MICHIEL BAKKER TO LEAVE MTV NETWORKS UK & IRELAND
March 1st 2007: MTV Networks International today announced that Michiel Bakker, EVP/MD, MTV Networks UK & Ireland is leaving the Company. Heather Jones, SVP, MD, Music & Comedy and Richard Tan, SVP, Finance & Operations will assume his responsibilities until a successor is appointed.
“I have had a great time at MTV Networks. In my time here I have seen the company grow from a single TV channel to a portfolio of great multi-media brands, spawning an entire generation on the way and never losing its cool.” commented Michiel Bakker. “The company has a great and challenging future ahead of it but I have decided it is time to turn the music off and see where life takes me.”
During his tenure in the UK, he has steered the network through some of the key developments in multi-channel television. MTV’s channels continue to lead the highly competitive music TV market, regularly out-rating their competitors by a ratio of 2:1. Bakker also established MTV Networks UK’s ad sales arm, Viacom Brand Solutions, in 2000 and led the company in a drive towards investing in UK programming and most recently launching new services MTV Overdrive and MTV Flux. In addition he had overall responsibility for both Nickelodeon UK – the leading children’s network in this country - and Paramount Comedy. The success of the channels was recognised across the industry in 2006 – MTV’s Virgin Diaries picked up Best Multi-Channel Programme at the Broadcast Awards; Nickelodeon UK was voted Channel of the Year at the Children’s BAFTAs; Paramount Comedy was awarded both General Entertainment Channel of the Year and Best Channel Marketing at the Broadcast Digital Channel Awards.
Bill Roedy, Vice Chairman, MTV Networks, said: “Michiel has played an important part in the growth of our business in the UK and across Europe over the past 20 years. As one of the first employees of MTVN Europe, he helped establish far-reaching distribution for MTV across the continent. In recent years, Michiel has helped build our strong multi-brand portfolio of TV channels and digital media services in the UK making it our largest international business. I’d like to thank Michiel for his tremendous contributions to our business and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.”
About MTV Networks UK & Ireland:
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.
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, Newlyweds, Punk'd, Dirty Sanchez and Cribs. MTV Network's music channels are available on Sky, Cable (through ntl & Telewest) and Freeview, reaching larger audiences than at any time in UK history, with an average of over 17 million viewers each month according to BARB research.
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). MTV Networks UK & Ireland recently launched MTV Overdrive, an on-demand, broadband entertainment and music service where users can view the best of MTV shows free and create and build their own playlists, and MTV Flux, a brand new social network community stretching across online mobile and television..
MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom.