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Tag: Viacom

  • Carl D. Folta is Viacom executive VP, corporate communications

    Carl D. Folta is Viacom executive VP, corporate communications

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom has appointed Carl D. Folta as executive VP, corporate communications.
    Folta, who will serve as Viacom’s chief communications strategist and spokesperson, will report to Viacom senior executive VP and chief administrative officer Thomas E. Dooley. Folta, most recently served as executive vice president, office of the chairman.

    In his new role, he will be responsible for Viacom’s overall communications activities, both internally and externally, as well as the coordination of communications at the Company’s operations, including MTV Networks, Bet Networks, the Paramount Motion Picture Group and Famous Music. Folta will have oversight for all financial communications, and will direct the Company’s media relations activities for industry issues and public affairs, including regulatory, legislative and legal matters.

    Additionally, he will be responsible for managing corporate events and overseeing the Company’s philanthropy activities and public affairs programs, including Know HIV/Aids, the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning cross- platform public education partnership with CBS and Kaiser Family Foundation, which he initiated in 2003.

    Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman said, “Carl is a consummate communications professional who understands the strategic and financial complexities of our businesses and the industry. I know he will make a big contribution to Viacom in the future as we continue to expand and embrace the opportunities of the digital age. I am also pleased that I will have the opportunity to continue to work with Carole and that Viacom will continue to benefit from her knowledge, experience and talent as she moves to her new role at MTV Networks.”

    Dooley said, “Carl is a highly effective leader and a seasoned communications councelor with more than 25 years of experience in every aspect of the public relations field, including financial and investor communications. I couldn’t be more pleased to be teaming up with him again.”

  • Carl D. Folta is Viacom executive VP, corporate communications

    Carl D. Folta is Viacom executive VP, corporate communications

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom has appointed Carl D. Folta as executive VP, corporate communications.

    Folta, who will serve as Viacom’s chief communications strategist and spokesperson, will report to Viacom senior executive VP and chief administrative officer Thomas E. Dooley. Folta, most recently served as executive vice president, office of the chairman.

    In his new role, he will be responsible for Viacom’s overall communications activities, both internally and externally, as well as the coordination of communications at the Company’s operations, including MTV Networks, Bet Networks, the Paramount Motion Picture Group and Famous Music. Folta will have oversight for all financial communications, and will direct the Company’s media relations activities for industry issues and public affairs, including regulatory, legislative and legal matters.

    Additionally, he will be responsible for managing corporate events and overseeing the Company’s philanthropy activities and public affairs programs, including Know HIV/Aids, the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning cross- platform public education partnership with CBS and Kaiser Family Foundation, which he initiated in 2003.

    Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman said, “Carl is a consummate communications professional who understands the strategic and financial complexities of our businesses and the industry. I know he will make a big contribution to Viacom in the future as we continue to expand and embrace the opportunities of the digital age. I am also pleased that I will have the opportunity to continue to work with Carole and that Viacom will continue to benefit from her knowledge, experience and talent as she moves to her new role at MTV Networks.”

    Dooley said, “Carl is a highly effective leader and a seasoned communications councelor with more than 25 years of experience in every aspect of the public relations field, including financial and investor communications. I couldn’t be more pleased to be teaming up with him again.”

  • Viacom launches video sharing site Flux in Japan

    Viacom launches video sharing site Flux in Japan

    MUMBAI: Viacom International Japan has launched the Flux video sharing site for broadband Internet users in Japan.

    Flux is a free, advertiser-supported next-generation entertainment service that combines popular video from Viacom brands such as MTV, Nickelodeon and Bet – Black Entertainment Television, with music videos, Japanese animations, movie previews and content created by users themselves.

    Japan’s 75 million Internet users can now watch pre-programmed channels on Flux and access video-on-demand from a vast library of diverse content. As Flux members, users can also create their own personal channels from the video library and watch channels created by other users.

