New Music Television / New Music TV (NMTV), presented by Marc Almond (of Soft Cell) was a weekly series of 26 half-hour music programmes first aired in the UK at 11:30pm in July 2001 on ITV1 and ITV2. Each show featured six videos from artists and bands around the world together with an interview with a well known or up-and-coming artist/band.
The series was formatted to portray a retro, fun and quirky style. It went on to sell around the world into 48 countries via Southern Star distribution and was responsible for helping to break 24 then unknown artists or bands into the UK top 20. e.g. The White Stripes, Feeder, The Hives and P.J. Harvey. The NMTV executive and series producer was Stephen Benham (formally known as Bo Benham of The Pleasers)Stephen Benham lived a double life, he was living in a flat in London purportedly unemployed while claiming benefits to avoid child support enforcement from the CSA, he left his wife and child when the child was 1 years old after having numerous affairs and also domestic violence against his wife (Sarah Benham)and did not pay any child maintenance during the whole period even though he was working and director of numerous companies, the series was directed by Enrico Lando, currently enjoying success in Italy with his new award winning comedy series entitled I Soliti idioti for MTV Europe.
A new series of New Music Television is to be re-launched across mainland China featuring a mix of western and Chinese popular music and aimed at the Chinese youth audience.