Tag: Cyma Zarghami

  • Cyma Zarghami exits Nickelodeon; Sarah Levy named interim head

    Cyma Zarghami exits Nickelodeon; Sarah Levy named interim head

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon Group president Cyma Zarghami has stepped down from her position after 30 years with the network.

    While Viacom conducts a comprehensive search for a successor to lead Nickelodeon, Sarah Levy, chief operating officer of Viacom Media Networks, will lead the brand on an interim basis.

    During the transition, Levy will work closely with Nickelodeon’s leadership team to manage the brand’s operations. Their focus will be to successfully launch Nickelodeon’s largest-ever content pipeline of more than 800 new episodes and accelerate the brand’s push into new and next-generation viewing platforms, film, live experiences and consumer products, international media reports stated.

    Zarghami joined Nickelodeon in 1985 and was named its president in 2006. Under her leadership, Nickelodeon has become a leading global brand for kids, spanning linear and multi-platform programming, film, live experiences and consumer products. Along the way, Zarghami recruited and cultivated high-performing, diverse talent that always reflected the next generation of kids, and the brand continues to attract the industry’s leading creatives and personalities. Today, Nickelodeon has the highest share of total viewing in kids’ television.

    Nickelodeon, now in its 39th year, includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc., which is a premier global media brand that creates entertainment content including television programs, motion pictures, short-form content, games, consumer products, podcasts, live events and social media experiences for audiences in 183 countries.

    Viacom president and CEO Bob Bakish was quoted in a report as saying, “Over the course of her career, Cyma has played an integral role in growing Nickelodeon into the dominant force in kids’ entertainment. Her instincts for creating content and experiences that kids love have been vital to the brand’s success around the world. Looking to the future, we are excited to build on this strong foundation as we continue to evolve the business and connect with young audiences in new and innovative ways. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Cyma for her leadership and wish her every success.”

    Viacom’s media networks, including Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, VH1, TV Land, CMT, Logo, Channel 5 (UK), Telefe (Argentina), Colors (India) and Paramount Channel, reach approximately 4.3 billion cumulative television subscribers worldwide.

  • Nickelodeon greenlights first new global series to be produced in Viacom’s Miami studio

    Nickelodeon greenlights first new global series to be produced in Viacom’s Miami studio

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon has announced the first series that will be produced in the new state of the art Viacom International Studios in Miami. The studio, which boasts two 15,000 sq. foot stages and was completed in late 2015, will serve as a multiplatform production hub for all of Viacom’s brands.

     

    I Am Frankie, originally produced as Yo Soy Franky by Nickelodeon Latin America in Colombia was created by Argentine writer Marcela Citterio. The English language version, I Am Frankie, is now being adapted for global audiences by Catharina Ledeboer, who has written multiple Nickelodeon hits, including most recently Every Witch Way, which completed four seasons and Talia in the Kitchen.

     

    I Am Frankie, is the story of Frankie – an experimental android who navigates the perils and wonders of being a teenager.

     

    Already in development, production on I Am Frankie will begin in the second half of 2016. Nickelodeon has ordered 20 x 30 minute episodes, which will be distributed to Nickelodeon’s global audiences spanning 160 countries and territories via the brand’s more than 80 channels and branded blocks.

     

    Viacom’s Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami said, “Miami has been a content hub for Nickelodeon for some time, creating global hits such as Every Witch Way, among others. Our talented team in Miami is truly expert at the daily serialized format – and continues to innovate their approach to both content and platforms. I Am Frankie is a fresh and different format and has incredibly talented team behind it.”

     

    Viacom International Media Networks, Americas president Pierluigi Gazzolo added, “Viacom’s commitment to top quality productions is greater than ever before – as audiences continue to demand more and more content. I am delighted that this innovative new show is among the first to be produced in this new turnkey facility.”

  • Nickelodeon greenlights first new global series to be produced in Viacom’s Miami studio

    Nickelodeon greenlights first new global series to be produced in Viacom’s Miami studio

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon has announced the first series that will be produced in the new state of the art Viacom International Studios in Miami. The studio, which boasts two 15,000 sq. foot stages and was completed in late 2015, will serve as a multiplatform production hub for all of Viacom’s brands.

