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Paramount Media Networks

From Wikipedia, in a visual modern way
Paramount Media Networks
Formerly
  • MTV Networks (1984–2011)
  • Viacom Media Networks (2011–2019)
  • ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks (2019–2022)
TypeDivision
Industry
FoundedJune 25, 1984; 38 years ago (1984-06-25)
FounderRobert Pittman
Headquarters1515 Broadway,
New York City, New York
,
U.S.
Key people
  • Chris McCarthy (President and CEO, Media Networks)
  • Brian Robbins (President and CEO, Kids & Family Entertainment)
Brands
Owner
Parent
DivisionsParamount International Networks
Paramount Digital Studios
Subsidiaries

Paramount Media Networks[1] (founded as Music Television Networks, known as MTV Networks in 1984[2] and known under this name until 2011) is an American mass media division of Paramount Global that oversees the operations of many of its television channels and online brands. Its related international division is Paramount International Networks.

The division's original namesake, MTV, is managed through a subsidiary called MTV Entertainment Group.

Discover more about Paramount Media Networks related topics

Mass media

Mass media

Mass media refers to a diverse array of media that reach a large audience via mass communication.

Paramount Global

Paramount Global

Paramount Global is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate controlled by National Amusements (79.4%) and headquartered at One Astor Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was formed on December 4, 2019, as ViacomCBS Inc. through the merger of the second incarnations of CBS Corporation and Viacom. The company changed its name to Paramount Global on February 16, 2022, the day after its Q4 earnings presentation.

Television channel

Television channel

A television channel is a terrestrial frequency or virtual number over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the terrestrial or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with carrier frequencies of 55.25 MHz for NTSC analog video (VSB) and 59.75 MHz for analog audio (FM), or 55.31 MHz for digital ATSC (8VSB). Channels may be shared by many different television stations or cable-distributed channels depending on the location and service provider

Paramount International Networks

Paramount International Networks

Paramount International Networks (PIN) is the international division of Paramount Global. The division oversees the production, broadcasting and promotion of key Paramount brands outside of the United States. These brands include Paramount Network, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, BET and Colors TV, as well as CBS-branded channels, which are co-owned with AMC Networks International. PIN also owns a 30% stake in the Rainbow S.p.A. animation studio in Italy until 2023, as well as a 49% stake in an Indian joint venture with domestic partner TV18, Viacom18.

MTV

MTV

MTV is a 24-hour American cable music video channel officially launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global.

History

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prototype MTV Networks logo.
prototype MTV Networks logo.1st MTV Networks logo.2nd MTV Networks logo.Viacom Media Networks logo.ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2019–2020).ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2020–2022).
1st MTV Networks logo.
prototype MTV Networks logo.1st MTV Networks logo.2nd MTV Networks logo.Viacom Media Networks logo.ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2019–2020).ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2020–2022).
2nd MTV Networks logo.
prototype MTV Networks logo.1st MTV Networks logo.2nd MTV Networks logo.Viacom Media Networks logo.ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2019–2020).ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2020–2022).
Viacom Media Networks logo.
prototype MTV Networks logo.1st MTV Networks logo.2nd MTV Networks logo.Viacom Media Networks logo.ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2019–2020).ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2020–2022).
ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2019–2020).
prototype MTV Networks logo.1st MTV Networks logo.2nd MTV Networks logo.Viacom Media Networks logo.ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2019–2020).ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2020–2022).
ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks logo (2020–2022).

Pre-launch: Warner Communications joint venture (1977–1984)

Warner Cable Communications was founded on December 1, 1977, by Warner Cable, itself a division of Warner Communications, to launch QUBE, an interactive cable television network. Seeing the potential in the creation of new cable networks, Warner Cable divested QUBE's biggest brands, Star Channel, Pinwheel and Sight on Sound, into nationwide outlets. Star Channel began by satellite in January 1979 and was renamed The Movie Channel by the end of the year. The original Channel C-3, by then known as Pinwheel, became Nickelodeon in April 1979. As a result of these actions, Warner Cable Communications would then be rebranded as Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, becoming a joint venture between Warner Cable and American Express.

