Affiliate Sales/Marketing to Be Re-Branded as Content Distribution and
Marketing; Department Moves to Account-Focused Structure Under New
Leadership of Executive Vice President Denise Dahldorf
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MTV Networks (MTVN) and BET
Networks (BETN), units of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced a new
structure and business strategy for their Affiliate Sales and Marketing
group, under the leadership of that department's newly appointed Executive
Vice President, Denise Dahldorf. The group will be re-branded Content
Distribution and Marketing, MTVN and BETN, and will implement an
account-focused structure to model and best serve the evolving needs and
direction of the company's distribution partners.
"We're content creators, and we want our world class content available
to as many people, on as many platforms as possible," said Judy McGrath,
Chairman and CEO, MTVN. "The name 'Content Distribution and Marketing'
conveys the full multiplatform scope of our distribution efforts, and
opportunities we mine not only on linear television, but across online
portals, wireless, VOD, download-to-own and other emerging platforms."
McGrath continued, "Under Denise's leadership, our new account-focused
structure for Content Distribution and Marketing positions us to meet the
needs of our distribution partners across all platforms, and to ensure that
our content is available in every home, on every screen."
"We are extremely excited about working with Denise and the team she
has put in place," said Debra Lee, Chairman and CEO, BET Networks. "She is
an exceptional dealmaker, and she understands the power and relevance of
the brands in BET Networks' portfolio."
MTV Networks currently has agreements in place with all the major cable
and satellite distributors, giving the company an industry-leading 25%
share of the domestic cable market, according to Nielsen. The company is
fully distributed in free video-on-demand enabled households, offering 100
content hours across VOD channels from brands including MTV, VH1, COMEDY
CENTRAL, CMT, Nickelodeon, and Logo. MTVN continues to partner with cable
operators on interactive television applications, and rollout new products
across all platforms, including the high definition network MHD, exclusive
broadband products such as Nick Arcade and MyNoggin.com, and URGE Radio.
New Leadership
In her role as Executive Vice President of Content Distribution and
Marketing, Dahldorf oversees all distribution activities for MTVN and BET
Networks, working to strategically secure and maintain distribution for
channels including MTV: Music Television, MTV 2, MTV Tr3s, VH1, VH1 Soul,
VH1 Classic, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Spike TV, COMEDY CENTRAL, Logo, TV
Land, Noggin, The N, CMT; and BETN's BET, BET Gospel, BET J, and BET Hip
Hop. She reports to MTVN's acting COO, Rich Eigendorff.
Prior to this position, Dahldorf served as Senior Vice President, Cable
Sales, Distribution and National Accounts, for MTVN. In that role, she was
responsible for sales, marketing and contract negotiations for all cable
affiliates. She also oversaw the domestic distribution and marketing of 29
video networks and broadband services URGE.com and MyNoggin.com. Dahldorf
joined MTV Networks in 1994 as Director, Affiliate Services.
"The goal for our new structure is to more closely align ourselves with
the varied distribution partners we serve," said Dahldorf. "We're moving
from a regional model to an account-focused model, and we're elevating key
personnel to offer the best service and solutions for our partners in
television, portals, wireless, and every other available screen."
In line with this new account-focused structure for Content
Distribution and Marketing, MTVN announced several promotions assigning
responsibility for its cable and satellite content distribution accounts.
Samantha Cooper, Meg Lowe and Courtney Menzel have all been promoted to the
Senior Vice President level, responsible for leading MTVN's distribution
efforts across all platforms, with all partners. All report to Dahldorf.
Also, Juliette Morris will assume leadership of the department's
marketing arm, as Senior Vice President, Content Distribution Marketing,
MTVN and BETN, reporting to Dahldorf. In this role, Morris will oversee all
content distribution marketing and local ad sales for MTVN's and BET
Networks' brands. She joined the company two years ago from HBO, where she
was Vice President of Affiliate Marketing for HBO and Cinemax.
Additionally, Greg Clayman, Senior Vice President, MTVN Mobile Media;
and Jason Witt, Senior Vice President, Online Distribution and
Partnerships, MTVN Global Digital Media will continue to manage mobile
partnerships and guide the company's portal deals, respectively. Clayman
and Witt report to Mika Salmi, President, MTVN Global Digital Media, with a
connection to Dahldorf.
MTVN also today announced a new organizational strategy for its
Advertising Sales division, designed to enhance the company's client focus
and foster further development of innovative marketing solutions. Under the
new structure, MTVN will realign its channels into three demo-specific,
strategic selling "clusters," to leverage the individual strength of its
portfolio of multiplatform brands, while taking full advantage of the
efficiencies achieved when working within specific demographics and
audience behaviors. The clusters are joined by specialized units within the
Ad Sales division, including Digital Advertising Sales, and the new MTVN
Brand Solutions and MTVN Generator units, which focus on client
partnerships spanning MTVN's brands, and new business opportunities,
respectively.
About BET Networks, MTV Networks and Viacom
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is
the leading provider of media and entertainment for African Americans and
consumers of Black culture on a global basis. The primary BET cable network
reaches more than 84 million households and can be seen in the United
States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET Digital Networks -- BET J, BET
Gospel, and BET Hip-Hop -- are brands that combine to serve a broader and
more diverse audience than the core network. BET.com is the number one
Internet destination for the target audiences. BET Mobile delivers music,
gaming, and video content to the target audiences on wireless devices
across virtually all service providers. BET Event Productions is a
full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live
events spanning the globe. BET International delivers BET content to the
consumers of Black culture around the world. BET Networks inspires its
audiences to make a difference in their lives and communities with a broad
and impactful pro-social agenda. Touch BET; pro-social initiatives that
help stop AIDS and obesity and shed light on the legendary contributions
African Americans have made to this world includes Rap-It-Up, Speak Now,
BET Foundation and A Healthy BET.
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:
Lauren Hurvitz, +1-212-846-8036,
lauren.hurvitz@mtvstaff.com, or David Bittler, +1-212-846-5263,
david.bittler@mtvstaff.com, both of MTV Networks
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