     

    I Am Frankie, originally produced as Yo Soy Franky by Nickelodeon Latin America in Colombia was created by Argentine writer Marcela Citterio. The English language version, I Am Frankie, is now being adapted for global audiences by Catharina Ledeboer, who has written multiple Nickelodeon hits, including most recently Every Witch Way, which completed four seasons and Talia in the Kitchen.

     

    I Am Frankie, is the story of Frankie – an experimental android who navigates the perils and wonders of being a teenager.

     

    Already in development, production on I Am Frankie will begin in the second half of 2016. Nickelodeon has ordered 20 x 30 minute episodes, which will be distributed to Nickelodeon’s global audiences spanning 160 countries and territories via the brand’s more than 80 channels and branded blocks.

     

    Viacom’s Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami said, “Miami has been a content hub for Nickelodeon for some time, creating global hits such as Every Witch Way, among others. Our talented team in Miami is truly expert at the daily serialized format – and continues to innovate their approach to both content and platforms. I Am Frankie is a fresh and different format and has incredibly talented team behind it.”

     

    Viacom International Media Networks, Americas president Pierluigi Gazzolo added, “Viacom’s commitment to top quality productions is greater than ever before – as audiences continue to demand more and more content. I am delighted that this innovative new show is among the first to be produced in this new turnkey facility.”

  • Viacom to open production studio in Miami

    Viacom to open production studio in Miami

    MUMBAI: Viacom Inc will open a two-stage, 88,000 square foot, state-of-the-art production facility in Miami, Florida. 

     

    The new studio, which was built by the Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) as a public-private partnership with EUE/Screen Gems Studios, will serve as a production hub for Viacom’s global entertainment brands including Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central.

     

    “We are creating more content than ever before across all of our brands at Viacom. The Viacom International Studio in Miami will offer a turnkey facility where we can create even more original, high quality content to meet the increasing demand for long-and-short-form content on all of our global platforms,” said Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) president and CEO Robert Bakish. 

     

    “We have had terrific success with the recent live action productions we have coming from Miami, and we are very excited to be committed to doing more. We are constantly looking for new creative ideas and content formats that allow us to tell stories in a completely different way, and this facility will certainly forward that effort,” added Viacom Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami.

     

    “Viacom has demonstrated again and again that hits come from all over the world. With an established track record of multi-lingual hits including Every Witch Way and Talia in the Kitchen being produced in Miami for multiple audiences simultaneously, in global collaboration with the US and local Latin American teams, we’re excited to have the opportunity to further expand our production capabilities in the market,” said VIMN Americas president and Nickelodeon International EVP Pierluigi Gazzolo.

     

    Located in central Miami, the studio location offers access to a highly skilled, multi-lingual talent pool essential to creating global productions in multiple languages. The facilities will include two modern sound stages equipped to create a variety of content simultaneously, from daily scripted series, music specials and game shows to short form content for mobile, digital and on-air.

     

    “We welcome Viacom as a long-term partner at our new Miami studios. Our company has worked closely with Viacom to develop a facility worthy of a dynamic content producer. Today, we celebrate our relationship with Viacom, and we applaud our partners at the Omni CRA, whose vision and efforts have made this building possible,” said EUE/Screen Gems Studios COO Chris Cooney.

     

    EUE/Screen Gems has entered into a long-term lease with Miami’s Omni CRA to operate the new facility.

  • Nickelodeon unveils global content strategy for 2014-15

    Nickelodeon unveils global content strategy for 2014-15

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon, the kids’ channel under the US-based Viacom Media Networks umbrella, recently unveiled its plans for the 2014-15 season – which includes 10 new series, multiplatform content and the Kids’ Choice Sports 2014 live event – at its annual Upfront presentation.

     

    “This season, we are introducing Nickelodeon’s biggest pipeline of content for every demo and in every genre,” noted Nickelodeon Group president Cyma Zarghami in her presentation. “Our preschool slate reinforces Nickelodeon’s standing as the best place for shows that are both smart and fun, powered by great stories, relatable characters and a meaningful curriculum that has been our hallmark.”

     

    Nickelodeon’s continued effort at bringing about groundbreaking shows over the past 30 years, including Rugrats, The Ren & Stimpy ShowDougSpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents, just goes onto show the drive the channel possesses in the kids’ genre.