In 1980, Warner-Amex formed a joint venture with Cablevision's Rainbow Media division to launch Bravo, a cable network dedicated to arts and films, on December 1, 1980. Full control of the channel, however, was sold to Rainbow Media in 1984; NBC would acquire Bravo in 2003, and the channel is now currently owned by Comcast's NBCUniversal.[3]

On August 1, 1981, Sight on Sound was relaunched as MTV.

In 1983, concerned by the strategic and financial failure of its pay-TV venture The Movie Channel (started to reap the benefits Time Inc. was having with HBO and Cinemax), WASEC established a joint venture with Viacom, merging TMC with their premium movie network Showtime to form Showtime/The Movie Channel, Inc.; WASEC, however, had no operational involvement in the joint venture.

Launch as MTV Networks, Viacom gets full ownership (1984–2011)

On June 25, 1984, Warner Communications made the decision to divest Nickelodeon, MTV, and VH-1 (launched in 1985; Warner acquired it from Turner) into a new public corporation called MTV Networks.[2][4] A year later, Warner would acquire the 50% stake from American Express.[5]

On August 27, 1985, Warner sold 31% of MTV Networks to Viacom, with Warner also selling 19% of its Showtime/The Movie Channel, Inc. joint to Viacom as well.[6][7]

In November 1985, Viacom bought the remaining 69% of MTV Networks from Warner for $326 million,[8] The acquisition was completed on May 20, 1986,[9] causing Viacom to instantly become a mass media company rather than simply a distributor.[a]

In 2003, MTV Networks assumed full ownership of Comedy Central from AOL Time Warner.

In January 2006, the remnants of MTV Networks and Showtime Networks were separated following Viacom's split into two entities: CBS Corporation, which retained CBS, UPN, Simon & Schuster and Showtime Networks (Showtime, The Movie Channel, and Flix), and a spun-off company under the Viacom name, which took ownership of Paramount Pictures, BET Networks and MTV Networks (Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and VH1). MTV Networks was renamed Viacom Media Networks in 2011.

Expansion (2011–2019)

In the fall of 2012, media analysts began to report that ratings among some of Viacom's leading brands in the U.S. were experiencing declines in viewership.[15][16] MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon were of most concern to investors as the three account for roughly 50% of Viacom's operating profit, estimated David Bank of RBC Capital Markets.

In 2017, Viacom announced a five-point restructuring plan, in which the company would pour most of its resources behind six "flagship brands". These were MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., BET, and Paramount Pictures.[17][18][19][20] In February 2017, cable channels CMT and TV Land were moved from the Kids and Family Group to the Global Entertainment Group under Kevin Kay, joining up with Spike TV.[21] During the same month, it was announced that Spike would be relaunched as Paramount Network in 2018, aligning with the namesake film studio and being positioned as Viacom's main general entertainment outlet.[22][23]

In October 2018, Kevin Kay was announced to be leaving his position as head of the Entertainment Group. CMT was transferred from the Entertainment Group to the Music Group under president Chris McCarthy, with his exit. Executive Kent Alterman would take charge of Paramount Network and TV Land to go with his current leadership of Comedy Central and Bellator MMA.[24]

In 2019, after acquiring the free streaming service Pluto TV, Viacom would launch several channels on the service branded after its Media Networks and company–owned IP.[25][26][27][28]

Reintroduction and re-merger with CBS (2019–present)

In August 2019, Viacom announced that it would merge with CBS Corporation, reuniting the two entities under the new name ViacomCBS.[29][30] The merger closed in early December 2019.[31][32] Announced on November 11, 2019, as part of the re–merger, the Media Networks division was renamed ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks, and reorganized. MTV, VH1, CMT and Logo were reorganized into the "Entertainment & Youth Group",[33] with the addition of Comedy Central, Paramount Network, Smithsonian Channel, and TV Land. BET Networks was merged with Showtime Networks under CEO David Nevins, who also temporarily gained oversight of Pop TV (formerly co-owned with Lionsgate);[34] Pop TV was transferred to the Entertainment & Youth Group on January 15, 2020.[35] On February 16, 2022, ViacomCBS was renamed as Paramount Global, and ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks was renamed Paramount Media Networks.[36]

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Joint venture

Joint venture

A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to access a new market, particularly Emerging market; to gain scale efficiencies by combining assets and operations; to share risk for major investments or projects; or to access skills and capabilities.

