Jon Slusser Named to the Newly Created Position of Senior Vice President, Sports and Multi-Platform Programming, Spike TV

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Jon Slusser has been named to the newly created position of senior vice president, sports and multi-platform programming, Spike TV, it was announced today by Kevin Kay, president, Spike TV, to whom he will report.  

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Based in Los Angeles, Slusser will be charged with creating live, multi-platform, socially driven events with convergent opportunities for Spike TV's expanding male audience.  His focus will be on identifying sports and events that are a strategic fit for the brand. Among these will be continuing the network's position as the recognized television home of mixed martial arts.  Spike.com is currently streaming weekly Bellator Fighting Championship preliminary bouts.  Spike TV's extensive plans for airing live mixed martial arts will be announced in the near future.

Slusser will look to target non-traditional live events for Spike that will resonate with viewers.  Among these already planned for the upcoming year include extensive live multi-platform coverage of major pop culture events including E3, ComiCon and others to be announced shortly.  Spike TV's live telecast from E3 in June resulted in impressive ratings for afternoon coverage, delivering a whopping a 142% increase in Men 18-34 in the timeslot and was the most streamed event in MTV Networks' history.  

Slusser will also oversee Spike's lucrative interstitial programming including "The Playbook," "Spare Time" and various video game shows and specials.  

"Spike is committed to creating distinctive live programming that delivers viewers on a multitude of platforms including television, online, mobile, social networks, and tablets," said Kay.  "We believe Jon's entrepreneurial spirit and forward thinking leadership in multi platform programming makes him the perfect guy to identify and build emerging franchises for us."

Slusser is a proven brand builder who has left an indelible mark in every step of his career.  He previously served as senior vice president of Spike Digital Entertainment, a group which he helped create that includes Spike.com, GameTrailers.com, UltimateFighter.com and GameTrailers TV – a weekly TV show on Spike TV where he also served as executive producer.  Spike Digital Entertainment currently has an audience of over 20 million people per month and includes websites, TV shows, mobile platforms and various tablet apps.  Slusser joined MTV Networks in 2006 when the company he founded, GameTrailers.com, a video website dedicated to video games, was acquired by Viacom.

After graduating from the University of Southern California in marketing and finance, Slusser worked for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers in public relations, finance and special business projects.  In 1997, he co-founded Hornet Inc, a sports production company working with over 50 professional sports teams to create in-game entertainment programming and broadcast design.  Hornet is currently an award winning full service production and design company that works with a roster of leading artists and directors to create computer animation, motion graphics and live-action film.

Spike TV is available in 99.8 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

SOURCE Spike TV