Viacom Media Networks

Viacom Media Networks, formerly known as MTV Networks, is an American mass media division of Viacom that oversees the operations of many of its television channels and Internet brands. Its sister international division is Viacom International Media Networks.

The company was founded in 1984 after Warner Communications and American Express decided to divest the basic cable assets of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, renaming it as MTV Networks, Inc. Warner-Amex had originally created and owned Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1 and The Movie Channel (TMC). Viacom acquired 66% of the company in 1985 and then acquired the remaining 34% interest in 1986. The company was renamed Viacom Media Networks in 2011.

Entertainment Group

 * Comedy Central7
 * Paramount Network13
 * TV Land

BET Networks

 * BET
 * BET Gospel
 * BET Her
 * BET Hip-Hop
 * BET International (Europe & South Africa)
 * BET Jams
 * BET Soul

Music Group

 * MTV
 * MTV2
 * MTV Classic
 * MTV Live
 * MTVU
 * MTV Tres
 * Logo TV4
 * CMT2
 * CMT Music3
 * VH1

Nickelodeon Group

 * Nickelodeon1 9
 * Nick Jr.5
 * NickMusic10
 * Nicktoons8
 * TeenNick6

Programming blocks

 * Nick at Nite (on Nickelodeon)
 * NickSplat (on TeenNick)11

Former channels

 * Nick Gas (1999–2009)
 * NickMom (2012–15)
 * VH1 Uno (2001–08)
 * NickSports (2015-18)

Internet properties
The company also owns internet properties, such as MTV News and AwesomenessTV. The company ran a virtual world system, Virtual MTV, in the late 2000s. It formerly owned Neopets, Atom Entertainment, RateMyProfessors.com, and other web properties before shutting them down or selling them to other companies in the 2000s and 2010s.

Gaming properties
In 2006, Viacom acquired Harmonix, a video game studio oriented towards music video games and the original developer of the Guitar Hero franchise, for $175 million. The two subsequently collaborated on the creation of Rock Band. That year, Viacom also acquired the gaming-oriented communications platform Xfire.

In 2010, Harmonix was divested to an investment firm to become an independent studio, and Xfire was sold.

In 2011, Viacom established a new in-house studio known as 345 Games, which is dedicated primarily to developing games based on Comedy Central and MTV properties.

Viacom International Media Networks
Viacom International Media Networks is a division of Viacom International. Its headquarters are in New York, London, Warsaw and Buenos Aires. It consists of MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF, VIVA, Comedy Central, Game One, Nitrome Limited, Shockwave, Addicting Games, Atom Films, Colors and Xfire.

The Viacom International Media Networks network consists of:


 * Viacom International Media Networks Europe
 * Viacom International Media Networks Northern Europe
 * Viacom International Media Networks Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa
 * Viacom International Media Networks Asia
 * Viacom 18
 * Viacom International Media Networks The Americas

Viacom Media Networks rating issues
In the fall of 2012, media analysts began to report that ratings amongst some of MTV Networks' leading brands in the U.S., including MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, were experiencing falls in viewership unlike other US broadcasters.

It was reported that MTV Networks' portfolio of channels fourteen of the 16 channels in the MTV and Nickelodeon families had viewership declines in September, according to Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Todd Jeunger, citing Nielsen data. MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon were of most concern to investors. The three account for roughly 50% of Viacom's operating profit, estimated David Bank of RBC Capital Markets.