​Viacom consolidated its cable channels into two new groups Thursday as the company repositions its channel brands to better fight an industry-wide drop in cable ratings.

Two company executives—Doug Herzog and Cyma Zarghami—will split the channels that were once headed by veteran MTV Networks boss Van Toffler, who is stepping down in mid-April.

Under the new structure, Herzog will sit atop the new Viacom Music and Entertainment Group, and add MTV, MTV2 and VH1 to his portfolio. Comedy Central, Spike, Logo, and the related digital properties will also continue to sit under Herzog.

Zarghami, a 30-year Nickelodeon vet, will head a kids and family group that adds TV Land, CMT, and CMT Pure Country to the various Nick properties.

“Our industry is in transition, and change does not always come easy, but we have a tremendous amount of talent at Viacom, and we are innovating at every level and at every brand,” wrote Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman on Thursday. “We are working hard to adapt to changing audience behavior, to incorporate new forms of distribution and to better integrate technology into everything we do.”

Herzog and Zarghami will now report directly to Dauman, whose other direct reports include BET Networks head Debra Lee, Paramount Pictures Chairman Brad Grey, and Viacom International Media Networks boss Bob Bakish.

Read More: Variety

Brief Take: With cable ratings down across the board, Viacom is seeking ways to better position its brands in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

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