    MTV chairman and CEO Judy McGrath says, “Flux revolutionises the way audiences view and use video content – putting them in complete control. This innovative service significantly expands MTVN’s digital media presence in Japan, enabling us to deliver our leading MTV, Nickelodeon and BET content to audiences in new ways. Through our global network we are uniquely positioned to share Flux innovations from Japan with more than 150 MTV digital media properties worldwide.”

    Viacom International Japan senior VP and GM digital media Tony Elison commented, “Flux presents an entirely new way of interacting with entertainment – it’s 21st century television on the Web. Placing the consumer at the center of the programming universe, Flux offers endless opportunities for Japanese users to access the content they love, discover new entertainment and share their experiences with others.”

    In addition to video created by users, Flux features content including – Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants; MTV’s Europe Music Awards and Jackass and local MTV Japan productions including Trainsurfer and Tempura, among others. Clips range from 3-10 minutes in length.

    Flux will continuously launch new programming to enrich the Japanese online entertainment landscape. Next month, Flux will bring content from Viacom-owned BET Networks to Japanese audiences, including excerpts from the 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

    Bet chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee says, “Our mission is to provide high-quality entertainment to consumers of Black culture on a global basis. The launch of Bet content on FLUX provides access to an enormous audience who has long displayed an appetite for hip hop culture. This partnership allows Bet a chance to reassert our global brand presence while super-serving this passionate audience like never before.”

    Also next month, the first co-production from Flux and MTV Japan called Nigoldeneye will debut simultaneously on both platforms. The docudrama series will follow Nigo, the creator behind the ‘A Bathing Ape’ fashion empire. Content produced exclusively for both Flux and MTV Japan will complement the online and on-air viewing experiences, encouraging audiences to migrate between platforms.

    Flux also features more than 2,000 music videos – one of the largest selections online in Japan – licensed from local and international music companies such as Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and Toshiba EMI. Artists featured on FLUX include international acts Madonna, Janet Jackson and Red Hot Chili Peppers, along with local acts. Additional licensing agreements with music companies will be announced soon.

    Flux says that it provides this diverse and innovative video programming in a unique environment. The Flux video player displays contextually related clips during video playback, so that the user can easily watch more programming from sources he enjoys, without the need for a specific search. Flux also allows users to programme their own channels and share these channels with friends within a social network. Individual channels created can include anything ranging from self-made content, clips created by others, music videos, animations and more – building bridges between professional, independent, and amateur content providers. In this way, Flux says that it harnesses the power of technology and social networking to facilitate users’ discovery of new entertainment.

  • Former Viacom CEO Freston to receive $84 mn package

    Former Viacom CEO Freston to receive $84 mn package

    MUMBAI: A little over a month has passed since Tom Freston quit US media conglomerate Viacom. He will receive $84.8 million in severance, accrued salary and restricted stock payments.

    Media reports state that he also reached a deal with Viacom to serve as an advisor to the company for the next three years, for which he will receive an additional $1 million per year, an arrangement he can cancel with two week’s notice.

    As had been reported last month by Indiantelevision.com Redstone’s dumping a loyal lieutenant who built MTV into a global entertainment powerhouse was over Freston’s failure to aggressively chase the social networking site MySpace. News Corp bought MySpace for $ 580 million which has turned out out to be a great price. Redstone was also looking for a more entrepenurial CEO. He probably felt that longtime board member Philippe Dauman and Thomas Dooley would be more suited.

  • Viacom acquires Quizilla.com for MTV Networks

    Viacom acquires Quizilla.com for MTV Networks

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks, a division of Viacom Inc has acquired Quizilla.com, an online, user-generated community of original teen authors, aged 14 and above, who create and share quizzes, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, polls, and other content.

    The website was acquired from Gorilla Nation Media and will now become part of the Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. Ranked as a top-five destination for female teens, Quizilla.com drew 3.1 million unique visitors globally last month, according an official release.

    “Quizilla.com is a terrific destination and another interactive and creative online environment that we’re adding to MTV Networks’ portfolio of targeted digital brands,” said MTV Networks chairman and CEO Judy McGrath. 

    “This marks another great step forward with our strategy of continuing to transform MTVN into a global, multi-platform entertainment company that engages our diverse audiences wherever, whenever and however they want.”

