Mika Salmi To The Rescue At MTV As New President, Global Digital Media

Authored by Jay Baage on November 1, 2006 - 11:30am.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, today announced that Mika Salmi has been named President of Global Digital Media for MTVN. In this newly created position, Salmi will work across MTVN's growing portfolio of multiplatform brands like MTV and Comedy Central. Salmi will be the key executive responsible for developing and implementing the company's digital strategies in music, games, entertainment, networking and interactivity for its communities of targeted audiences.

Salmi, who will be a key note speaker at our LA Games Conference in LA next week, was formerly CEO of Atom Entertainment, the company he founded and which was acquired by MTVN in August. In Salmi's new position at MTVN,he will report directly to Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO, and will become a member of her senior strategy team. Basically, Salmi will be Viacom's answer to Fox Interactive Media President Ross Levinsohn and CBS's Digital Media President Larry Kramer.

"Mika is a digital media veteran, and he is recognized for building innovative video and gaming assets online. He understands what it takes to create that addictive, immersive online experience, and at the same time, build a valuable brand," said McGrath in a comment.

"I am incredibly pleased to have his talent and leadership experience on board to lead our digital media transformation, worldwide. With Mika's guidance, our digital teams will continue the momentum we have today, to extend our brands across every platform while creating new business, and next generation applications across every device that engages our community. And he brings that upbeat entrepreneurial spirit that is a hallmark of the digital age."

MTV Networks, with more than 130 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, TV Land, Spike TV, CMT, Noggin, VH1 Classic, LOGO, MTVN International and The Digital Suite, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. Success in the digital realm is crucial for MTVN and Viacom, highlighted by Sumner Redstone outing New Viacom CEO Tom Freston this summer, reportedly for not going after after these opportunities aggressivly enough (read our analysis here and here)

Salmi will in his new position be responsible for accelerating MTVN's multiplatform strategy as well as growing the network's appeal to young adult consumers through global acquisitions activity and community and gaming assets.

"MTV Networks is an amazing global entertainment community reaching targeted audiences through all of its TV, online and mobile brands," said Salmi in a comment. "What MTVN calls its 'maniacal consumer focus' will be the driving engine for our Global Digital Media strategy. We will engage consumers with an industry-leading digital experience through interactivity and community in all media including video, music and games."

Salmi founded Atom Entertainment in 1998 with its first brand AtomFilms, after recognizing early on that the emergence of new digital technologies would forever change the production and distribution of entertainment. AtomFilms merged with Shockwave.com in early 2001 to form Atom Entertainment, Inc. Today, the company's consumer services (Shockwave.com, AtomFilms, AddictingClips and AddictingGames) comprise a portfolio of popular online destinations for games, short films and video audiences on the Internet.

Pressrelease - PR Newswire.