American Express

American Express

American Express Company (Amex) is an American multinational financial services corporation specialized in payment cards headquartered in New York City. It is one of the most valuable companies in the world and one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company's logo, adopted in 1958, is a gladiator or centurion whose image appears on the company's well-known traveler's cheques, charge cards, and credit cards. It is based in the American Express Tower in the Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan where it maintains its corporate offices. They are the largest provider of traveler's cheques worldwide.

Cablevision

Cablevision

Cablevision Systems Corporation was an American cable television company with systems serving areas surrounding New York City. It was the fifth-largest cable provider and ninth-largest television provider in the United States. Throughout its existence and in its final years, Cablevision exclusively served customers residing in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and a small part of Pennsylvania. However, at one time it provided service in as many as 19 states. Cablevision also offered high-speed Internet connections, digital cable, and VoIP phone service through its Optimum brand name. Cablevision also offered a WiFi-only mobile phone service dubbed Freewheel.

AMC Networks

AMC Networks

AMC Networks Inc. is an American entertainment company headquartered in 11 Penn Plaza, New York.

Bravo (American TV network)

Bravo (American TV network)

Bravo is an American basic cable television network, launched on December 8, 1980. It is owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. The channel originally focused on programming related to fine arts and film. It currently mainly focuses on lifestyle reality television series targeted at 25-to-54-year-old women as well as the LGBTQIA+ community.

NBC

NBC

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are located at Comcast Building in New York City. The company also has offices in Los Angeles at 10 Universal City Plaza and Chicago at the NBC Tower. NBC is the oldest of the traditional "Big Three" American television networks, having been formed in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America. NBC is sometimes referred to as the "Peacock Network," in reference to its stylized peacock logo, introduced in 1956 to promote the company's innovations in early color broadcasting.

Comcast

Comcast

Comcast Corporation, headquartered in Philadelphia, is the largest American multinational telecommunications conglomerate. It is the second-largest broadcasting and cable television company in the world by revenue, the largest pay-TV company, the largest cable TV company and largest home Internet service provider in the United States, and the nation's third-largest home telephone service provider. It provides services to U.S. residential and commercial customers in 40 states and the District of Columbia. As the parent company of the international media company NBCUniversal since 2011, Comcast is a producer of feature films for theatrical exhibition, and over-the-air and cable television programming.

NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal Media, LLC is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate corporation owned by Comcast and headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.

MTV

MTV

MTV is a 24-hour American cable music video channel officially launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global.

HBO

HBO

Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based at Warner Bros. Discovery's corporate headquarters inside 30 Hudson Yards in Manhattan's West Side district. Programming featured on the network consists primarily of theatrically released motion pictures and original television programs as well as made-for-cable movies, documentaries, occasional comedy and concert specials, and periodic interstitial programs.

Cinemax

Cinemax

Cinemax is an American pay television, cable, and satellite television network owned by the Home Box Office, Inc. subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Developed as a companion "maxi-pay" service complementing the offerings shown on parent network Home Box Office (HBO) and initially focusing on recent and classic films upon its launch on August 1, 1980, programming featured on Cinemax currently consists primarily of recent and older theatrically released motion pictures, and original action series, as well as documentaries and special behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Comedy Central

Comedy Central

Comedy Central is an American adult-oriented basic cable channel owned by Paramount Global through its network division's MTV Entertainment Group unit, based in Manhattan. The channel is geared towards young adults aged 18–34 and carries comedy programming in the form of both original, licensed, and syndicated series, stand-up comedy specials, and feature films. It is available to approximately 86.723 million households in the United States as of September 2018.

Channels list

CMTMTVComedy CentralParamount NetworkShowtimeNickelodeon
CMT
CMTMTVComedy CentralParamount NetworkShowtimeNickelodeon
MTV
CMTMTVComedy CentralParamount NetworkShowtimeNickelodeon
Comedy Central
CMTMTVComedy CentralParamount NetworkShowtimeNickelodeon
Paramount Network
CMTMTVComedy CentralParamount NetworkShowtimeNickelodeon
Showtime
CMTMTVComedy CentralParamount NetworkShowtimeNickelodeon
Nickelodeon