    The acquisition of Quizilla.com follows MTV Networks’ deals to buy Shockwave.com, AddictingGames.com and NeoPets.com. They joined a stable of online brands that includes The-N.com, Nick.com, ParentsConnect.com and TurboNick. 

    “The acquisition of Quizilla combined with The-N.com and NeoPets will further deepen our already strong connection with our audience and provide them with new ways to experience our content on The N as well as the ability to create and share their own creative ideas and passions through Quizilla,” said Nickelodeon and MTVN president Cyma Zarghami. “This is a great complement to our portfolio of brands that super serve preschoolers, kids, teens, parents and families overall.”

  • Television looks ‘Outdoors’

    There’s no escaping now, everywhere you go it follows, across buses, trains, kiosks and more. Striving to use every possible object within its reach to grab eyeballs. Such is the impact of outdoor advertising!

    It is estimated that currently, the outdoor space availability in metros is ‘zero.’ With festivity around the corner, television channels are beefing up their programming and the most opportunistic way to utilize advertising appears to be via this medium.

    The outdoor business is estimated to be growing at 20 per cent and the size of the organized industry alone has been pegged at Rs 11 – 12 billion by industry experts. These figures are proof that advertisers’ dependence on outdoor has significantly increased.

    The biggest players this year among television channels are the ususal suspects Sony, Star and Zee. The average spends among these channels is estimated to be close to Rs 700 – 800 million annually on outdoor advertising. 30 per cent of these spends are dedicated to the festive rush spanning September – December, says Star Sight CEO Sanjay Shah.

    Bright director Yogesh Lakhani opines that spends usually go up by 15 – 20 per cent during the festive period. Jhalak Dikhla Ja got the ball rolling for Sony but now Kaajal and Extraaa Innings from the same stable are straddling Mumbai city. It is believed that more than 50 per cent of Sony’s spends in launching properties is dedicated to out of home.

    Star has followed suit with its three big launches Antariksh and yet to be launched Paraya Dhan and Sathi Re. Naach Baliye was also given this life-size value during its launch period.

    In pictures: Different mediums used in Outdoor

    Zee went all the way with Betiyann and is planning to use outdoor to build the buzz for the Sa Re Ga Ma finale on 28 October, as well as the newly launched youth block Klub. Zee alone is estimated to spend about 15 to 20 million on each property.

    In addition to these big players, other contenders currently in the outdoor space include Disney Channel with its latest local offering Vicky Aur Vetaal and Tata Sky’s DTH platform battling it out with Dish TV. Primesite head GM West Aneil Deepak remarks that channels usually adopt a dual strategy, whereby 30 – 40 per cent of their spends go to permanent sites on an annualized basis, however in promoting certain properties they will increase their spends depending upon its significance.

    Outdoor is consistently used by channels as it not only acts as a reminder medium but it also gets people to sample a new show. Ogilvy Activation country head – Landscapes and Signscapes Nabendu Bhattacharyya opines, “Outdoor builds quick awareness and is the most cost efficient option. It is beneficial because it can be city specific and have a customized plan by which campaigns can run from 7 days to months.”

    Though the outdoor industry falls short of a common currency measure, individual specialists with the likes of Star, Sony Entertainment, Zee TV, Times Now and Sahara that use outdoor all the year round, have their own proprietary tools to derive accountability from the medium.

    Besides TV, the biggest spender this year are from the Telecom sector says Aaren Initiative president Vivek Lakhwara. Reliance and Airtel have a pan Indian presence, adds Shah. “Normal medium vacancy level of 20 per cent during the year becomes zero during September to December as brands like telecom, finance, press, automobiles, radio are also fighting to grab the available spots,” says Bhattacharyya.

    Going beyond billboards and bus shelters out of home as a category is fast expanding into areas like retail and entertainment. With emerging technology like LED screens, interactive facia at malls, backlit air blimps and large building wraps, Bhattacharyya forsees, “Airport advertising will take on a much greater significance with clients. Technology driven platforms like bluecasting will see the emergence of different options available to advertisers which will add to the array of the outdoor armament.”

