London 30th October 2006: MTV Networks UK & Ireland, owned by Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) today announces that Heather Jones has been promoted to SVP, MD, Music & Comedy, MTV Networks UK & Ireland, effective from January 1st 2007. In this newly-created role she will report to Michiel Bakker, EVP, MD, MTV Networks, UK & Ireland.
Jones will be responsible for the entire portfolio of MTV’s music channels - MTV, VH1 & TMF - as well as the Paramount Comedy channels, and will oversee and manage all areas from strategy through to production. She will also maintain overall direction of Paramount Comedy with a General Manager being appointed for the day-to-day running of the three comedy channels.
“Heather has a proven track record of success at Paramount Comedy,” commented Michiel Bakker. “She has made it a huge success, increasing its share and striking a series of great production and acquisition deals to make Paramount Comedy a real force in entertainment television. Her new role in the Company not only recognises her unique strengths and strategic skills but will enable MTV Networks to really power forward into 2007 to realise our ambitions to become one of the leading entertainment providers in the UK.”
Michael Barry, SVP, Music will focus on MTV UK (including MTV2, MTV Base, MTV Hits, MTV Dance and the recently launched MTV Flux) and will report into Jones. Recruitment of a General Manager for Paramount Comedy is underway.
-ends-
About MTV Networks UK & Ireland:
MTV Networks UK & Ireland operates 3 channel groups – Comedy, Kids and Music.
Our 9 branded music channels comprise of MTV, VH1, MTV Hits, MTV Base, MTV Dance, MTV2, MTV Flux, VH1 Classic and TMF. They feature the best in music alongside popular shows such as Pimp My Ride, Punk'd, My Super Sweet Sixteen and Cribs and are reaching larger audiences than at any time in UK history, with an average of over 17 million viewers each month according to BARB research.
The award winning Paramount Comedy stable includes 3 channels. Paramount Comedy 1
(and +1) featuring top shows including South Park, Lee Evans & Two And A Half Men. Paramount Comedy 2 showcases best-loved comedy through the years like MASH and Drop the Dead Donkey plus a variety of films. 2006 has seen Paramount awarded Best Entertainment Channel and Best Channel Marketing at the Broadcast Digital Channel Awards while 16-34 ratings are up 73% y-on-y and daytime ratings over 130%.
Nickelodeon, the UK’s leading children’s television network operates 5 channels. Nickelodeon (and Nick Replay), with top shows including Drake & Josh, Genie in the House, Zoey 101. Nicktoons, the animation channel with top shows Spongebob Squarepants, Fairly Odd Parents and Jimmy Neutron and Nick Jr (plus Nick Jr 2) with top shows Lazytown, Fifi & The Flowertots, Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go.
Paramount and Nickelodeon in the UK are part of the MTV Networks International portfolio of channels through joint ventures with BSKYB.
In addition, MTV Networks is a pioneer in the new and exciting world of digital media, winning awards for its interactive and online services, as well as being the first media company to offer made-for-mobile 3G video content. Since 2005 MTV Networks UK & Ireland has offered mobile distribution of four TV channels (MTV Snax, MTV Trax, Paramount and Nickelodeon), as well as on-demand, broadband services MTV Overdrive and TurboNick plus MTV Flux, a brand new social network community stretching across online mobile and television.
MTV Networks is the largest television network in the world and a leading creator of programming and content across all media platforms, with 111 channels and 94 websites reaching more than 440 million households in 167 countries worldwide.
