VH1 Elevates Michael Hirschorn to Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Production

VH1 Elevates Michael Hirschorn to Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Production

NEW YORK, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- An unprecedented string of hit series powered VH1 to its 14th consecutive quarter of total viewer growth and its highest rated year ever. On the heels of these accomplishments, VH1 has promoted Michael Hirschorn to Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Production it was announced today by Brian Graden, President, Entertainment, MTV Music Networks Group and President of Logo.

In his new role, Hirschorn oversees all current VH1 original programming and development for both the East and West coasts as well as music development and celebrity talent development. He is also driving the network's foray into scripted series including the upcoming "So Notorious" with Tori Spelling. He continues to report to Graden.

"Michael has spent a significant part of his life around music, including stints as editor-in-chief of Spin magazine and overseeing the music industry coverage on Inside.com. Because he understands the passion, energy and meaning 'behind the music,' Michael is the right person to move VH1's development forward," said Graden. "Michael not only has amazing taste, but he is an extraordinary editor. He's relentlessly drawn toward new ideas, and quite simply, ideas get better in his hands."

Hirschorn will continue to oversee series developed under his watch such as "I Love The...," "Hogan Knows Best," "But Can They Sing," "Celebrity Fit Club," "Best Week Ever," "My Fair Brady," "The Fabulous Life" in addition to such VH1 original series "The Surreal Life," "Being Bonaduce," and the "All Access" and the "100 Greatest" franchises and documentaries including a slate being created under the new "Rock Docs" banner.

Hirschorn came to VH1 in July 2001 from his position as editor-in-chief of Inside.com, a digital news service that covered the converging entertainment, media, and technology businesses. Prior to Inside's merger with Brill Media Holdings and Primedia, he was also co-chairman and co-founder of Inside's parent company, Powerful Media.

Previously, Hirschorn was features editor at Esquire (1990-94) and executive editor at New York Magazine (1994-97) before becoming editor-in- chief of Spin magazine (1997-99), which subsequently received two National Magazine Award nominations. Hirschorn has written for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New Republic and Slate, and was also a columnist for Esquire.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in nearly 87 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH Uno, VH1 Mega Hits and VH1 Country. Connect with VH1 at www.VH1.com.

VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

Contact: Brett Henne/VH1 Scott Acord/VH1
212/846-6752 310/752-8075
Brett.Henne@vh1staff.comScott.Acord@vh1staff.com

Source: VH1

CONTACT: Brett Henne of VH1, +1-212-846-6752, or
Brett.Henne@vh1staff.com, or Scott Acord of VH1, +1-310-752-8075, or
Scott.Acord@vh1staff.com

Web site: http://www.vh1.com/

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