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NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fuse, the national music television network of The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG), announced today that after a booty shaking breakout first season, the network's number one original series of all time, Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce has been renewed for season two. The new season of Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce is set to premiere in June 2014 and will consist of eight new half-hour episodes. The docu-series is currently in production.

With local hero and compelling personality Big Freedia as its guide, unscripted series Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce explores the world of the New Orleans underground hip hop scene known as "Bounce." Viewers will join Big Freedia as she finds her voice as Louisiana's premiere Bounce artist, works through her mother's illness and works hard to transition from local celebrity to mainstream pop icon. The docu-series will also welcome back Katey Red and other special guests. Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce is executive produced by Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, and Tom Campbell of World of Wonder (RuPaul's Drag Race, Million Dollar Listing, Life with La Toya).

Season one of Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce was Fuse's number one original series of all time on total viewer delivery reaching more than four million viewers, who watched as Freedia made global waves and brought Bounce to the masses. The docu-series was also number one for the network on P18-34 and P18-49 delivery. In addition to her television following, Big Freedia also took the social media world by storm as her Twitter (@BigFreedia) followers organically increased by 77% since the launch of the program and as the show's hashtag, #BigFreedia, was a nationally trending topic during both the season premiere and season finale episodes.

Big Freedia currently holds the Guinness World Record® title for most people twerking simultaneously. On September 25, 2013, Fuse and Big Freedia took over Herald Square to host the Record Breaking Booty Shaking event that welcomed 358 dancers, who hit the floor and shook their booties for two consecutive minutes in the center of Manhattan. While twerking has recently gone mainstream and is a pop culture phenomenon, the dance actually originates from the 20+ year old New Orleans Bounce scene, of which Big Freedia is the undisputed queen.

For more information on Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce, visit http://www.fuse.tv/shows/big-freedia, and join the conversation on Twitter @fusetv using the hashtag #bigfreedia.    

As the national network dedicated to music, Fuse is committed to delivering outstanding content that features the characters, stories, performances, and perspectives that make up the dynamic world of music.  Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce is part of Fuse's lineup of original music-inspired programming, which also includes: Fuse News, Fuse's daily flagship music news program; Warped Roadies, an unscripted program that follows the crew charged with keeping the Vans Warped Tour running; and Funny or Die's Billy on the Street, a music and pop culture trivia show starring Billy Eichner.  Other Fuse shows include Insane Clown Posse Theater, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope's twisted take on what's new in music and popular culture, along with Top 20 Countdown and Trending 10.  Additionally, Fuse covers live concerts and events, and boasts comprehensive coverage of music festivals throughout the country, including South by Southwest, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and the Voodoo Music Experience.

About Fuse

Fuse, the national television network dedicated to music, brings viewers closer to their favorite artists and bands by featuring original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks - all rooted in the music experience.  Celebrating the hit makers of today, familiar favorites and edgy newcomers, Fuse accommodates the wide ranging tastes and attitudes of its 18-34 year-old audience with compelling music programming on-air, on-line, on-demand, in HD and via mobile technologies. Fuse is a part of MSG Media, which includes television networks MSG, MSG +, MSG HD and MSG + HD, as well as MSG Interactive, which oversees all company digital initiatives.  MSG Media is a division of The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG), along with MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment. MSG Sports includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); and MSG Entertainment includes concerts and events at Madison Square Garden, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, California, The Chicago Theatre, and the Wang Theatre in Boston, and manages wholly-owned live entertainment properties including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes.  Additional information about Fuse can be found at www.fuse.tv.

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About World of Wonder

Innovative production company World of Wonder is behind such entertaining hit series as RuPaul's Drag Race (Logo), Million Dollar Listing LA, Million Dollar Listing NY & Million Dollar Listing Miami (Bravo), Life With La Toya (OWN) and Island Hunters (HGTV).  World of Wonder has also created award winning films and documentaries such as Inside Deep Throat, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Party Monster, Monica in Black and White, and The Last Beekeeper, which won a 2010 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Nature Programming, and The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell for HBO, which chronicles the repeal of the controversial military policy.   The 2011 Sundance Film Festival hit Becoming Chaz and HBO special Wishful Drinking both garnered a total of five Emmy® nominations.  Becoming Chaz went on to win the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary.  In Vogue: The Editor's Eye brought to life the stories behind the most iconic images from the past 120 years of Vogue magazine, premiered on HBO in December 2012.  The documentary Esquire's 80th launched the Esquire Network in September 2013.  And most recently, I Am Britney Jean which offered an intimate look into Britney Spears' journey to her residency in Las Vegas, premiered on E! in December 2013. With offices in Hollywood and London, the company has produced cutting-edge fiction and non-fiction programming for HBO, Showtime, VH1, IFC, Discovery, MTV, E! Entertainment, Oxygen, BBC, PBS, Channel 4 UK, and other digital outlets that can be found online at http://worldofwonder.net/.

CONTACT: Alyssa Hart, Alyssa.Hart@msg.com, 212-324-3401

         Mallory Kwitter, Mallory.Kwitter@msg.com, 212-631-5672

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