     

    The three new shows scheduled for the 2014-15 season are mentioned below:

     

    Bad Seeds (26 episodes) – Harvey, a sweet and well-meaning bird, makes two new best friends, Fee and Foo, the wildest imps in the forest.  Although their friendship seems unlikely, their connection only grows as they push each other out of their comfort zones and into endless adventures. Created, written and directed by C.H. Greenblatt (SpongeBob SquarePants, Chowder).

     

    Pig Goat Banana Cricket (26 episodes) – This show features a series of absurd interwoven stories about four friends and roommates, Pig (the fool), Goat (the artist), Banana (the wise-guy) and Cricket (the brain).  The series is created by Dave Cooper and J. Ryan, and executive produced by David Sacks (The Simpsons, Regular Show) who co-writes with J. Ryan. Cooper also art directs the series and the pilot was directed by independent animator Nick Cross.

     

    Welcome to the Wayne (6 episodes) – Launching on the Emmy Award-winning Nick App, Welcome to the Wayne, is an animated comedy following the adventures of two 10-year-old boys Olly Timbers and Ansi Molina as they explore their crazy apartment building, the Wayne.  The series was created and written by Billy Lopez (The Wonder Pets!). 

     

    The broadcast network will also roll out new episodes of its hit franchises, including, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sanjay and Craig, Breadwinners, Rabbids and The Fairly Odd Parents for the 2014-15 season.

     

    In addition, Nickelodeon has slated Kids’ Choice Sports 2014, a live big-ticket event that will take place in Los Angeles this July. The sports celebration will be hosted and executively produced by Michael Strahan.

     

    “Our mission has been to create and deliver funny content that will resonate with today’s kids, and we are well-positioned to do that through our schedule of fresh hits, a deep pipeline of new series, tent-pole events, ratings momentum and innovation on all platforms,” said Zarghami during the presentation. “Nickelodeon is a magnet for creative people and projects, and we’re incredibly excited about the new pool of talent we’re bringing to our audience in front of and behind the camera.”

     

    New live-action programming will include the comedies Henry Danger, about a crime-fighting sidekick-in-training; Bella and the Bullfrogs, in which a cheerleader becomes the quarterback for her school’s team; and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, which follows the sibling rivalry among quadruplets. The network will also broadcast new episodes of Sam & CatThe Haunted Hathaways and The Thundermans.

     

    Also, the original sitcoms Instant MomSee Dad Run, Yes, DearMy Wife and KidsThe Nanny and George Lopez under Nickelodeon will continue airing on the network.

     

    For preschoolers, the network has added to the schedule Dora and Friends: Into the City!, which is due to debut sometime in end June; Blaze and the Monster Machines, a end September premiere that will introduce young viewers to science, technology, engineering and math; Shimmer & Shine, about fraternal twin genies; and Fresh Beat Band of Spies, an animated series based on the hit live-action show The Fresh Beat Band. The latter two titles will begin airing in 2015.

     

    The network has had a clear goal to let the kids’ tastes and preferences influence its creative choices, and accordingly it tailors its new content to make the most relevant and funny content for its viewers, and continues to do so even now.

  • Nickelodeon’s president Cyma Zarghami meets president Bush to discuss child obesity

    Nickelodeon’s president Cyma Zarghami meets president Bush to discuss child obesity

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami, joined president Bush and the first lady at the White House to discuss the current effort towards the fight against childhood obesity on 1 February. They joined by other food and beverage industry and entertainment executives and CEOs, the Ad Council and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
    Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami

    The meeting stemmed from the recent announcement by HHS, the Ad Council, Dreamworks SKG, Nickelodeon, and others about the launch of a new series of public service advertisements designed to help prevent childhood obesity featuring characters from the movie Shrek.

    Nickelodeon will premiere the Shrek “Be A Player” PSA on 1 February at 8 pm. ET/PT and air it throughout the year as part of the network’s on-going “Let’s Just Play” campaign, which strives to encourage kids and families to make healthy lifestyle choices, informs an official release.