Current channels

Category Name Notes Launch
MTV Entertainment Group
CMT Branded Networks CMT 5 March 5, 1983
CMT Music 6 August 1, 1998
MTV Branded Networks MTV 1 August 1, 1981
MTV2 August 1, 1996
MTV Classic 19 August 1, 1998
MTV Live 20 January 16, 2006
MTV Tres August 1, 1998
MTVU 22 January 20, 2004
Entertainment & Youth Group Comedy Central 2 June 1, 1991
Logo TV 4 June 30, 2005
Paramount Network 3, 5 March 7, 1983
Pop 15 1981
Smithsonian Channel 13 September 26, 2007
TV Land 14 April 29, 1996
Premium Networks Group (Showtime Networks)
Showtime Networks Showtime
  • Showtime 2
  • Showcase
  • SHO×BET
  • Showtime Extreme
  • Showtime Family Zone
  • Showtime Next
  • Showtime Women
 12 May 9, 1976 (Showtime)
October 1, 1991 (Showtime 2)
September 1999 (SHO×BET)
1996 (Showcase)
March 10, 1998 (Showtime Extreme)
March 2001 (Showtime Family Zone, Next and Women)
The Movie Channel
  • The Movie Channel Xtra
 18 December 1, 1979
October 1, 1997
Flix 16 August 1, 1992
Kids & Family Entertainment (Nickelodeon Group)
Nickelodeon Networks Nickelodeon 7 April 1, 1979
Nick Jr. 8 September 28, 2009
Nick at Nite July 1, 1985
NickMusic 9 May 1, 2002
Nicktoons 10
TeenNick 11 September 28, 2009

Former channels and blocks

Notes

1Channel was originally launched under Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment and tested as Sight on Sound until 1981, when it officially launched as MTV.

2Channel started as Ha!, merged with HBO's The Comedy Channel the following year, became entirely owned by Viacom in 2003.

3Originally TNN from 1983 to 2003 (as The Nashville Network until 1997; as The National Network until 2003) and as Spike until January 2018.

4Channel was originally known as VH1 MegaHits before being discontinued in July 2005 to facilitate Logo launch.

5Channel was previously owned by Gaylord Entertainment Company, acquired in 1997 by the CBS Cable division of CBS Corporation, and became part of MTV Networks when CBS merged with Viacom.

6Channel created as VH1 Country before Viacom/CBS merger.

7Channel was originally launched under Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment and tested as Pinwheel until 1979, then was officially launched as Nickelodeon.

8Channel space was previously held by Noggin (a joint venture with Sesame Workshop) before being replaced with the Nick Jr. Channel in 2009.

9Channel was originally known as MTV Hits before being rebranded as NickMusic on September 9, 2016.

10Channel was originally known as Nicktoons TV until 2003 when it was rebranded as Nicktoons which was rebranded again as Nicktoons Network in 2005 and finally rebranded yet again as Nicktoons (styled as “nicktoons”) once more in 2009.

11Channel space was previously held by Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids from 1999 to 2007, and a 24-hour version of Noggin's The N brand from 2007 to 2009.

12Channel originally owned by the first incarnation of Viacom, and earlier with former partner Warner-Amex, and later became part of CBS Corporation following Viacom's split in 2006. Showtime was established in 1976, and The Movie Channel was established in 1973 as Star Channel and relaunched under its current name in 1979.

13Channel was originally co-owned by CBS Corporation through Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution until November 7, 2019, when the Institution sold its equity interest to Showtime.[37]

14Channel was originally a block on Nick at Nite.

15Previously owned by CBS Corporation, and before 2019, half of the share was owned by Lionsgate. Formerly known as TVGN, TV Guide Network, and TV Guide Channel.

16Established by Viacom's Showtime Networks in 1992 and later became part of CBS Corporation following Viacom's split in 2006.

17Channel was formerly Showtime Beyond from 1999 and was discontinued on July 15, 2020.

18Channel was originally known as "Star Channel" until it was bought by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment before becoming "The Movie Channel" in 1979.

19Channel was originally known as VH1 Smooth before being relaunched as VH1 Classic Rock on August 1, 1999. The channel was renamed VH1 Classic in 2000 and was later rebranded as MTV Classic on August 1, 2016.

20Channel was originally known as Music: High Definition (MHD) before being rebranded as Palladia on September 1, 2008. On February 1, 2016, the channel was rebranded as MTV Live.

