VH1 will air "This Is It" in 2011

Get ready to watch and re-watch this year’s concert movie event of a lifetime: Michael Jackson’s This Is It will come to TV via MTV Networks in 2011. Check the press release below for more info:

MTV Networks has acquired the exclusive United States television rights to air one of the most anticipated films of the year — Michael Jackson’s This Is It.

The critically acclaimed and commercially successful film becomes available to MTV Networks in 2011, and continuing through the entire six-year network window. The deal includes all domestic channels under the MTV Networks umbrella, including MTV, VH1, VH1 Classic and Palladia and rounds out the music networks’ commitment to celebrating the life and legacy of Michael Jackson. The arrangement also extends to Viacom’s BET Networks, including its newest channel, Centric. Channels and premiere dates will be announced at a later time.

“The film is a true testament to Michael’s musical genius, passion and commitment to his craft,” said Van Toffler, President of the MTV Networks Music Group. “Michael Jackson has always been inextricably tied to our viewers as they witnessed his evolution from a talented performer to a global icon who redefined music. Now, with this film, we can help give his fans a chance to see his final performance.”

This Is It, premiered nationwide on October 28, earning the No. 1 box office spot for the weekend and offering Jackson fans and music lovers everywhere a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out, historic comeback concerts that would have kicked off this past summer at London’s O2 Arena. Chronicling from March through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind the scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing numerous songs for the show. Audiences are given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he was never before seen. In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson’s This Is It is the last documentation of Michael Jackson at work, capturing the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius and great artist at work.

Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson’s creative partner for the concert tour and the director of the stage show serves as the film’s director, and Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware are producers. Executive producers are John Branca and John McClain. The film is being distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Releasing. One of the best reviewed film of the year, Michael Jackson’s This Is It has already reached $222.6 million in box office receipts worldwide.

The deal was brokered by Sony Pictures Television and Ben Zurier, Executive Vice President, Program Strategy, VH1, VH1 Classic & Palladia for MTV Networks. MTV Networks will also collaborate with Sony Pictures Entertainment in marketing the DVD release of the film in early 2010.

vh1.com

NEW MUSIC: Michael Jackson - This Is It

Video Of The Week: MJ's daughter Paris & her moving speech

Yesterday everyone all over the world tuned in to see the Michael Jackson: The Memorial, & I think that the most moving & the most emotional part throughout the whole thing is when his daughter Paris took the mic & said how much she loved her father, I had tears coming down my face when I saw that on TV & pretty sure everyone did. I hope that everyone else realized that even though they have a lighter complexion & look 100% white that's still his children no matter others say regardless, MJ was the one that raised them since they were babies.

1.6 Million requests for Michael Jackson memorial tickets

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Like a modern-day Willy Wonka tale, fans celebrated Sunday after beating the odds to win coveted tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial service at Staples Center.

More than 1.6 million fans registered online for free in the random drawing of only 8,750 names. Each person selected will receive two tickets to Tuesday's memorial. The odds of getting a ticket were about 1 in 183.

"I'm in shock that it has happened," said Deka Motanya, 27, of San Francisco. "It's surreal." She received an e-mail message at 4:35 p.m. notifying her, "Congratulations, your application was successful."

She immediately Twittered: "OMG OMG OMG OMG i got tickets to the michael jackson memorial service!!!"

David Gobaud, 25, who studies computer science at Stanford University, said he didn't believe his e-mail was real at first. "It's Michael Jackson, one of the greatest musical stars of all time," he said.

Another winner was Zach Moss, a 21-year-old Chicagoan working for the summer as a DJ in Las Vegas. He said clubgoers have responded strongly to Jackson's music since his death.

"You can play two, three Michael Jackson songs back to back and people are going to have this huge jubilation celebration," he said. "Everyone throws their drinks up and shouts, 'MJ!' It's extremely powerful."

The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Center plus 6,500 in the Nokia Theater overflow section next door. The streets around Staples Center will be closed to prevent those without tickets from trying to attend, police said Sunday.


music.msn.com

The King Of Pop in the sky?

MYFOXNY.COM - Is Michael Jackson smiling down on the people of New York?
Fox 5 viewers Rolando Rivera and Felicita Diaz-Rivera of the Upper West Side were admiring the amazing light and clouds that emerged after a thunderstorm passed through the tristate.
That is when they noticed that one section of the clouds seemed to take on a familiar face. Rolando took a series of photos (see photo tab), which show a cloud formation coalescing into Michael Jackson's profile -- or maybe not.
Can you see his face? Vote in our Web poll (see poll tab).
Rolando and Felicita saw this scene from the window of their apartment near Amsterdam Avenue and 101st Street.
Perhaps Michael was trying to catch a glimpse at the scores of people gathered at the Apollo Theater in nearby Harlem to pay tribute to the King of Pop, who died suddenly in Los Angeles Thursday.