    “Nickelodeon is honored to be a part of this forum today, and to be able to discuss with the President and First Lady, and many leaders in the food, beverage and media industries, how we can all work together to further the solution to childhood obesity,” said Zarghami. “We’ve taken great strides as a company to encourage healthy lifestyles among kids, and we’re pleased to see so many corporations collaborate to move the needle on this issue.”

    Participants, along with Zarghami, included: Indra Nooyi, CEO, PepsiCo, Inc.; Marc Belton, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Health, Brand and New Business Development, General Mills; Peggy Conlon, President and CEO, The Advertising Council; Alexander “Sandy” Douglas, Jr., President and COO, Coca-Cola North America; Roger Enrico, Chairman of the Board, DreamWorks Animation SKG; Ivelisse Estrada, Senior Vice President, Corporate and Community Relations, Univision Communications, Inc.; Lance Friedmann, Senior Vice President, Global Health and Wellness and Sustainability, Kraft Foods, Inc.; Jeff Montie, Executive Vice President of North America, Kellogg Company; Tom Seddon, CEO, Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust; and Don Thompson, President, McDonald’s USA.

    More than 10 million school-age children in the United States are now considered overweight. The proportion of overweight kids tripled among adolescents over the last 25 years, and nearly doubled for children ages 6 to 12. This increases their risk for adult heart disease and diabetes, lowers life expectancy, and creates additional health-care costs. The Federal government spends more than $600 million annually to fight obesity, adds the release.

    The channel claims to have committed more than $30 million and 10 percent of its non-programmed airtime to health and wellness messaging. This year marks the fifth year of Nickelodeon’s “Let’s Just Play” pro-social initiative, which is a multi-media campaign that empowers kids to recapture the spirit and benefits of active play for themselves and their communities. The campaign builds on

    Nickelodeon’s connecting with kids through all its lines of business including online, magazines and on-air messaging. Over the past two years, Nickelodeon has also awarded approximately $2.5 million in grants and through its “Let’s Just Play Giveaway” to schools and after-school programs to help provide resources that will create and expand opportunities for physical play.

     

  • Nickelodeon unveils virtual community playground ‘Nicktropolis’

    Nickelodeon unveils virtual community playground ‘Nicktropolis’

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon, a division of Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks, has launched new kid-targeted virtual community titled Nicktropolis on 30 January. It promises to offer visitors multi-media experience giving them an opportunity to engage in a virtual world filled with web-based activities.

    According to an official release issued by the company, (at Nicktropolis, available at http://www.nicktropolis.com/ or through http://www.nick.com/), kids will have their own virtual community where they will have the opportunity to play games, watch video, explore Nickelodeon-branded and original environments, interact with other kids or Nickelodeon characters in real time, and create their own personalized 3D rooms.

    “Virtual worlds like Nicktropolis are part of our strategy to bring immersive, relevant entertainment experiences to our audiences wherever they are, and to build communities around our content across every kind of platform,” said MTVN chairman and CEO Judy McGrath. “The virtual worlds we’ve been building across our networks give the fans of our brands the high level of interaction they want with one another, and with the content itself.”

    Kids enter Nicktropolis by assuming an “avatar” that they design and personalize, choosing from an array of hairstyles, skin tones and clothing styles. Once a user selects a destination, the avatar appears in the particular environment and can move around simply by clicking where he/she wants to go.

    “Nickelodeon has a deep connection with kids, and Nicktropolis is built from our knowledge that kids’ interest in social networking is all about gaming,” said Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami. “Nicktropolis serves as a one-of-a-kind multimedia virtual entertainment playground for kids that allows them to watch video from our immense library of programming, play games, interact with our characters and safely communicate with each other through controlled chat.”

    The site offers a 3D environment consisting of four main areas containing multimedia experiences, gaming, and opportunities to personalize their space, create video play lists of their favourite Nickelodeon content, and interact in a safe, community environment. Additionally, the company states that Nicktropolis incorporates numerous safety features to ensure kids’ virtual playground experience is as safe as possible. Participation in Nicktropolis relies entirely on the anonymous registration system, which does not allow kids to divulge personal, identifiable information, adds the release.

