NEED AN IDOL®-LIKE FIX? GOSPEL MUSIC CHANNEL CAN SATISFY:

TWO ORIGINAL TALENT-SEARCH SHOWS PREMIERE ON SUN. JUNE 1: BOBBY JONES: NEXT GENERATION & GOSPEL DREAM 2008

Contact: Jim Weiss, Gospel Music Channel, 770-692-4579, Jim@gospelmusicchannel.com

ATLANTA, May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- And just like that, American Idol® is over for the season, gone until 2009. Yet, Idol® viewers who enjoy watching exciting new talent pursue their dreams, can continue to experience it Sunday nights, thanks to the Gospel Music Channel television network.

Sunday, June 1, Gospel Music Channel presents the series premiere of Bobby Jones: Next Generation at 8:00 p.m., followed at 9:00 p.m. by the third season premiere of Gospel Dream 2008, the channel’s popular American Idol®-like talent search series. Premiere episodes of both shows will be seen back-to-back on Sunday nights over the summer.

Dr. Bobby Jones, the man who helped revolutionalize Gospel music as a creator, producer, director and performer, brings his explosive and colorful personality to GMC in Bobby Jones Next Generation, an hour-long emerging artist showcase of musical performances and interviews with up-and-coming performers. Lisa Kimmey (Out of Eden) co-hosts. GMC, Atlanta-based Kingdom Come Productions and Dr. Jones are producing the new series. Dr. Jones has dominated Sunday programming as the host and executive producer of Bobby Jones Gospel, seen on BET since 1980. In addition to Bobby Jones Gospel, he is also the producer of Video Gospel, which debuted on BET in 1989, the first national television outlet for Gospel videos.

The fate of 16 aspiring Gospel/Christian music singers from across the country competing in Gospel Music Channel's American Idol®-inspired talent search series Gospel Dream 2008 will be in the hands of the Gospel/Christian music's version of Simon, Paula and Randy: famed producer Big Jim Wright and artists Martha Munizzi and J Moss. Gospel Dream 2008 will run for five consecutive Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT), culminating with the grand finale coronation of the winner on June 29. Gospel Dream 2008 invited performers from all Gospel/Christian styles, including traditional, soul, rock, blues and country, to audition around the country. The winner will receive a record & music video deal and a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Gospel Dream 2008 will be hosted by popular artist/songwriter Matthew West. The Gospel Dream series was created by Executive Producer Elvin Ross.

Gospel Music Channel is the fastest-growing network in television today and can be seen in nearly 40 million homes on various cable systems around the country and nationwide on DIRECTV.