Viacom's MTV Networks Announces New Structure for Its U.S. Advertising Sales Division

NEW YORK, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV Networks (MTVN), a unit of Viacom , 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.

"This new strategy reflects a holistic approach to the market, with sales, research and marketing aligned to develop solutions that put our clients in touch with our audiences in a deep and meaningful way," said Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO, MTV Networks. "We know our highly targeted audiences better than anyone, and this new structure will enable us to bring our marketing partners closer to the fans of our portfolio of multiplatform brands."

"With this new structure, our clients can expect next-generation marketing solutions and a more streamlined sales experience overall," said Hank Close, President, U.S. Advertising Sales, MTVN. "Our greatest priorities right now are client service and innovation, and this new structure advances both."

The three clusters group MTVN's channels according to the demos and audience behaviors they serve. Under this strategic selling structure, the Ad Sales division will be better positioned to create organizational efficiencies, allowing clients to develop partnerships across MTVN's brands through minimized, focused touchpoints. The clusters include: Kids and Family, which groups the ad sales organizations of the Nickelodeon brands and Nick at Nite under the leadership of Jim Perry, Executive Vice President; the MTV, The N, Logo and VH1 cluster, which groups those brands under the leadership of Sean Moran, Executive Vice President; and Entertainment, which groups Comedy Central, Spike TV, CMT and TV Land under the leadership of Jeff Lucas, Executive Vice President. Leadership of the clusters will report to Close, as well as to the presidents of the respective MTVN groups -- MTVN Kids & Family, MTVN Music and Logo Group, and MTVN Entertainment Group -- they serve.

Additionally, several senior vice presidents throughout the Ad Sales organization will be adopting new responsibilities under the new structure. Dan Lovinger will serve as Senior Vice President, Ad Sales, MTV 360; Jim Tricarico will serve as Senior Vice President, Ad Sales in the Kids and Family cluster; Neil Holt will serve as Senior Vice President, Ad Sales, CMT; David Lawenda will serve as Senior Vice President, Ad Sales, VH1, The N and Logo; and Tom Watson will serve as head of sales for Logo.

In addition to the clusters, the Ad Sales division will operate three specialized strategic units, developed to help the company capitalize on the opportunities presented in the rapidly changing multiplatform ad sales landscape. Digital Ad Sales, helmed by Nada Stirratt, Executive Vice President, is focused on creating marketing solutions across MTVN's 44 websites, 10 broadband services, and additional domestic digital properties. The newly created MTVN Brand Solutions unit, led by Lisa McCarthy, Executive Vice President, will focus on creating cross-brand, cross-platform marketing solutions for large clients who are heavily invested in multiple MTVN brands. Finally, the newly created MTVN Generator unit, led by Peter Griffin, Executive Vice President, will be squarely focused on new business opportunities, developing new marketing partners across the company's multiplatform portfolio.

Additionally, MTVN and BET Networks, both units of Viacom, 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.

About MTV Networks and Viacom

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , 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/.