The City of Athens supported a series of music events organized by Greek music television channel MAD TV, entitled “MAD Live in Athens” and involving the staging of major concerts with the Acropolis monument as a backdrop, within the context of efforts to promote Athens abroad.

The concerts attracted sizeable audiences, while Athens received extensive media coverage in both the print and television media as a result. Furthermore, MAD TV won the Silver Award at the New York Festivals International Television Programming & Promotion Awards 2009 for the Mad Live in Athens by Vodafone CU - Good Charlotte programme. The winning entry comprised a rockumentary on the US music group Good Charlotte’s 48-hour stay in Athens and their live performance with the Acropolis as a backdrop.

MAD TV competed against CNN, CBC, ESPN, The History Channel and several other international television channels. Last year CNN won the Silver Award for a special programme entitled “Larry King Live – 50 years of Pop Culture”, which was dedicated to presenter Larry King’s 50-year career.