21Channel was originally a division of Warner Communications and the original owner of MTV, and launched on January 1, 1985, in the former space of Turner's short-lived Cable Music Channel.

22Channel slot was originally VH1 Uno, until MTV Networks on Campus replaced VH1 Uno with a televised simulcast of MTVU. The college campus feed of MTVU no longer exists but the public feed is still on a limited amount of MSOs.

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CMT (American TV channel)

CMT (American TV channel)

Country Music Television (CMT) is an American pay TV network owned by Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. Launched on March 5, 1983, as Country Music Television, CMT was the first nationally available channel devoted to country music and country music videos, with its programming also including concerts, specials, and biographies of country music stars. Over time, the network's programming expanded to incorporate original lifestyle/reality programming, and sitcoms geared toward blue collar audiences.

CMT Music

CMT Music

CMT Music is an American pay television channel and a sister network to CMT. It is part of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. It showcases country music videos, using the same 8-hour programming wheel schedule as its sister networks.

MTV

MTV

MTV is a 24-hour American cable music video channel officially launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global.

MTV2

MTV2

MTV2 is an American pay television channel owned by the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global.

MTV Classic (American TV channel)

MTV Classic (American TV channel)

MTV Classic is an American pay television network owned by Paramount Media Networks. It was originally launched in 1998 as VH1 Smooth, an adult contemporary and smooth jazz channel. It was relaunched as VH1 Classic Rock in 1999, with an emphasis on classic rock. On August 1, 2016, in honor of MTV's 35th anniversary, the channel was rebranded as MTV Classic, and now exclusively shows music videos from all genres from the late 1970s to the mid 2010s.

MTV Live (TV network)

MTV Live (TV network)

MTV Live is an 24-hour American pay television music video channel owned by Paramount Global. The channel, which broadcasts exclusively in 1080i high definition, broadcasts music videos and music-related programming from Paramount owned networks MTV, MTV Classic, VH1 and CMT, along with other concert and live music programming from outside producers.

MTV Tres

MTV Tres

MTV Tres is an American pay television network owned by Paramount Media Networks, a subsidiary of Paramount Global.

MTVU

MTVU

MTVU is an American digital cable TV channel owned by the MTV Entertainment Group, a unit of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. The channel was first known as VH1 Uno from 2000 to 2004 before changing names when Viacom expanded MTVU programming beyond more than 750 college and university campuses across the United States, as part of internally originated cable systems that are a part of on-campus housing or college closed-circuit television systems to digital cable in all homes. Music videos played on the channel primarily consist of indie rock, pop punk and hip-hop along with limited original programming. MTVU also launched a short-lived campus guide and social media network called Campusdailyguide.com in 2008.

Comedy Central

Comedy Central

Comedy Central is an American adult-oriented basic cable channel owned by Paramount Global through its network division's MTV Entertainment Group unit, based in Manhattan. The channel is geared towards young adults aged 18–34 and carries comedy programming in the form of both original, licensed, and syndicated series, stand-up comedy specials, and feature films. It is available to approximately 86.723 million households in the United States as of September 2018.

Logo TV

Logo TV

Logo TV is an American basic cable channel owned by Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. Launched in 2005, Logo was originally dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment programming targeting LGBT audiences. As of January 2016, approximately 50 million households receive Logo.

Flix (TV network)

Flix (TV network)

Flix is an American premium cable and satellite television network owned by Showtime Networks, a subsidiary of Paramount Global operated through its Media Networks unit. Its programming consists solely of theatrically released motion pictures released from the 1970s to the present day, interspersed with some films from the 1950s and 1960s.

Nick Jr.

Nick Jr.

Nick Jr. is an American pay television channel spun off from Nickelodeon's long-running programming block of the same name. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. The channel launched on September 28, 2009, and primarily targets preschoolers. Its lineup features a mix of originally-produced programming, along with series from the Nickelodeon weekday block; because of the two entities, Nick Jr. is known on-air as "the Nick Jr. Channel" to avoid confusion, especially at times of day where both services are carrying preschool programming.