    Nickelodeon’s Nicktropolis is MTV Networks’ latest move in serving its audiences through original online and wireless content across all of its brands. This follows from Nickelodeon’s latest research study, Living in a Digital World (2006), which found that 86 per cent of kids 8-14 are gaming online; more than half (51 per cent) are watching TV shows and videos online; 37 per cent are instant messaging and 12 per cent are participating in chat rooms.

  • Kids & parents in the US vote TV as top relaxation tool: Nickelodeon study

    Kids & parents in the US vote TV as top relaxation tool: Nickelodeon study

    MUMBAI: A research study conducted by Nickelodeon in the US, titled “The Digital Family” suggests that kids and parents believe that the television has become their medium of choice to relax. Contrary to popular belief, parents are embracing technologies just as much as kids, and view cell phones as essential part of managing their lives, while also providing kids more freedom.

    “In today’s modern family, parents and kids identify technology as a homework helper, virtual babysitter, time-keeper and a center piece of a lot of family time,” said Nickelodeon and the MTVN Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami. “We found that technology has brought the need for new skills while seemingly lessening the need for others. What is very apparent is the critical role technology is playing in helping modern families functions.”

    “The Digital Family” research incorporates findings from Nickelodeon’s “Living in a Digital World” research project (2006), which explores technologies including: the internet, television, cell phones, mp3 players and more. “The Digital Family” offers insights from kids 8-14 and parents of kids 0-14, and references several findings from Nickelodeon commissioned studies (Multicultural Kids Study 2006 and Nickelodeon Wireless Study 2006), as well as Nielsen Media Research.

    The research revealed that television is still front and center in family life. No other technology has been able to take its place. In fact, television usage has increased over the last four years (since 2002) by approximately two hours a week for both kids and parents.

    Out of all the tech devices, TV seems to serve a different purpose, not only entertaining but also providing a key tool of relaxation for kids and parents in their daily lives.
    Infact, 49 per cent of parents said that TV helps them escape from their daily lives, while a larger percentage of kids (75 per cent) said it helps them escape from stress.

    Due to the use of the computer and internet – 26 per cent of parents and 24 per cent of kids agreed that it’s no longer necessary to read the newspaper. Some kids and parents also believe that because of the internet, they no longer need to be good spellers or learn to read a map.

    What’s more, the effect of mp3 players suggests that:

    – 23 per cent of parents and 33 per cent of kids 8-14 think there is no longer a need to make casual conversation.
    – 21 per cent of parents and 31 per cent of kids think there is no need to listen to the radio anymore.
    – 55 per cent of parents and 45 per cent of kids no longer see the need to purchase musical albums or CDs.

    “The Digital Family” incorporated a deprivation study, where cell phones, the internet, television and mp3 players, among others, were taken away from participating kids and parents for a period of 10 days. The deprivation research identified how parents and kids value various technologies. In particular, it found that kids and parents equate safety and piece of mind to the cell phone and no other device provides these two values the way cell phones do. And because of “digital supervision” cell phones provide, kids are gaining more and more independence.

    One parent said, “It’s a tool for me to keep in touch with them and know where they are, and allow them a little more responsibility while still having my little claws on them.”

    Tech devices like computers and the internet have become essential tools in daily living, making kids and parents much more productive and self sufficient. In some instances, the internet has almost become part of the family.

    Kids are as likely to use the internet for informational purposes as they are for entertainment. Nearly three quarters of kids use the internet for school work, says the study.

    Challenging the conventional assumption that kids bring most of the newer technologies into the home and demonstrate to their parents how to use them, most parents interviewed reported that they are actually as tech savvy or more so than kids:

    Additionally, parents are actually own cell phones, mp3 players and other devices just as much, or more so than kids. Only 2 per cent of parents are not online users and 29 per cent of kids are not using the internet.

  • MTV and Nickelodeon to take on larger role at Paramount

    MTV and Nickelodeon to take on larger role at Paramount

    MUMBAI: Viacom Inc.s has announced that MTV and Nickelodeon will become full labels under the Paramount Motion Picture Group (PMPG) as part of a new structure designed to deepen their already successful track record with their core target audiences.

    The two former production companies, which previously operated as on-lot producers, will now join several other labels under PMPG’s umbrella, including Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Vantage and Paramount Classics.

