NBC Announces A CONCERT FOR HURRICANE RELIEF Benefit Telethon To Aid Victims Of HURRICANE KATRINA

(From ShopTalk)

In response to the hurricane tragedy, NBC UNIVERSAL TELEVISION GROUP will air a LIVE benefit special, A CONCERT FOR HURRICANE RELIEF in HIGH-DEFINITION on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2005 AT 8 pm ET, it was announced today by NBC UNIVERSAL.

The hour-long, music and celebrity driven broadcast will air live to THE EAST COAST, tape delayed on THE WEST. The telethon, hosted by NBC's MATT LAUER, will be broadcast entirely from THE NEW YORK STUDIOS OF NBC located in 30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA. The special will feature performances by artists with ties to the affected areas, including TIM McGRAW, HARRY CONNICK, JR. and WYNTON MARSALIS as well as an appearance by LEONARDO DICAPRIO, among others.

All viewers will be encouraged to donate to THE AMERICAN RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF FUND in support of hurricane relief through its website and donation hotline -- either at www.redcross.org or 1-800-HELP-NOW.

The humanitarian needs from this catastrophic hurricane are immense and will continue to emerge over the next weeks, months and even years.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF FUND enables THE RED CROSS to provide shelter, food, counseling, and other assistance to those in need for this disaster and other disasters across the country each year.

As the full extent of HURRICANE KATRINA's devastation is revealed, the task ahead challenges the capacity of any one organization to respond. To meet the needs of the thousands of Americans facing loss, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS will work shoulder-to-shoulder with its partners in the federal government and the non-profit community to provide essential support.

Further details will be announced shortly.