(24 December 2005 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Music channel MTV in the US has announced that 2005 was the highest rated year in the channel’s existence in the P12-34 age group.

In addition, 2005 marked the 14th consecutive year that MTV has reigned as the number one rated 24 hour basic cable network among P12-24. Propelled by breakout hits Laguna Beach Real World, My Super Sweet Sixteen, Making the Band 3 and others, MTV cl;aims to have produced seven of the top 10 rated basic cable series for the year P12-34.

The broadcaster adds that MTV’s success in 2005 extended well beyond the TV screen as its online, broadband and multiplatform initiatives connected with larger audiences than ever before. MTV.com posted its highest average monthly unique visitors ever, up 30 per cent from last year.

2005 also saw the launch of MTV’s first broadband network, MTV Overdrive in April. Since its launch, MTV Overdrive claims to have generated more than 125 million streams of unique MTV content including breakout music events My VMAs and the premiere of Unplugged: Alicia Keys continuously updated MTV News programming, plus companion programming for hits Laguna Beach, Made and more.

MTV Networks Music Group president entertainment Brian Graden says, "2005 was a record breaking year that further solidified the success of our multiplatform approach to programming. Our core audience demands entertainment and information from a variety of media, and our goal is to continue to connect with viewers across every screen in the house.”