Viacom's MTV Networks to Introduce Next-Generation, Year-Long Marketing Solutions Event Series

Viacom's MTV Networks to Introduce Next-Generation, Year-Long Marketing Solutions Event Series

Model of Multiple, Nationwide Events Designed to Increase Marketers' Insights, Interaction with MTVN's Multiplatform Brands, Consumer Research and Creative Solutions

NEW YORK, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MTV Networks (MTVN), a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), today announced its new presentation model for the Upfront and the 2007 selling season, a series of interactive ad sales events held throughout the year that reflect the marketplace's continued evolution to a year-round selling model. Rolling out in four phases across the calendar year, the events will offer marketers news on programming initiatives, targeted forums for consumer research, creative solutions and strategic ideas on changes in consumer trends and behavior. The event series will feature: MTVN roadshows and individual client meetings in the spring, previewing new programming content and initiatives across all platforms from the company's leading brands; MTVN "Digi-Tour" events also in the spring, offering clients total immersion in the multiplatform experiences the company creates across its brands; three demo-specific summits in the early fall, each focusing on consumer research and trends; and a strategy summit in the fall held exclusively for chief marketing officers.

"Launching this next-generation model is a strategic shift in how we work with our marketing partners to show vital research and insight into our shared consumers," said Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO, MTVN. "This new model will allow us to better share how our fans interact with our content across platforms, enabling our marketing partners to get closer to our brands, to our content, to our audiences in ways that are customized to meet their needs."

"We believe this new model will enable deeper learning and a higher level of attention to customized marketing solutions," said Hank Close, President, U.S. Advertising Sales, MTVN. "It's a 52-week-a-year idea marketplace, and we get that. We've listened to our clients and are creating a new environment for solution sharing. We look forward to engaging with our agencies and clients in a new, more productive way."

The four phases of the event series rolling out this year include:

Brand Roadshows and Client Meetings:

The event series will kick off this spring with roadshow presentations for the company's brands, including MTV, VH1, CMT, and TV Land, and individual client meetings held by COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, and CMT. Each event will preview upcoming marketing and programming initiatives for all platforms, while inviting marketers to explore new ways to reach the company's targeted audiences on every available screen.

Nickelodeon, the number-one kids' brand for 12 years running, has already launched its series of roadshows presentation that share the brand's extensive consumer research on kids and families. Nickelodeon will also hold its own Upfront Kids and Family event on March 8th in New York City. MTV hits the road in March with a presentation taking partners into its long-standing connection with its highly targeted audience of young adults.

The TV Land presentation on March 23rd in New York, NY, will highlight that brand's ever-expanding reach with the sizeable Baby Boomer audience through its original and acquired programming. VH1's roadshow will be modeled after its popular "Best Week Ever" program, and is designed to help clients develop customized marketing solutions.

MTVN Digi-Tours:

Also in the spring, MTVN will hold Digi-Tours, a week-long series of events offering clients total immersion in the multiplatform experiences the company creates across its brands. The Digi-Tours events will include content and technology demonstrations with small groups of clients and agencies.

Demo Summits:

In early fall, MTVN will produce three demo-specific research summits providing deep dives into current consumer behaviors and attitudes across the targeted demos MTVN serves across its multiplatform portfolio.

These interactive events will give clients access to the proprietary research MTVN continually conducts, focusing specifically on:

* Young Adults, whom the company connects to through the MTV brands (MTV,
MTV2, MTV Tres, mtvU), The N and Quizilla;
* Kids and Family, which the company reaches through brands including
Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Noggin, AddictingGames.com, Shockwave, Neopets
and ParentsConnect;
* Men/Adults, where MTVN is building increased scale through properties
including CMT, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Xfire,
AddictingClips.com, Atom Films and GameTrailers.com.

Chief Marketing Officer Summit:

The company's year-long ad sales event series will culminate in the fall with a summit held exclusively for chief marketing officers. The event will bring MTVN's top clients together to discuss strategic models for collaboration, major consumer trends, and the future of marketing and advertising.

MTV Networks continues to build the premier portfolio of targeted global entertainment communities, with brands engage, empower and connect diverse audiences through culturally relevant creative content and unique experiences across every platform. With 135 channels and more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, the company continues to connect with highly targeted audiences across multiple platforms. MTV is the World's Most Valuable Pure Media Brand for the 7th year in a row, according to the Interbrand/Business Week 2006 survey, "The World's Most Valuable Brands." Nickelodeon has remained the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than 12 years. COMEDY CENTRAL is the number-one-rated basic cable network in primetime among men ages 18-24 for the third straight year.

MTVN currently has 32 broadband sites and 142 websites in live deployment globally. The company is the world's leading producer of mobile video content, publishing more than 600 clips and 30 hours of video per month in the United States alone, across all major carriers and leading MVNOs. MTVN also has made its content readily available for download to own through deals with AOL, Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft's Xbox 360. From the combination of MTVN's own web sites and its acquired businesses, the company registered more than 40 million unique users in December 2006, and ranked as the number-one online entertainment destination and the 10th most popular overall destination on the Web (comScore Media Metrix December 2006, U.S. only).

About MTV Networks and Viacom

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 135 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics. Engaging its audiences through television, motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom reaches its audiences wherever they consume content. Viacom's leading brands include the multiplatform properties of MTV Networks, including MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, CMT: Country Music Television, Spike TV, TV Land, Logo and more than 135 networks around the world, as well as digital assets such as Neopets, Xfire and Atom Entertainment; BET Networks; Paramount Pictures; Paramount Home Entertainment; DreamWorks; and Famous Music. More information about Viacom and its businesses is available at http://www.viacom.com/.

Source: MTV Networks

CONTACT: Lauren Hurvitz, +1-212-846-8036, lauren.hurvitz@mtvstaff.com,
or David Bittler, +1-212-846-5263, david.bittler@mtvstaff.com, both of MTV
Networks

Web site: http://www.mtv.com/
http://www.viacom.com/

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