Other properties

Internet

Through its Networks division, Paramount also owns internet properties, such as MTV News and AwesomenessTV. The company ran a virtual world system, Virtual MTV, in the late 2000s.[38]

The company has owned various other internet properties including virtual pets website Neopets; Flash game websites AddictingGames.com and Shockwave.com; online content production company Atom Entertainment; along with RateMyProfessors.com, GameTrailers, and iFilm, all of which have been shut down or sold off during 2000s and 2010s.

New York headquarters
New York headquarters

During the first quarter of 2008, iFilm was merged into Spike with its website re–branded and re–purposed as Spike.com.[39]

In 2014, Viacom purchased a stake in multi-channel network Defy Media, while offloading GameTrailers, Addicting Games, and Shockwave to Defy.[40]

Gaming

In 2006, Viacom acquired Harmonix, a video game studio oriented towards music video games and the original developer of the Guitar Hero franchise, for $175 million.[41] The two subsequently collaborated on the creation of Rock Band.[42] That year, Viacom also acquired the gaming–oriented communications platform Xfire.[43]

In 2010, Harmonix was divested to an investment firm to become an independent studio,[44][45] and Xfire was sold.[46]

In 2011, Viacom established a short–lived, in–house development studio known as 345 Games, which was dedicated primarily to developing games based on Comedy Central, MTV and Spike properties.[47]

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MTV News

MTV News

MTV News is the news production division of MTV. The service is available in the US with localized versions on MTV's global network. In February 2016, MTV Networks confirmed it would refresh the MTV News brand in 2016, to compete with the likes of BuzzFeed and Vice, however by mid-2017 MTV News was significantly downsized due to cutbacks.

Neopets

Neopets

Neopets is a virtual pet website. Users can own virtual pets ("Neopets") and buy virtual items for them using one of two virtual currencies. One currency, called Neopoints, can be earned within the site, and the other, Neocash, can either be purchased with real-world money, or won by chance in-game.

Adobe Flash Player

Adobe Flash Player

Adobe Flash Player is computer software for viewing multimedia contents, executing rich Internet applications, and streaming audio and video content created on the Adobe Flash platform. It can run from a web browser as a browser plug-in or independently on supported devices. Originally created by FutureWave under the name FutureSplash Player, it was renamed to Macromedia Flash Player after Macromedia acquired FutureWave in 1996. It was then developed and distributed by Adobe Systems as Flash Player after Adobe acquired Macromedia in 2005. It is currently developed and distributed by Zhongcheng for users in China, and by Harman International for enterprise users outside of China, in collaboration with Adobe.

Shockwave (game portal)

Shockwave (game portal)

Shockwave.com, or Shockwave, is an online and offline video games distributor and game portal. It is owned by Addicting Games, Inc., based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was launched by Macromedia on August 2, 1999, to promote the company's Shockwave and Flash players, both used on the website. As of 2005, the website had 22 million users. By 2010, it hosted more than 400 games in a variety of genres.

Atom.com

Atom.com

Atom.com was a broadband entertainment network offering original short subject movies, animations, and series by independent creators. The company was founded in 1998 in Seattle by Mika Salmi. Sequoia Capital, led by Michael Moritz, was the lead investor in Atom Films.

RateMyProfessors.com

RateMyProfessors.com

RateMyProfessors.com (RMP) is a review site, founded in May 1999 by John Swapceinski, a software engineer from Menlo Park, California, which allows anyone to assign ratings to professors and campuses of American, Canadian, and United Kingdom institutions. The site was originally launched as TeacherRatings.com and converted to RateMyProfessors in 2001. RMP was acquired in 2005 by Patrick Nagle and William DeSantis. Nagle and DeSantis later resold RMP in 2007 to Viacom's MTVU, MTV's College channel. Viacom owned and operated RateMyProfessors.com for a decade. Cheddar announced its acquisition of RMP from Viacom in 2018. RMP is the largest online destination for professor ratings. The site includes 8,000+ schools, 1.7 million professors, and over 19 million ratings.

GameTrailers

GameTrailers

GameTrailers (GT) was an American video gaming website created by Geoffrey R. Grotz and Brandon Jones in 2002. The website specialized in multimedia content, including trailers and gameplay footage of upcoming and recently released video games, as well as an array of original video content focusing on video games, including reviews, countdown shows, and other web series.

