music Festival that the music is going to set the tone for some really aggressive and progressive skating."

MTV's "Sports and Music Festival" will be executive produced by Patrick Byrnes, creator of "MTV Sports" and "The Rodman World Tour" and produced by R. Greg Johnston.

A Question For You: MTV is tapping into the ESPN X Games market, is this a good thing? Or should MTV stick to music? You tell us.