#ForeverYoung. Much Rings in its 30th with Anniversary Special and Legendary Videoflow Countdown

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TORONTO (August 12, 2014) – In 1984, Prince’s “When Doves Cry” topped the charts, the first Apple Macintosh personal computers landed in stores, fashion was all about aerobics and lace, WHO’S THE BOSS was tops on TV, Madonna’s seminal sophomore album Like A Virgin arrived, and music videos on TV were king. And on August 31, a scrappy little music station was launched that quickly became a community for youth across Canada, thirsting for the latest fix of music and pop culture. Thirty years later, Much takes a look at some of the music and pop culture events that have shaped the channel with the 30-minute special 30 YEARS OF MUCH, premiering Saturday, Aug. 30 at 9 p.m. ET, as well as the 100 GREATEST VIDEOS EVER, starting earlier that day on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. ET.

“Much was a wild and dynamic place to be in the 80s,” said Steve Anthony, Much VJ, 1987-1995. “The 30 YEARS OF MUCH special really shows how thorough the constantly evolving world of pop culture Much has always been irreverent, cool, and in touch with its audience. It will always be forever young.”

“Every day at Much is a new adventure and 30 YEARS OF MUCH illustrates that,” said Liz Trinnear, current Much VJ. “As a child of the 80s, I know our fans are going to love revisiting some of the events that have shaped Much. Here’s to many more exciting moments to come!”

From legendary icons to incredible unscripted moments, 30 YEARS OF MUCH features current and past Much VJs including Devon Soltendieck, Hannah Sung, Liz Trinnear, Phoebe Dykstra, Steve Anthony, Traci Melchor, and Tyrone Edwards, who share stories and insights from their time on Much. The special revisits some of the biggest and most entertaining happenings in the channel’s 30-year history, including One Direction shutting down the streets around Much HQ in Toronto and giving fans the surprise of a lifetime; a young Mark “Marky Mark” Walhberg stripping down to his skivvies to do abdominal tricks; an interview with Tupac Shakur taped just a week before his death; and Jay Z introducing his then unheard-of protégé, Rihanna, to his fans. The special also includes new interviews with some of the Much audience’s favourite Canadian musicians, including Hedley, k-os, Serena Ryder, and Sam Roberts who recount their times at Much both past and present, as well exclusive anniversary greetings from some of music’s biggest names.

For a sneak peek at Much’s epic first 30-years, check out these clips:

Forever Funny

Awkward Years

Thank You

** Media Note **– Download photography on www.bellmediapr.ca/network/much

Leading up to the anniversary special, Much counts down to #1 with a curated list of the best music videos from the past three decades. Starting Saturday, Aug. 30 at 11 a.m., and running until 9 p.m. ET, the 10-hour 100 GREATEST VIDEOS EVER includes only the best of the best, painstakingly compiled by Much staffers, and hand-picked from Much’s vast music library of almost 64,000 videos. 100 GREATEST VIDEOS EVER includes everything from Michael Jackson and Beyoncé to Feist and Missy Elliot, and covers stand-out music video moments of the past 30 years.

Additionally, in honour of this milestone, Much goes back to the future with some of the best movies from its birth year, 1984, with a series of marathons featuring the POLICE ACADEMY, BEVERLY HILLS COP, and REVENGE OF THE NERDS franchises. The marathon begins Saturday, Aug. 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET with POLICE ACADEMY. For the full marathon schedule, click here.

Fans can follow all the anniversary action on Twitter by following @Much and using the hashtag #ForeverYoung.

About Much

Much is the go-to channel for all things pop-culture, delivering trendworthy, topical programming, and exclusive live events. From the MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS to its industry-leading online and social media outreach, including Much.ca, on Twitter (with over half a million followers), and Facebook (with more than 1.3 million likes and counting), Much continues to deliver unique and clever programming to its audience. Much supports the Canadian music video production industry with its annual, multi-million dollar contribution to MuchFACT. Much is available in more than 8.2 million homes across Canada via satellite, IPTV, and cable, as well as more than 1 million mobile devices. Much is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. 

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For more information:

Nicola Krishna, 416. 384.5276 or nicola.krishna@bellmedia.ca