Paramount Media Networks

Paramount Media Networks

Industry	Entertainment, cable and satellite television
Founded	1984
Headquarters	New York, New York , United States
Key people	Doug Herzog, President, MTV Networks Entertainment Group Van Toffler, President, MTV Networks Music/Films/Logo Group Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon and MTV Networks' Kids & Family Group
Owner	Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment (1984-1985), "Old" Viacom (1985-2005), "New" Viacom/CBS (2005-present)

MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original MTV (Music Television) channel in the United States. MTV Networks also operates MTV Networks International.

The company was established in 1984 after Warner Communications and American Express decided to divest the basic cable assets of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, renaming it MTV Networks, Inc. Warner-Amex originally created and owned Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1 and The Movie Channel (TMC).

Viacom acquired 66% of the company in 1985, and then acquired the remaining interest in 1986. It was then folded into Viacom International Inc., a subsidiary of Viacom Inc., and is no longer a distinct legal entity.

Cable channels owned by MTV Networks

Year in parentheses denotes when channel was brought into the MTV Networks fold. MTV Networks' family of brands is divided into three sections, based on the type of television programming and audiences they serve.

MTV Networks Music & Logo Group

• MTV (1981)¹
  • MTV2 (1996)
  • MTV Jams (1998)
  • MTV Hits (2002)
  • mtvU
  • Tr3́s (2006)
• VH1 (1985)
  • VH1 Classic (2000)
  • VH1 Soul (2000)
• CMT (1999)²
  • CMT Pure Country (1999)³
• Logo (2005)⁴
• Palladia (2006)

MTV Networks Kids & Family Group

• Nickelodeon (1979)¹
  • Nick 2, Nickelodeon's alternate East/West feed
  • Nick@Nite, evening programming block on Nickelodeon (1985)
  • Nick Jr. (1999)⁵
  • TeenNick (2002)⁶
  • Nicktoons (2002)

MTV Networks Entertainment Group

• Comedy Central (1990)⁷
• TV Land (1996)
• Spike (1999) ^{2 8}
• Epix (2009)⁹
• Blink! (2011) ¹⁰

¹Channel created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment prior to 1984.
²Channel originally owned by CBS, became part of MTV Networks when CBS merged with Viacom.
³Created as VH1 Country prior to Viacom/CBS merger.
⁴Channel was originally known as VH1 MegaHits before being discontinued in July 2005 to facilitate Logo launch.
⁵Channel was originally known as Noggin before being rebranded as Nick Jr. in 2009. Co-owned with Sesame Workshop from 1999 to 2002.
⁶Channel was originally known as The N before being rebranded as TeenNick in 2009.
⁷Channel started as Ha!, merged with HBO's The Comedy Channel the following year, became fully owned by Viacom in 2003.
⁸Channel originally known as The Nashville Network until 2000 and The National Network until 2003.
⁹Co-owned with Lionsgate and MGM. MTV Networks handles operations.
¹⁰Co-owned with Endemol.

Former Channels

• Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids (1999-2007)
• Tempo Networks (2005-2007)

Internet properties

The company also owns internet properties, such as Atom Films, Addicting Games, MTV News, MTV International, Rhapsody (online music service), LyricsMode.com, iFilm, GoCityKids, Jokes.com, GameTrailers, Xfire, 365gay.com, Shockwave.com, and Quizilla. MTV Networks has also made a partnership with Nexon to promote its Neopets service.

New York headquarters

Game properties

MTV had a game division called MTV Games, which used to publish the Rock Band & Dance Central series by Harmonix Music Systems, its former subsidiarity. Dance Central was the last game from MTV Games before its closure, but will be resurrected in 2012 & will not publish the Rock Band & Dance Central series, as it will focus on other games, starting with The Age of Decadence by Iron Tower Studio. MTV Networks opened another game division called 345 Games in New York City and it will start to publish future games, as well as the Rock Band series & the Dance Central series will be published by Warner Bros. Games. The first game published by 345 Games was Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegaddeon based on the Comedy Central TV series, Ugly Americans

MTV Networks International

Main article: MTV Networks International

MTV Networks International is a division of Viacom International. Its headquarters are based in New York, London, Warsaw and Buenos Aires. It consists of 64 localized MTV channels, MTVNHD, VH1 (6 in total), Nickelodeon, TMF, VIVA, Comedy Central, Game One, Neopets, GameTrailers, Nitrome Limited, Shockwave, Addicting Games, Atom Films and Xfire. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 560 million households in 162 countries and 33 languages via more than 150 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 350 digital media properties.

The MTV Networks International network consists of:

• MTV Networks Europe
• MTV Networks Latin America
• MTV Networks Asia
• MTV Networks Latin America, US Hispanic and Canada
• MTV Networks Africa

See also

• MTV Networks Europe
• MTV Networks Latin America
• MTV Networks Asia Pacific
• MTV Networks Africa
• MTV Networks Russia

External links

• MTV Networks official web site
• http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/mtv-networks-tries-to-hide-news-of-layoffs/
• http://www.laweekly.com/2005-10-13/news/who-hates-their-mtv/