NEW YORK, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV Networks (MTVN), a unit of Viacom
(NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), today announced a new Global Digital Media executive
team. The central team will provide strategic guidance to the company's
portfolio of multiplatform brands, driving cross-brand initiatives and
sharing best practices in operations, technology, and distribution. The
team will report to Mika Salmi, President of Global Digital Media for MTV
Networks, and partner hand-in-hand with digital leaders at MTVN's brands
and business units.
The formation of the Global Digital Media team furthers MTVN's strategy
of developing brands that engage, empower and connect diverse and highly
targeted consumers with culturally relevant creative content and unique
experiences across every platform. The team will help guide MTVN's brands
in digital distribution expansion, product development and technical
support, and cross- brand programming.
"Our digital brands demonstrate the kind of innovation and creativity
that have always been signatures of MTV Networks," said Judy McGrath,
Chairman and CEO, MTVN. "Mika Salmi and his new team have the expertise to
harness that collective power and deliver first-rate content across any and
every screen."
"We're all about connecting audiences with our content -- and each
other -- through immersive environments that span TV, online, and
wireless," said Salmi. "With this team in place, we're poised to deepen our
audience connections, reaching them wherever they are, whenever they want,
and on whatever screen they choose."
The team will work in tight coordination with the digital executives at
each of MTV Networks' groups, including Courtney Holt, Executive Vice
President, Digital Music and Media, MTVN Music, Logo and Films Group;
Stephen Youngwood, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids &
Family Group; Erik Flannigan, Senior Vice President, Digital Media, MTVN
Entertainment Group; and Gideon Bierer, Senior Vice President, Digital
Media, MTV Networks International. The team will also collaborate with Nada
Stirratt, Executive Vice President, Digital Advertising.
The Global Digital Media team includes the following executives from
throughout MTVN:
* Denmark West, Executive Vice President, Operations, Global Digital
Media. In his role, West will help Mika Salmi oversee the overall
digital operations and coordinate digital marketing for MTVN.
* Nicholas Lehman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, MTVN
Games and Interactive Media Group. With this newly formed role and
unit, Lehman will be responsible for the worldwide strategy and
operations for all of MTVN's hardcore games media businesses, including
Xfire and GameTrailers, as well as its interactive and social media
initiatives, such as FLUX.
* Kenny Miller, Executive Vice President and Creative Director, Global
Digital Media. In his role, Miller will drive digital platform
development as well as build and operate cross-brand digital
applications.
* Nick Rockwell, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer,
Digital Media Technology. In his role, Rockwell will oversee global
digital technical operations and application development.
* Greg Clayman, Senior Vice President, MTVN Mobile Media. In his recently
announced role, Greg is responsible for managing mobile partnerships and
content distribution for the company, and will support the teams at the
individual MTVN brands in developing a wide portfolio of mobile content
and applications
* Jason Witt, Senior Vice President, Online Distribution and Partnerships,
MTVN Global Digital Media. In his role, Witt will be responsible for
increasing the company's online reach, viewership, and direct revenues.
Rockwell will continue to report to Joe Simon, Chief Information
Officer of Viacom and MTV Networks. Clayman and Witt will continue to
report to MTVN Affiliate Sales and Marketing, led by Nicole Browning,
President.
MTVN currently has 32 broadband sites and 139 websites in live
deployment globally. The company is the world's leading producer of mobile
video content, publishing more than 600 clips and 30 hours of video per
month in the United States alone, across all major carriers and leading
MVNOs. MTVN also has made its content readily available for download to own
through deals with AOL, Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft's Xbox 360.
From the combination of MTVN's own web sites and its acquired businesses,
the company registered more than 36 million unique users in November 2006,
and ranked as the number-one online entertainment destination and the 12th
most popular overall destination on the Web (comScore Media Metrix November
2006, U.S. only).
The company has made strong moves in serving young adult consumers
through its global acquisitions activity and community and gaming assets,
with NeoPets, AddictingGames.com, Shockwave.com, Harmonix Music Systems,
GameTrailers, Xfire; Y2M, the largest network of online U.S. college
newspapers; user-generated content, short-form video and networking through
IFILM, AddictingClips.com, Atom Films, Quizilla, MTV Flux, The Click from
The N, MTV's Virtual Laguna Beach, Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect; and
original broadband and wireless content across all the brands.
About MTV Networks and Viacom
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the
world's leading creators of programming and content across all media
platforms. MTV Networks, with 135 channels worldwide, owns and operates the
following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2,
VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV,
CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL
SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these
networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its
audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than
200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless
and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements,
joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming
services can be seen worldwide.
Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company, with
prominent and respected brands in focused demographics. Engaging its
audiences through television, motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom
reaches its audiences wherever they consume content. Viacom's leading
brands include the multiplatform properties of MTV Networks, including MTV,
VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, CMT: Country Music
Television, Spike TV, TV Land, Logo and more than 135 networks around the
world, as well as digital assets such as Neopets, Xfire and Atom
Entertainment; BET Networks; Paramount Pictures; Paramount Home
Entertainment; DreamWorks; and Famous Music. More information about Viacom
and its businesses is available at http://www.viacom.com.
SOURCE MTV Networks
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Related links:
http://www.mtv.com
http://www.viacom.com
CONTACT:
David Bittler, MTVN, +1-212-846-5263
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