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AOL UK today announced an exclusive agreement with Blaze Television to provide AOL members with online access to performances from ITV's popular Saturday music show cd:uk. From this week, AOL dial-up and broadband members can access video footage of leading music acts that have appeared on cd:uk, as part of their AOL package. The performances will be available on AOL on the same day as the show airs and will also be archived for a two month period.

AOL members can access the cd:uk performances at a specially-developed microsite within the AOL service (AOL Keyword: CD:UK) and they will not be available on any other UK online service. The agreement further strengthens AOL's extensive portfolio of music content that includes Sessions@AOL, exclusive AOL-produced live performances and interviews, and Radio@AOL Broadband, an exclusive online radio service with more than 100 commercial-free stations.

The cd:uk footage will also be promoted within AOL's Teens Channel, which already provides content for younger members such as music and games news, style and beauty tips, and horoscopes.

Hosted by Cat Deeley, cd:uk is the market-leading show on Saturday mornings, featuring the latest music performances and artists live every Saturday on ITV 1. Produced by Blaze Television, the entertainment wing of leading independent producer Zenith Entertainment, it is now in its sixth series, and consistently wins its slot with peaks of up to two million viewers.

Kate Hall, Director of Entertainment at AOL UK, commented: "Music performances really come alive on AOL Broadband and with cd:uk attracting the hottest artists from around the globe each week, we believe that the footage will be very attractive to our teen members and other AOL members with an interest in chart music."

"We have had great success transferring major television brands to our broadband platform in recent months and we also know from our members' response to AOL Music that online music performances are really capturing people's attention," she added.

Phil Mount, Head of Music at Blaze Television, said: "Performances online are a natural step for cd:uk and we're delighted to be doing this with AOL whose existing music offering and reputation is so strong."