Viacom Media Networks

Viacom Media Networks, formerly known as MTV Networks, is an American mass media division of Viacom that oversees the operations of many of its television channels and Internet brands. Its sister international division is Viacom International Media Networks.

History
The company was founded in 1984 after Warner Communications and American Express decided to divest the basic cable assets of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, renaming it as MTV Networks, Inc. Warner-Amex had originally created and owned Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1 and The Movie Channel (TMC). Viacom acquired 66% of the company in 1985 and then acquired the remaining 34% interest in 1986. The company was renamed Viacom Media Networks in 2011.

In the fall of 2012, media analysts began to report that ratings amongst some of MTV Networks' leading brands in the U.S., including MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, were experiencing falls in viewership unlike other US broadcasters.

Cable channels CMT and TV Land were moved in February 2017 from Kids and Family Group to the Global Entertainment Group under Kevin Kay joining with Spike TV.

In October 2018, Kevin Kay was announced to be leaving his position as head of the entertainment group as a reduction of its cable channel groups from five to four. 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 charge of Comedy Central plus Bellator MMA.

Entertainment Group

 * Comedy Central1
 * Paramount Network2
 * TV Land

BET Networks

 * BET
 * BET Gospel
 * BET Her
 * BET Hip-Hop
 * BET International (Europe & South Africa)
 * BET Jams
 * BET Soul
 * BET+ (Streaming service)

Music Group

 * CMT4
 * CMT Music5
 * Logo TV3
 * MTV
 * MTV2
 * MTV Classic
 * MTV Live
 * MTV Tres
 * MTVU
 * VH1

Nickelodeon Group

 * Nickelodeon6
 * Nick Jr.7
 * Noggin
 * NickMusic8
 * Nicktoons9
 * TeenNick10

Programming blocks

 * Nick at Nite (on Nickelodeon)
 * NickRewind (on TeenNick)11

Former channels

 * Nick Gas (1999–2009)
 * NickMom (2012–15)
 * VH1 Uno (2001–08)
 * NickSports (2015-18)

Internet properties
The company also owns internet properties, such as MTV News and AwesomenessTV. The company ran a virtual world system, Virtual MTV, in the late 2000s. It formerly owned Neopets, Atom Entertainment, RateMyProfessors.com, and other web properties before shutting them down or selling them to other companies in the 2000s and 2010s.

Gaming properties
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. The two subsequently collaborated on the creation of Rock Band. That year, Viacom also acquired the gaming-oriented communications platform Xfire.

In 2010, Harmonix was divested to an investment firm to become an independent studio, and Xfire was sold.

In 2011, Viacom established a new in-house studio known as 345 Games, which is dedicated primarily to developing games based on Comedy Central and MTV properties.

Viacom International Media Networks
Viacom International Media Networks is a division of Viacom International. Its headquarters are in New York, London, Warsaw and Buenos Aires. It consists of MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Colors.

The Viacom International Media Networks network consists of:


 * Viacom International Media Networks Europe
 * Viacom International Media Networks Northern Europe
 * Viacom International Media Networks Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa
 * Viacom International Media Networks Asia
 * Viacom 18
 * Viacom International Media Networks The Americas

Former brands include TMF, VIVA and Game One along with digital properties Nitrome Limited, Shockwave, Addicting Games, Atom Films and Xfire have all been merged into other Viacom Media Networks, shut down or since been sold off.