World AIDS Day, the international event designed to strengthen global efforts in the fight against HIV and AIDS, will be observed on Friday, Dec. 1, 2006. In honor of this endeavor, many broadcast and cable networks will air special programming to further educate the public about the ongoing health crisis. This year is especially noteworthy as 2006 marks the pandemic's 25th year.

World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, Programming Highlights (listed by time):

"Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt" (Logo, 8:30 AM ET/PT)
In this Academy Award-winning documentary narrated by Dustin Hoffman, squares of the AIDS quilt come to life as a diverse group of people celebrate the stories and lives of loved one who died of AIDS-related causes.
http://www.logoonline.com/documentaries/

"Walker, Texas Ranger" (USA Network, 9 AM ET/PT)
In this two-part episode, an AIDS-stricken 7-year-old tries to find his mother with Walker's help.
http://www.usanetwork.com/series/walker/

"Staying Alive - 48fest" (Logo, 3:30 PM ET/PT & MTV, check listings)
This documentary follows 48 young people from 27 countries as they each produce a three-minute film about HIV and AIDS for "Staying Alive's" first film competition, held in conjunction with the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto last August.
http://www.staying-alive.org

"The Golden Girls" (Lifetime, 4 PM ET/PT)
After Rose has completed gallbladder surgery, she receives a letter from the hospital warning her she may have been exposed to blood containing HIV antibodies.
http://www.lifetimetv.com/index.php

"The Ride: Seven Days to End AIDS" (4 PM ET/PT)
This original documentary series follows a diverse group of cyclists taking part in AIDS/Lifecycle 4, a 585-mile race to raise money for HIV and AIDS research.
http://www.logoonline.com/shows/dyn/the_ride_seven_days_to_end_aids/series.jhtml

"Nature of Things: Value of Life: AIDS in Africa Revisited" (Showtime, 5 PM ET)
This documentary follows the United Nations' HIV and AIDS envoy, Stephen Lewis, who raises funding and awareness for Africa's millions of sufferers.
http://www.sho.com/site/schedules/product_page.do?seriesid=0&episodeid=127506

"106 & Park " (BET, 6 PM ET/PT)
This week's live concert taping addresses World AIDS Day.
http://www.bet.com/Site+Management/Packages/106+and+Park.htm

"Positively Naked" (Cinemax, 7 PM ET/ 10 PM PT)
In honor of the 10th anniversary of Poz magazine, artist Spencer Tunick creates an art installation captured on film to portray life with AIDS in America today.
http://www.sho.com/site/schedules/product_page.do?seriesid=0&episodeid=128451

"Beat the Drum" (Showtime, 8 PM ET/PT)
This film tells the story of Musa, a young orphan who leaves his Zulu village in search of his uncle in Johannesburg. While on his quest, Musa learns about the "mysterious illness" plaguing the country.
http://www.cinemax.com/index.html

"Law & Order: SVU" Marathon (USA Network, 8 - 11 PM ET/PT)
Three episodes of the hit series involving HIV-related mysteries.
http://www.usanetwork.com/series/svu2/

"CBS News on Logo" (Logo, 9 PM ET/PT)
This special report comments exclusively on AIDS today and how it is affecting the LGBT community.
http://www.logoonline.com/news/

"The Mothers' House" (Sundance Channel, 10 PM ET/PT)
This documentary follows Miche Moses, a South African girl growing up with an HIV-positive mother, over the course of four years.
http://www.sundancechannel.com/home/

"Positive Voices: Matthew Cusick" (Sundance Channel, 11:15 PM ET/PT)
This 12-minute documentary focuses on the workplace discrimination against Matthew Cusick, an HIV-positive performer with Cirque de Soleil.
http://www.sundancechannel.com/home

"Strong Medicine" (Lifetime, 1:30 AM ET/PT)
Dana must deal with her internal dilemma of helping a patient get pregnant after learning the woman's husband is HIV-positive.
http://www.lifetimetv.com/index.php

"Ending AIDS: The Search for a Vaccine" (PBS, check listings)
In the absence of a vaccine, 60 million more people may be infected with the AIDS virus by 2010. This documentary explains why developing a vaccine has been so difficult. Narrated by actor and AIDS activist Richard Gere.
http://www.pbs.org/endingaids/

"General Hospital" (ABC, check listings)
Dr. Robin Scorpio is HIV-positive. She contracted the virus from her first love, Stone Cates. This week marks the anniversary of his death. A fellow doctor, Patrick Drake, has fallen hard for Robin in recent months, though he is concerned for his own health.
http://abc.go.com/daytime/generalhospital/index.html

"MTV News" (MTV, check listings)
Three different AIDS-related newscasts will air throughout the week, addressing prevention, treatment and the steps being taken to work towards an AIDS cure. Another segment will announce the winner of the KNOW HIV/AIDS screenwriting competition, promoting the five-minute film making its debut on mtvU and mtvU Über.
http://think.mtv.com

"Think HIV: This is Me" (MTV, check listings)
This is a collection of original videos, filmed by HIV-positive young people and their partners, friends and families.
http://think.mtv.com

MOVIES: "It's My Party" (Logo, 6 AM ET/PT), "Behind the Red Door" (Logo, 10:30 AM ET/PT & 7 PM ET/PT), "And the Band Played On" (Logo, 12:30 PM ET/PT), "In the Gloaming (Logo, 10 PM ET/PT).

Additional World AIDS Day Programming:

November 30
"Noah's Arc" (Logo, 9:30 PM ET/PT)
This episode features an AIDS-related storyline, containing the world premiere of the HIV Forum public service announcements.
http://www.logoonline.com/shows/dyn/noahs_arc/series.jhtml

December 2
"Girlfriends" (BET, 9 PM ET/PT)
Two special HIV-and AIDS-related episodes of The CW's "Girlfriends."
http://www.bet.com/

"The Down Low Exposed" (BET, 10 PM ET/PT)
This one-hour BET News special features J.L. King addressing the issue of straight-identified men sleeping with other men. The possibility of these men contracting and spreading HIV and AIDS is discussed.
http://www.bet.com/

December 3
"Let's Talk" (BET, 1:00 PM ET/PT)
This short film is the second winner from BET's 2005 Rap-It-Up film competition, which encourages filmmakers to create short films addressing HIV and AIDS.
http://www.bet.com/Site+Management/Packages/New+Rap-it-up.htm

"Ithuteng {Never Stop Learning}" (HBO, 6:30 PM ET/PT)
This film, directed by William Ebersol, a 16-year-old first-time director, tells the story of one woman's crusade to change the lives of South African young people.
http://www.ithuteng.com/

December 4
"3 Needles" (Showtime, 9:00 PM ET/PT)
This feature film weaves three separate tales of how HIV/AIDS has affected humanity on a global scale. On December 1, this film will have a limited theatrical release in major cities.
http://www.sho.com/site/schedules/product_page.do?seriesid=0&episodeid=128078

Resources

Cable Positive
http://cablepositive.org/

World AIDS Day
http://www.worldaidsday.org/default.asp

For Additional Resources, Contact:

Sarah Holbert
Entertainment Media Manager, GLAAD 
(323) 634-2013
holbert@glaad.org