IFilm

IFilm

iFilm is a discontinued U.S.-based video-sharing website on which users could upload, share and view videos. It was founded by filmmaker Raphael Raphael in 1997. It was later acquired by iFilm.net, a popular online interactive film and media archive, originally specializing in independent films. Ifilm.net was founded in 1998 by new media entrepreneurs Roger Raderman, J. Patrick Forden, and Luke McDonough. Percepticon Corporation engineered and built the website and content publishing system. Greg Deocampo, the founding CTO, developed the core engineering team, encoding network, presentation engine, and ad serving network. Its URL is now owned by Defy Media.

Multi-channel network

Multi-channel network

A multi-channel network (MCN) is an organization that works with video platforms to offer assistance to a channel owner in areas such as "product, programming, funding, cross-promotion, partner management, digital rights management, monetization and sales, and audience development," in exchange for a percentage of the ad revenue from the channel.

Defy Media

Defy Media

Defy Media was an American digital media company that produced original online content for the 12–34 age group. Originally founded in 1996 as Alloy Online, the final company was formed in 2013 by its merger with Break Media.

Harmonix

Harmonix

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., doing business as Harmonix, is an American video game developer company based in Boston, Massachusetts. The company was established in May 1995 by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy. Harmonix is perhaps best known as being the developer of music video games series Dance Central and Rock Band, as well as being the original developer and creator of the Guitar Hero series before development moved to Neversoft and Vicarious Visions.

Music video game

Music video game

A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs. Music video games may take a variety of forms and are often grouped with puzzle games due to their common use of "rhythmically generated puzzles".

Units

Paramount International Networks

Main article: Paramount International Networks

Paramount International Networks is the sibling division of Paramount Media Networks. Its headquarters are in New York, London, Warsaw, and Buenos Aires, and manages the following brands: MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, VH1, Channel 5, Network 10, Telefe, Chilevisión, TeleColombia and Colors.

The division is split into three regional units:

Former brands include TMF and VIVA which, along with digital properties Nitrome Limited, Shockwave, Addicting Games, Atom Films and Xfire, have either since merged with other networks, were shut down, or were sold off.

MTV Entertainment Group

MTV Entertainment Group is a subsidiary of Paramount Media Networks and serves as the holdings company for MTV, Pop TV, CMT, Paramount Network, Comedy Central, TV Land, Logo TV, Smithsonian Channel, and its Studios.[49]

[53] In 2022, MTV Entertainment Group partnered up with Second Chance Studios to launch Media careers.

Premium Networks Group

Main article: Showtime Networks

Showtime Networks Inc. is a subsidiary of Paramount Media Networks that oversees the company's premium cable television channels, including its flagship service Showtime.

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Paramount International Networks

Paramount International Networks

Paramount International Networks (PIN) is the international division of Paramount Global. The division oversees the production, broadcasting and promotion of key Paramount brands outside of the United States. These brands include Paramount Network, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, BET and Colors TV, as well as CBS-branded channels, which are co-owned with AMC Networks International. PIN also owns a 30% stake in the Rainbow S.p.A. animation studio in Italy until 2023, as well as a 49% stake in an Indian joint venture with domestic partner TV18, Viacom18.

New York City

New York City

New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over 300.46 square miles (778.2 km2), New York City is the most densely populated major city in the United States and more than twice as populous as Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city. New York City is located at the southern tip of New York State. It constitutes the geographical and demographic center of both the Northeast megalopolis and the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. by both population and urban area. With over 20.1 million people in its metropolitan statistical area and 23.5 million in its combined statistical area as of 2020, New York is one of the world's most populous megacities, and over 58 million people live within 250 mi (400 km) of the city. New York City is a global cultural, financial, entertainment, and media center with a significant influence on commerce, health care and life sciences, research, technology, education, politics, tourism, dining, art, fashion, and sports. Home to the headquarters of the United Nations, New York is an important center for international diplomacy, and is sometimes described as the capital of the world.

London

London

London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for two millennia. The City of London, its ancient core and financial centre, was founded by the Romans as Londinium and retains its medieval boundaries. The City of Westminster, to the west of the City of London, has for centuries hosted the national government and parliament. Since the 19th century, the name "London" has also referred to the metropolis around this core, historically split between the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire, which since 1965 has largely comprised Greater London, which is governed by 33 local authorities and the Greater London Authority.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South America's southeastern coast. "Buenos Aires" can be translated as "fair winds" or "good airs", but the former was the meaning intended by the founders in the 16th century, by the use of the original name "Real de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre", named after the Madonna of Bonaria in Sardinia, Italy. Buenos Aires is classified as an alpha global city, according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) 2020 ranking.

