NEW YORK, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:
VIA and VIA.B), today announced that Mika Salmi has been named President of
Global Digital Media for MTVN. In this newly created position, Salmi will
work across MTVN's growing portfolio of multiplatform brands to further
develop and implement the company's strategy of building an engaging
universe of music, games, entertainment, networking and interactivity for
its communities of targeted audiences. Salmi was formerly CEO of Atom
Entertainment, the company he founded and which was acquired by MTVN in
August. He will report directly to Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO, MTVN,
and will become a member of her senior strategy team.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061101/NYW218 )
"Mika is a digital media veteran, and he is recognized for building
innovative video and gaming assets online. He understands what it takes to
create that addictive, immersive online experience, and at the same time,
build a valuable brand," said McGrath. "I am incredibly pleased to have his
talent and leadership experience on board to lead our digital media
transformation, worldwide. With Mika's guidance, our digital teams will
continue the momentum we have today, to extend our brands across every
platform while creating new business, and next generation applications
across every device that engages our community. And he brings that upbeat
entrepreneurial spirit that is a hallmark of the digital age."
"MTV Networks is an amazing global entertainment community reaching
targeted audiences through all of its TV, online and mobile brands," said
Salmi. "What MTVN calls its 'maniacal consumer focus' will be the driving
engine for our Global Digital Media strategy. We will engage consumers with
an industry-leading digital experience through interactivity and community
in all media including video, music and games."
MTV Networks is strongly positioned to accelerate its multiplatform
strategy and deepen its reach across the digital space. The company has
made strong moves in serving young adult consumers through its global
acquisitions activity and community and gaming assets, with NeoPets,
GameTrailers, Xfire; Y2M, the largest network of online U.S. college
newspapers; user-generated content and networking through IFILM, MTV Flux,
The Click from The N, MTV's Virtual Laguna Beach, Nickelodeon's
ParentsConnect; and original broadband and wireless content across all the
brands.
MTVN also has recognized its global audiences' expanding interests and
has actively acquired a significant number of relevant businesses. Most
recently, the company announced its acquisitions of Quizilla, an online
teen community site, and Harmonix Music Systems, a leader in music-oriented
video games.
MTVN currently has 30 broadband sites and is the leading mobile video
content producer in the world. The company also has made its content
readily available for download to own through deals with AOL, Amazon, Apple
and Google. From the combination of MTVN's own web sites and its acquired
businesses, the company registered close to 35 million unique users in
September 2006, and ranked as the number-one online entertainment
destination and the 10th most popular overall destination on the Web
(comScore Media Metrix September 2006, U.S. only).
Salmi founded Atom Entertainment in 1998 with its first brand
AtomFilms, after recognizing early on that the emergence of new digital
technologies would forever change the production and distribution of
entertainment. After establishing itself as a leading next-generation
entertainment company, AtomFilms merged with Shockwave.com in early 2001 to
form Atom Entertainment, Inc. Today, the company's consumer services
(Shockwave.com, AtomFilms, AddictingClips and AddictingGames) comprise a
portfolio of leading online destinations for games, short films and video
audiences on the Internet.
Prior to creating Atom Entertainment, Salmi led business development
for the media and entertainment industries at RealNetworks. He also spent
eight years in the music business, working for TVT Records, Sony Music and
EMI Music, where he discovered bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Presidents
of the United States of America. Salmi was born in Finland and graduated
Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Wisconsin, later earning his MBA from
INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
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 more than 130 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, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE
DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all
of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with
its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more
than 100 interactive properties worldwide, including GameTrailers.com,
IFILM, Neopets, Xfire, Y2M, and online, broadband, wireless and interactive
television services. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint
ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can
be seen worldwide.
SOURCE MTV Networks
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