    The future is bright! On a rather optimistic note, Bhattacharyya predicts that this year will prove to be a watershed year for the outdoor advertising industry. “The area of consolidation both from a buyer and the concessionaire’s perspective, is around the corner. It has happened the world over and India will prove to be no different. The outdoor specialists will control about 75 to 80 per cent of the entire outdoor market in India in two years time and consolidation amongst them will also happen very quickly. Alliances and mergers will take place, media groups will broaden their services, bandwidth will be built in order to deliver efficiencies and scale, and the big buyers will only get bigger.”

    He also sees foreign investors and large media groups waiting for an opportunity to lunge into the Indian market. He says, “The big daddies like Viacom, Clear Channel and Decaux know it’s a profitable business to get into. They are just hoping and crossing their fingers that tighter legislation and better regularities come into play, for them to invest long term in India.”

    Of course, one such biggie has already made a quiet landing on Indian shores. News Outdoor India (NOI), the local arm of News Corp’s OOH subsidiary News Outdoor Group (NOG) and headed by a former senior executive of Star India Sumantra ‘Sumo’ Dutta, has been operating in the country for the last six months.

  • Viacom revises employment agreement with Redstone

    Viacom revises employment agreement with Redstone

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom’s board of directors has announced that it has entered into a revised employment agreement with its Executive Chairman Sumner M Redstone.

    The agreement reduces cash salary and bonuses effective 1 January, 2007 and immediately directly links the majority of Redstone’s compensation to superior shareholder returns.

    Redstone and the Compensation Committee of the Viacom Board are extending the equity driven approach to compensation and incentives adopted by Viacom in its recently announced agreements with Viacom president and CEO Philippe P Dauman and Viacom’s senior executive VP and chief administrative officer Thomas E Dooley.

    Redstone said, “As both a major shareholder and as the executive chairman of the company, I have long been in favour of the pay-for-performance model, which I believe is good for shareholders and good for the company. I want to commend the Compensation Committee for not only listening to our stockholders, but for their leadership, creativity and discipline in creating this new shareholder-friendly compensation structure.”

    Under the terms of the new agreement, beginning in 2007, Redstone’s salary will be reduced to $1 million per year (from current $1.75 million), and deferred compensation, presently $1.3 million per year, will be eliminated. His target cash bonus under Viacom’s short-term incentive plan will be reduced from $6.1 million to $3.5 million per year.

    Redstone will receive an annual award of stock options having a grant-date value of $3 million. He will also receive an annual award of performance share units (PSU’s) with a grant-date target value of $3 million.

  • Viacom is testing social networking platforms for TV, ad integration

    Viacom is testing social networking platforms for TV, ad integration

    MUMBAI:The phenomenon of social networking is growing rapidly in the US and MTV is the latest media firm looking to take advantage of this phenomenon.

    It is testing new social-networking platforms that will integrate television programming with virtual world technology, resulting in interactive experiences that let viewers personally experience — and ‘live’ for themselves — the content they see on-air.

    The new platforms are in early stage development and will evolve in partnership with advertisers and audience feedback. MTV says that it could help define next-generation media and advertising models.

    The company is working hand-in-hand with Pepsi, Mediavest Worldwide and OMD on the development of a beta version of the first platform Virtual Laguna Beach. This is built around the successful MTV series Laguna Beach.

    MTV president music, films, Logo Van Toffler noted that the platforms will deliver immersive environments that are not only reflective of, but parallel to, the world viewers see on
    television. These universes take viewers beyond passive consumption to active engagement with programming and with marketers’ messages. A beta version of Virtual Laguna Beach is at www.vlb.mtv.com.

    Other virtual worlds are planned later this year for the broader music community and for viewers of Logo. This makes it one of the first such applications for the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community.

    Toffler says, “Our audience wants more interaction with our content and with each other. Virtual Laguna Beach lets our audience become the stars themselves, stepping onto a virtual stage and living the life they see — or would like to see — on television.