MTV

MTV

MTV is a 24-hour American cable music video channel officially launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global.

Comedy Central

Comedy Central

Comedy Central is an American adult-oriented basic cable channel owned by Paramount Global through its network division's MTV Entertainment Group unit, based in Manhattan. The channel is geared towards young adults aged 18–34 and carries comedy programming in the form of both original, licensed, and syndicated series, stand-up comedy specials, and feature films. It is available to approximately 86.723 million households in the United States as of September 2018.

Network 10

Network 10

Network 10 is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five national free-to-air networks, 10's owned-and-operated stations can be found in the state capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth while affiliates extend the network to regional areas of the country.

Chilevisión

Chilevisión

Chilevisión is a Chilean free-to-air television channel. It is the third oldest Chilean television network, owned by Paramount Networks Americas, being founded by the University of Chile on November 4, 1960.

Colors TV

Colors TV

Colors TV is an Indian general entertainment broadcast network owned by Viacom18. The network's programming consists of family dramas, comedies, youth-oriented reality shows, shows on crime and television films.

Paramount Networks UK & Australia

Paramount Networks UK & Australia

Paramount Networks UK & Australia is a subsidiary of Paramount Global. The unit launched in 2020 and is based in London, United Kingdom, with a local office in Sydney, Australia.

Paramount Networks EMEAA

Paramount Networks EMEAA

Paramount Networks Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia (EMEAA) is a division of Paramount International Networks which is fully owned by Paramount Global. The unit's headquarters are in Berlin, with additional offices in Madrid, Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, Milan, Dubai, Johannesburg & Lagos, Budapest, Warsaw, Singapore, Stockholm, Tokyo, Beijing, Manila, Copenhagen, Prague, Helsinki, and Hong Kong SAR. The company was originally founded under the name MTV Networks Europe in 1987.

Paramount Networks Americas

Paramount Networks Americas

Paramount Networks Americas (PNA) (formerly MTV Networks Latin America, Viacom International Media Networks The Americas, then ViacomCBS Networks Americas) is a subsidiary of Paramount Global. PNA's operational headquarters is located in Miami, Florida.

Source: "Paramount Media Networks", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, March 22nd), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Media_Networks.

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Further Reading

Showtime (TV network)

Viacom (2005–2019)

Paramount Network

Flix (TV network)

The Movie Channel

CMT (American TV channel)

Showtime Networks

MGM+

History of Nickelodeon

Viacom (1952–2006)

Paramount Global
Notes
  1. ^ The buyout of MTV Networks by Viacom would initially end Warner's first venture into cable television until returning in 1990, when it brought in HBO and Cinemax as part of its merger with Time Inc.[10] Time Warner, as the company was now known as, would later purchase former CMC's owner, the Turner Broadcasting System, on October 10, 1996,[11] bringing in more cable networks such as TBS, TNT, TCM, Cartoon Network, CNN and HLN. Time Warner would retain Time Warner Cable until spinning off that division into a separate company in 2009;[12] that unit would eventually become part of Spectrum, a brand of Charter Communications which was launched in 2014. Time Warner was later acquired by AT&T in 2018[13] and then took on the "WarnerMedia" name. WarnerMedia would, however, spin itself off from AT&T on March 28, 2022 and later merge with Discovery, Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery; the move, which added Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, Discovery Family, Eurosport, HGTV, Travel Channel, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Magnolia Network among others to the portfolio, was officially completed on April 8, 2022.[14]
References
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  4. ^ "BUSINESS PEOPLE; A Chief Is Named By MTV Networks". The New York Times. July 19, 1985. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  5. ^ "Warner to buy out American Express; MTV to go private (page 29)" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications, Inc. August 12, 1985. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via World Radio History.
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  34. ^ Viacom and CBS Announce Content and Digital Leadership
  35. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (January 15, 2020). "ViacomCBS Shuffles Oversight of Pop TV, Bellator MMA Amid Post-Merger Restructuring (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
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