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Bob Bakish Appointed President, MTV Networks International

Posted on: Friday, 5 January 2007, 12:00 CST

LONDON and NEW YORK, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Viacom veteran Bob Bakish has been appointed President, MTV Networks International (MTVNI), reporting to Bill Roedy, who will retain oversight of MTVNI in addition to his global role as Vice Chairman, MTV Networks.

In the newly-created position, Bakish will take on day-to-day management responsibility for MTVNI, including the local and regional operations across Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, as well as International functions and business units. Reporting to Bakish will be the managing directors of the key regions and MTVNI Chief Operating Officer Alex Ferrari, who will continue in his current role.

A 10-year veteran of the company, Bakish is currently Viacom's Executive Vice President, Operations and Viacom Enterprises, responsible for Strategic Planning, Business Development, Famous Music, Viacom Plus and IS&T. Bakish also heads up the company's cross-divisional marketing council. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. .

In making the announcement, Roedy commented: "Bob's smart strategic skills and long history with the company will be invaluable to MTVNI as we advance our aggressive plans for driving growth and operating performance. Leveraging his extensive experience in managing complex ad sales operations also will be critical to shaping the next phase of growth for our biggest revenue stream -- particularly in the digital arena."

"Bob has a history with MTV Networks, where he has rolled up his sleeves more than once to collaborate and strategize across our division. He brings those skills to the global market, in a newly created role that will set us up for more focused growth and opportunity," said Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks.

Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman added: "Bob's move from Viacom to MTVN International reflects the importance of reaping the benefits of our leading brand positions around the world as one of Viacom's key growth opportunities. In working closely with Bill, Bob will help accelerate our strategic focus on maximizing our positions in key markets and accelerating expansion in areas like Digital Media, Ad Sales, Nickelodeon and Consumer Products, while driving significant improvement in our international margins."

Bakish said: "I'm excited to join one of the most dynamic and important areas of Viacom's portfolio at a key juncture in its growth trajectory. Having collaborated with MTV Networks International on a number of projects, I already have a strong working relationship with Judy, Bill and his management team and look forward to moving our global strategy forward."

MTV Networks International is one of the fastest growing units of MTV Networks, which has the world's largest portfolio of media brands, with 136 TV channels and over 200 digital media services. MTV is the most widely distributed TV brand globally, with 496 million TV households, while Nickelodeon is #1 in kids' TV reach, with 204 million TV households. In 2006, MTVNI became the top international mobile TV player, with 22 new services launched across its MTV, Nickelodeon, VIVA, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, and Paramount Comedy brands -- primarily in Europe.

In January 2006, Bakish was appointed to his role with the new Viacom, having served as Executive Vice President of Operations for the former Viacom Inc. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of MTV Networks Ad Sales, leading ad sales strategy development, focusing on charting the company's course through an advertising landscape shaped by consolidation at both the agency and client levels, as well as the emergence of new ad categories and platforms.

MTV Networks International (MTVNI) Background

MTVNI includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy and Game One seen in 546 million households in 171 countries and 28 languages via 136 locally programmed and operated TV channels and 170 Web sites. The company's diverse holdings include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies.

MTV Networks International

CONTACT: Bob Seely (London), MTV Networks International,+44-20-7478-5274, seely.bob@mtvne.com; Lauren Hurvitz (New York),MTV Networks, +1-212-258-8036, lauren.hurvitz@mtvstaff.com

Web site: http://www.mtv.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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