    “After successful 12-year stints as production companies at Paramount, we are going to upgrade MTV and Nick to full movie label status,” says Viacom president & CEO Tom Freston.
    “This will expand their role at Paramount, will better leverage their considerable talent and marketing capabilities, and will allow for smoother day to day management on the lot with strong connections back to the core brands. This move plays perfectly to our company’s unique strengths and will surely increase the positive momentum that we’re seeing at Paramount under the leadership of Brad and his team.”

    “MTV and Nickelodeon are two of the strongest brands in entertainment reaching families and young adults,” says Paramount Pictures Corporation chairman & CEO Brad Grey. “We look forward to great films and a great future with these two new labels at the Paramount Motion Picture Group.”

    “In partnership with Paramount, this new model represents a great opportunity to build on the growing success we’ve experienced making movies over the last decade,” adds MTV Networks chairman & CEO Judy McGrath. “We believe that together we can take these brands to the next level, attract the best talent and material across genres, and really tap into our strong relationships with kid, teens, young adults and families around the globe.”

    Additionally, Paramount and MTV Networks named veteran producer Scott Aversano President of MTV Films and Nick Movies, giving him responsibility for film development, production and acquisitions for the two film labels. Aversano will work on the lot, reporting to Paramount Pictures president Gail Berman. On all image- and brand-related matters for these pictures, he will also report to MTV Networks Music Group president Van Toffler and Nickelodeon and MTV Networks Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami, states an official release.

    Aversano will assume his new position effective immediately, transitioning from his current role as an independent producer for Paramount Pictures. Prior to his producing deal with Paramount Pictures, Aversano spent more than seven years with producer Scott Rudin, most recently as president of Production, the release adds.

    “MTV and Nickelodeon are household names with audiences in every corner of the world,” says Aversano. “I’m excited to embark on this new challenge to continue bringing movies to the marketplace that utilize Viacom’s unique strengths in targeted demographics.”

    MTV Films and Nick Movies will continue to release films targeted to their respective demographics; with Nick Movies releasing animated and family films, and MTV Films focusing on comedies, documentaries, urban fare and horror films for teens and young adults.

  • David Gale is MTV US executive VP, new media, specialty film content

    David Gale is MTV US executive VP, new media, specialty film content

    MUMBAI: David Gale has been named to the newly created position of MTV US executive VP, new media and specialty film content.

    In this new role, Gale will find, develop, acquire and produce long-form narrative content and branded films for all platforms including online, wireless, theatrical, DVD and VOD.

    As the technology, delivery platforms and audience experiences for films continue to expand Gale will help lead MTV’s efforts in finding new, cutting-edge talent to bring a diverse slate of content to audiences, from branded films and long-form narrative productions, to documentaries and more.

    In addition to continuing to work with MTV, he will bring projects to all global MTVN brands, including Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, VH1, Logo and CMT, coordinating his efforts with their production teams. In this new position, Gale will will also continue to run the day-to-day operations of MTV Films until his successor is named.

    Gale’s new role helps fulfill a key component of MTV’s global digital strategy — to combine its mission to discover, produce and showcase unique new talent and entertainment, with its continued goal of launching audience-engaging platforms such as MTV’s Overdrive, Comedy Central’s Mother Load, VH1’s VSpot, Nickelodeon’s Turbo Nick, countless 3G wireless channels and MTV Networks’ recently launched digital music service URGE.

    MTV chairman Judy McGrath says, “Our amplified efforts in creating visually rich experiences on television, as well as on computers, wireless screens and in theaters, allow us to personalize each entertainment experience our audience engages in. With David‘s new role, we’re looking to launch a new paradigm in finding, producing and distributing long-form digital content across the globe.”

    In addition to coordinating with each of the MTV Networks’ International Brand and Group Leaders (MTVN Entertainment president Doug Herzog, MTVN International president Bill Roedy and Nickelodeon & MTVN Kids & Family Group president Cyma Zarghami) for new content under the specific brands, Gale will also work closely with key executives for digital platforms on the release of film and other original long-form projects.

    Gale will also continue to work with the Paramount specialty film divisions, Vantage and Classics, to seek out the type of unique and original feature films that have made the MTV brands so distinctive in the entertainment industry.