Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Feb 1, 2017 12:56:33 GMT -6
deadline.com/2017/02/viacom-ceo-bob-bakish-moves-cmt-tv-land-global-entertainment-group-1201899929/
Viacom Chief Moves CMT And TV Land To Global Entertainment Group
Viacom CEO Bob Bakish just followed through on the plan outlined in October to move CMT and TV Land to the Kevin Kay-led Global Entertainment Group, which also includes Spike.
The change “will strengthen these brands even further and will allow GEG to connect more deeply with our adult audience — which is well over 180 million viewers across Viacom brands globally,” Bakish says today in a memo to staffers.
The channels had been part of the Kids & Family Group, where Bakish says Cyma Zarghami helped to lead them “to the highs they are hitting today.”
But now he wants her “considerable focus and drive…centered on our important kids audience” in order to “keep Nickelodeon expanding its brand and business more than ever.”
The news comes just ahead of Viacom’s quarterly earnings report, due on February 9.
Here’s Bakish’s full memo:
Team –
I wanted to let you know that we have formalized CMT and TV Land’s move to the Global Entertainment Group, where they and Spike will now report to Kevin Kay. Consolidating all three under Kevin’s leadership will strengthen these brands even further and will allow GEG to connect more deeply with our adult audience — which is well over 180 million viewers across Viacom brands globally.
Kevin has a long-running track record of developing some of Viacom’s biggest franchises, including SpongeBob and Fairly OddParents during his tenure at Nickelodeon. Under Kevin’s leadership, Spike has grown and evolved into a premium entertainment destination for a gender-balanced audience. He is the driving force behind hit global, multiplatform formats such as the Emmy-nominated Lip Sync Battle, Ink Master, and Bar Rescue, which rank among the highest-rated cable series in their respective timeslots. He is also responsible for bringing live sports into the house, with the acquisition of Bellator MMA, one of the world’s fastest rising sports properties, now seen over 140 countries worldwide.
I’m looking forward to seeing Kevin bring that same creative vision to the strong teams and leadership he’s inheriting with CMT and TV Land. Brian Philips has ably led CMT’s recent brand transformation to incredible ratings gains and creative wins, particularly with the network’s current hit, Nashville; and, at TV Land, Keith Cox has built a pipeline of buzzworthy content where hits like Younger and Teachers are just the beginning.
As the head of the Kids & Family Group, Cyma Zarghami championed CMT and TV Land and was instrumental in leading them to the highs they are hitting today. Having her considerable focus and drive now centered on our important kids audience will keep Nickelodeon expanding its brand and business more than ever.
Further specifics on the TV Land and CMT transition to Kevin’s world will be coming shortly from brand and team leadership. In the meantime, thank you to everyone across the company for your incredible work every day.
Best,
Bob
Viacom Chief Moves CMT And TV Land To Global Entertainment Group
Viacom CEO Bob Bakish just followed through on the plan outlined in October to move CMT and TV Land to the Kevin Kay-led Global Entertainment Group, which also includes Spike.
The change “will strengthen these brands even further and will allow GEG to connect more deeply with our adult audience — which is well over 180 million viewers across Viacom brands globally,” Bakish says today in a memo to staffers.
The channels had been part of the Kids & Family Group, where Bakish says Cyma Zarghami helped to lead them “to the highs they are hitting today.”
But now he wants her “considerable focus and drive…centered on our important kids audience” in order to “keep Nickelodeon expanding its brand and business more than ever.”
The news comes just ahead of Viacom’s quarterly earnings report, due on February 9.
Here’s Bakish’s full memo:
Team –
I wanted to let you know that we have formalized CMT and TV Land’s move to the Global Entertainment Group, where they and Spike will now report to Kevin Kay. Consolidating all three under Kevin’s leadership will strengthen these brands even further and will allow GEG to connect more deeply with our adult audience — which is well over 180 million viewers across Viacom brands globally.
Kevin has a long-running track record of developing some of Viacom’s biggest franchises, including SpongeBob and Fairly OddParents during his tenure at Nickelodeon. Under Kevin’s leadership, Spike has grown and evolved into a premium entertainment destination for a gender-balanced audience. He is the driving force behind hit global, multiplatform formats such as the Emmy-nominated Lip Sync Battle, Ink Master, and Bar Rescue, which rank among the highest-rated cable series in their respective timeslots. He is also responsible for bringing live sports into the house, with the acquisition of Bellator MMA, one of the world’s fastest rising sports properties, now seen over 140 countries worldwide.
I’m looking forward to seeing Kevin bring that same creative vision to the strong teams and leadership he’s inheriting with CMT and TV Land. Brian Philips has ably led CMT’s recent brand transformation to incredible ratings gains and creative wins, particularly with the network’s current hit, Nashville; and, at TV Land, Keith Cox has built a pipeline of buzzworthy content where hits like Younger and Teachers are just the beginning.
As the head of the Kids & Family Group, Cyma Zarghami championed CMT and TV Land and was instrumental in leading them to the highs they are hitting today. Having her considerable focus and drive now centered on our important kids audience will keep Nickelodeon expanding its brand and business more than ever.
Further specifics on the TV Land and CMT transition to Kevin’s world will be coming shortly from brand and team leadership. In the meantime, thank you to everyone across the company for your incredible work every day.
Best,
Bob