A new and hot competitor for MTV

NEW YORK (Universal annoncement) - Universal is planning to start a music new video channel at US. MTV no longer has the crib all to itself. The king of music television is facing a new rival looking to challenge its long-running hold on music fans.

Universal Music Group, the world's largest music empire, is in talks to launch 1 AM, a music channel that would air uncut videos from its own roster of artists which include 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and Ja Rule. Also, the partner is one of the leaders of the adult entertainment business - Vivid Entertainment.

The music network is the brainchild of aggressive power broker Jimmy Iovine, who runs Universal's Interscope division, and Ari Emanuel, a top honcho at L.A.-based talent agency Endeavor.
The name 1 AM means "for First Amendment" and the new network is looking to distinguish itself from MTV by showing videos and live performances.

MTV's already feeling the heat from another up and coming rival - Fuse, a music channel owned by Cablevision's Rainbow Media. Fuse has 34 million subscribers, compared with MTV's 86 million, the network is finding an audience, especially with rock music. Who said rock on TV is dead?