Top U.S. and U.K. Comedians Come Together to Celebrate Free Speech at Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball In New York

NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amnesty International announced today that some of the top comedic talent in the U.S. and U.K. will be joining the Secret Policeman's Ball line-up at New York City's Radio City Music Hall Sunday, March 4, 2012. The all-star cast of music and comedy talent includes previously announced artists Coldplay, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Mumford & Sons, Russell Brand and Reggie Watts.

New performers added to the show include American comedians Fred Armisen, Hannibal Buress, David Cross, Bill Hader, Rashida Jones, Seth Meyers, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Samberg, Sarah Silverman, Statler & Waldorf from Disney's The Muppets, Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig and British comics Noel Fielding, Micky Flanagan, John Oliver, Peter Serafinowicz and Jack Whitehall.

Amnesty International also announced that the show will reach a global audience through exclusive distribution deals.

Andy Hackman, Executive Producer for Amnesty International, said: "We are excited to work with EPIX to bring the event to the U.S. and reach a wider audience of younger viewers."

EPIX, the multi-screen, multi-platform premium entertainment service, will telecast the event LIVE and commercial free in the United States on Sunday, March 4 at 7PM ET/4PM PT/6PM CT. In addition, EPIX is offering the event free to all U.S. viewers by hosting the first-ever LIVE stream of the charity event on EpixHD.com and across EPIX apps on Xbox and Roku.

"We are delighted to introduce this legendary event to the United States and to our viewers," said Mark Greenberg, EPIX President and CEO. "EPIX's all-access, multiplatform availability allows us to bring Amnesty International's message to a new generation."

"Amnesty International is thrilled that so many top comedians, musicians and entertainers will sound off for free speech at the Secret Policeman's Ball by using the power of speech itself to challenge and resist those who would constrain it," said Suzanne Nossel, Amnesty International USA's new executive director. "On March 4, we will stand with bloggers in Egypt, China and Azerbaijan, a writer in Cameroon, Burmese comedian Zarganar, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for mocking his government, and countless others facing punishment for writing and saying what they think."

Limited tickets are still available at www.ticketmaster.com and www.facebook.com/secretpoliceman.

To find out more visit www.facebook.com/secretpoliceman, and follow the Secret Policeman on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/secretpoliceman hashtag #secretball

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About Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom and dignity are denied.

About The Secret Policeman's Ball
The Secret Policeman's Ball is a world famous comedy event, which celebrates freedom of expression with the very best within the arts and entertainment industry. Established in 1976, the Secret Policeman's Ball used anarchic humor to raise funds for the fight against human rights abuses. Returning to mark Amnesty International's 50th anniversary, the Secret Policeman's Ball this year is set to be bigger than ever as some of the world's best comedians and musicians team up for an evening of original, cutting edge entertainment.

About Free Speech
The Secret Policeman's Ball celebrates free speech – one of the first rights to be stifled by state authorities, which seek to repress its citizens. Free speech is a basic human right denied to thousands of people around the world. The Secret Policeman's Ball aims to celebrate this right through comedy and music.

About EPIX
EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a premium entertainment service available on television, video-on-demand, online and on consumer electronic devices. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service.  It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood hits, classic feature films, documentaries and original concerts, comedy and sporting events on all platforms.  EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available to authenticated subscribers on EpixHD.com and on hundreds of devices including Xbox360 consoles, Android™ tablets and mobile phones, Roku® players, Samsung® Smart TVs and Blu-ray™ players and more. EPIX is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.

For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com. Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EpixHD.

SOURCE Amnesty International