Launch Of VH1 Latin America Marks Next Phase Of Growth For MTV Networks Latin America Across The Region

    LAS VEGAS (NATPE), MIAMI, and MEXICO CITY, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- On the
 heels of MTV Latin America's 10th anniversary and a solid year of performance
 for MTV and Nickelodeon Latin America, MTV Networks Latin America today
 announces a multi-level business expansion plan that extends the MTV Networks
 brands throughout Latin America.
     These new ventures include: the launch of VH1 Latin America; the launch of
 the MTVN Digital Suite for Mexico; and a greater partnership with
 International Program Enterprises (IPE), the company's Program Sales and
 Consumer Products division.  This holistic approach to the region marks the
 beginning of an aggressive, long-term business plan for MTVN Latin America
 making it uniquely positioned to respond to its consumers and the market as it
 evolves.
     "MTV Networks is known for the power of its brands and their unmatched
 ability to resonate with viewers," commented Antoinette Zel, President, MTV
 Networks Latin America.  "As pay TV continues to grow, VH1 Latin America will
 fill a void for adult, music-based programming and as the industry transitions
 from analog to digital, our Digital Suite will similarly offer new, segmented
 content never before available to viewers.  These new services and increased
 partnership across our channel, program syndication and consumer product
 businesses better positions us to give maximum value to consumers and
 clients," added Zel.
     Kathleen Hricik, EVP, International Program Enterprises, MTV Networks
 International noted, "Working in a cohesive way with our local channels adds a
 unique value to our ancillary businesses.  It enhances our ability to super-
 serve our local clients with relevance and efficiency, by complementing our
 centralized expertise in NY with in-market expertise, on-the-ground marketing
 teams and a dedicated local infrastructure committed to exploiting our brands
 synergistically."
 
     VH1 Latin America
     In 2004, VH1 Latin America will join MTV and Nickelodeon Latin America
 targeting 25-49 year olds.  The Spanish-language channel will be tailored for
 the market and feature a mix of music and entertainment with local and
 international-recording artists, as well as original programming.
     VH1 Latin America will launch in the 2nd quarter of 2004 with its initial
 distribution in Mexico via pay TV.  The network will also be made available
 throughout Latin America with additional distribution to be announced.
 Further details about the channel and its programming line-up will be
 announced in the coming months.
 
     MTV Networks Digital Suite
     In addition to VH1 Latin America, MTV Networks Latin America enters the
 digital age in Mexico with the MTV Networks Digital Suite.  The U.S.-based
 service is comprised of five channels -- MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH1 Soul, VH1
 Mega Hits and Nickelodeon's GAS -- and will be carried at first in Mexico with
 initial carriage through Cablevision on its digital tier.  Additional
 distribution will be announced shortly.
     "Bringing our digital services to Mexico is a great way for us to support
 the cable industry's growth as it transitions from analog to digital,"
 remarked Pierluigi Gazzolo, SVP Distribution, MTVN Latin America.  "Not only
 will these channels provide viewers with a variety of music genres to enjoy,
 it will give Mexican viewers a unique window to U.S. entertainment which we
 know is of great interest to them."
 
     Program Sales
     In support of the company's already strong ancillary business of program
 sales, MTV Networks Latin America will be collaborating on a more strategic
 and operational level with NY's International Program Enterprises (IPE)
 division for the program sales of the company's original productions to
 broadcasters in the region.  These sales include programming for MTV, VH1,
 Nickelodeon, Spike TV and Comedy Central.
     This development includes the appointment of Pierluigi Gazzolo, SVP
 Distribution, MTVN Latin America as the liaison executive for the newly
 collaborative relationship between MTVN Latin America and IPE and the
 promotion of Adeline Delgado to the position of VP Program Sales.  Based in
 Miami, Delgado will have a dual report into Debbie Back, SVP International
 Sales and Co-Productions, IPE in NY and to Gazzolo in Miami.
     MTVN International has a thriving program sales business in Latin America
 which also includes Nickelodeon branded blocks on major terrestrial
 broadcasters.  Current broadcast partners include Televisa in Mexico, Globo in
 Brazil and Megavision in Chile.
     Previously, Delgado was Sr. Director Distribution, MTVN Latin America.
 She joined the company in 1995 and handled both program sales for MTV and VH1
 and affiliate sales for MTV and Nick.  "Adeline is the perfect fit -- she has
 a long history with the company as a savvy negotiator and sales person and in
 fact returns to her program sales roots in this new position," commented
 Gazzolo.
     In addition, Gazzolo will continue to oversee New Media with a focus on
 developing new vehicles to expand our brands horizontally via wireless, ITV,
 broadband and online.
 
     Licensing & Merchandising
     In a move to accelerate the expansion of licensing and merchandising
 activities for MTV Networks' brands in Latin America, a Consumer Products
 office for Latin America is being created to support NY and Miami
 headquarters.  An appointment to the newly created position, VP Consumer
 Products Latin America, will be announced shortly.
     "Having recently launched a similarly structured Consumer Products Europe
 office in March 2003 with positive results, we believe that increased
 participation of our regional channel operations is a natural evolution for
 our overall franchise management structure and essential to growing our
 business globally," commented noted Hricik,
     Nickelodeon franchises, "Dora The Explorer" and "SpongeBob SquarePants"
 have enjoyed recent success in Latin America.  "SpongeBob" was named Globo's
 Toon of the Year in Brazil and retail partners for the properties include
 Office Max, Wal-Mart and VIP Restaurants. Since its debut on Nickelodeon's US
 channel in 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has been distributed to more than 135
 countries around the world and is one of the hottest licenses in the
 marketplace today, generating more than $800 million in retail sales in the US
 alone.
     MTV Networks Latin America, Inc., a unit of Viacom International, Inc.
 owns and operates MTV Latin America, Nickelodeon Latin America, Nickelodeon
 Brazil, VH1 Latin America and The MTVN Digital Suite in Mexico, which have
 regional operations in Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Sao Paulo (for
 Nickelodeon only) and operating headquarters in Miami.
    MTV Network's IPE group is responsible for all international program sales
 which includes syndication, formats, co-productions/acquisitions and consumer
 products for MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.  IPE currently has
 combined sales of Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1 and Comedy Central programming in 143
 countries.
 
 

SOURCE  MTV Networks Latin America