    “Virtual Laguna Beach also is just one example of the next-generation media models that we’re creating for our viewers to connect with one another in ways they never could before; for content creators to develop experiences that live side by side with on-air content; and for marketers to become an integral and meaningful part of the programming.”

    MTV executive VP Jeff Yapp programme enterprises notes that the media models give rise to a new concept of social networking by combining two elements audiences love —
    popular television programming and emerging virtual world technology.

    He says, “Virtual Laguna Beach and the other models we are developing hold the potential for ushering in a new era of audience engagement.

    MTV says that the platforms offer the ideal environment for marketers to seamlessly weave their messages into the overall experience.Viewers in- world also can choose to interact with sponsors’ content and also purchase virtual as well as physical goods. MTV is working with its advertisers to help them become an integral part of each experience so they can reach their consumers — our audience — in meaningful ways.

    Marketer Support: A number of marketers and media buyers have pledged their support for Virtual Laguna Beach. Pepsi says that through Virtual Laguna Beach the brandwill be able to interact with consumers in ways that it never thought possible.

    Mediavest says that platforms like Virtual Laguna Beach allows it to achieve much more than a simple campaign extension. They offer the opportunity to dimensionalize the brand and infuse brand attributes into the user experience in a smart, fun, engaging way.

    OMD notes that this opportunity is an extension of the truly convergent partnership between it and MTV. It allows clients the opportunity to connect with the audience of one of MTV’s premier properties in a much deeper and personal way.

    Virtual Laguna Beach transports viewers directly to Orange County, California, where they live in the same environment as their favorite cast members, and interact with other fans through real-time chat. Viewers can hang out at the beach or shop at the local surf store and interact with one another in ways that mirror the on-air program. Just as the cast gears up
    for the Winter Formal, so too can viewers within Virtual Laguna Beach prepare for the big night, find a date online and select the tux or prom dress for their on-screen identity.

    The third season of the reality drama premiered last month and chronicles the coming-of-age stories of various high school stories in the upscale seaside town. On MTV.com fans can join the VIP section of the Laguna Beach Surf Club. Die-hard fans also can go to MTV’s Overdrive broadband channel to get exclusive content, first looks, community features, games and much more.

    MTV is also working with Makena Technologies on the development of Virtual Laguna Beach and the forthcoming Logo environment. MTV Networks is also working with Doppelganger, formerly Evil Twin Studios, on the virtual
    music environment.

    MTV Networks selected Makena Technologies, creators of the 3D social virtual world There.com. Makena is helping develop Virtual Laguna Beach and the forthcoming Logo-based experience. The selection leverages Makena’s many years of experience in developing one of the Internet’s largest 3D social virtual worlds, its understanding of the youth demographic, its
    development of an in-world economy, and its sophisticated integration of user-created content.

  • Tom Freston quits; Philippe Dauman named new Viacom CEO

    Tom Freston quits; Philippe Dauman named new Viacom CEO

    MUMBAI: Barely eight months after Viacom chairman Summer Redstone split the global media powerhouse into two units — CBS Corp and Viacom Inc — one of his anointed CEOs has announced his resignation.

    Viacom CEO Tom Freston’s decision, which was sudden and unexpected, comes at a time when the company’s stock price was falling (down 20 per cent since January when the split from CBS became effective). The key properties under Freston’s charge were MTV Networks, which he literally created and built, as well as Paramount Pictures.

    Viacom announced today that the 60-year-old Freston was being replaced as president and CEO by Philippe P. Dauman.

    The Viacom board also named Thomas E Dooley to the newly created position of senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer. Dauman will report to Redstone, while Dooley will report to Dauman.

    Both Dauman, 52, and Dooley, 49, have previously held a number of executive positions at the company, and both currently serve on Viacom’s board.

    The official release quoted Freston as saying: “I’ve spent over 26 years at Viacom, 18 of them with Summer. With my exceptional colleagues, we built a worldwide powerhouse of brands and businesses, literally from scratch. I leave many good friends knowing that they have an unmatched track record, a great plan going forward and incredible abilities to execute on it in this digital age.”

    Official comments apart, it is clear that Freston was forced out by Redstone. Newswire service Associated Press quoted Redstone as telling analysts on a conference call that the board wanted a more entrepreneurial and aggressive management team that would have a closer relationship with investors.

    Investors didn’t seem too thrilled by the news though, sending the company stock down nearly 6 per cent in early trading.

    But far more than the slip-sliding stock price, what probably had the biggest hand to play in Redstone’s dumping a loyal lieutenant who built MTV into a global entertainment powerhouse was over Freston’s failure to aggressively chase MySpace, the youth social networking phenomenon that has taken the world by storm.

    It irks Redstone no end that a site that was a perfect fit as far as MTV’s youth demographic is concerned was snapped up from right under Viacom’s nose by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation for what in hindsight has turned out to be a steal at $ 580 million.

    “We bought a lot of little things and you can add it all up, but it’s not MySpace,” Redstone has been quoted as saying of the start-up that had been “sitting out there for a long time” before News Corp bought it out.

    Freston’s departure comes less than two weeks after Viacom announced it was parting ways with Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise’s production company, ending a 14-year relationship. Redstone’s stated reason for dumping Cruise was that his “erratic” behaviour made the association an unviable one.

    Viacom’s brands include MTV Networks (MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, CMT: Country Music Television, Spike TV, TV Land, Logo and more than 120 networks around the world), BET Networks, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, DreamWorks and Famous Music.

  • MTV Networks launches Viacom Brand Solutions through Xbox 360

    MTV Networks launches Viacom Brand Solutions through Xbox 360

    NEW DELHI: MTV India and Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division have joined forces to develop unique programming content for Xbox 360, the online gaming service across its three channels – MTV, Vh1 and Nick.

    This tie-up also marks the launch of MTV Networks’ ‘Viacom Brand Solutions’ in India, which offers customized, integrated marketing solutions for brands to connect with their audiences in a manner that’s innovative and relevant, informs an official release.

    Whether its commercials, exclusively developed shows, infomercials or video-mods (to be introduced for the first time in India), gaming enthusiasts as well as those who’ve always wanted to learn more about gaming can look forward to some exciting action on air starting September first week.

    The new programming content on MTV Network channels developed specifically for Xbox 360 will include: a specially developed 105-second thematic spot – Porok (conceptualized, scripted and produced by MTV) to be on MTV.

    The release states that a special genre of programming makes its way onto Vh1 with Video Mods – an absolute treat for diehard gaming enthusiasts. Vh1 will launch a unique infomercial Gamers Grammar.

    Nick will include a special section Jimmy’s Techno Tips on one of its popular shows – Jimmy Neutron. Further, Nick will also launch vignettes on gaming Vox Pops and X Factor.

    And finally, as Microsoft launches Xbox on 23 September, MTV will go live to cover the event.

    Elaborating on the partnership, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division India country manager Mohit Anand said “MTV embodies the youthful spirit of Xbox 360 and is uniquely positioned for reaching out to the young gamers across the country. We are delighted with this partnership & look forward to deliver an unmatchable gaming experience to the viewers and program participants.”

    Speaking on the partnership, MTV Networks India MD and TV Networks Asia executive VP Amit Jain said, “This tie-up not only marks the coming together of two brands that play a significant role in youth lives, but also two of their biggest passions – gaming & television entertainment. With the Xbox 360 launch, MTV Networks also launches the ‘Viacom Brand Solutions’ in India, a new approach to offer marketing solutions to brands by leveraging some of the key strengths that already exist within MTV Networks – youth expertise, unparalleled creativity, on-ground event expertise, tie-ups with over 75 colleges and over 300 youth hang-outs and finally a bouquet of 3 channels that’s capable of connecting with kids as well as the youths.”

    Xbox 360(tm) will make its debut in the Indian market in the pre-Diwali season this year. The Xbox 360 system will come fully loaded with a 20GB detachable Xbox 360 Hard Drive for storing music, video and games, an Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, an Xbox 360 Media Remote control and a Component HD-AV Cable for connecting to component and composite television inputs, an Ethernet cable, and batteries, according to the release.