Mika Salmi has been named to the newly created position president of global digital media for MTVN. Salmi will work across MTVN's growing portfolio of multiplatform brands to further develop and implement the company's strategy of building an engaging universe of music, games, entertainment, networking and interactivity for its communities of targeted audiences. Salmi was ceo of Atom Ent., the company he founded and was acquired by MTVN in August 2006.
"Mika is a digital media veteran, and he is recognized for building innovative video and gaming assets online. He understands what it takes to create that addictive, immersive online experience, and at the same time, build a valuable brand," said Judy McGrath, chairman/ceo, MTVN, to whom he reports. "I am incredibly pleased to have his talent and leadership experience on board to lead our digital media transformation, worldwide. With Mika's guidance, our digital teams will continue the momentum we have today, to extend our brands across every platform while creating new business, and next generation applications across every device that engages our community. And he brings that upbeat entrepreneurial spirit that is a hallmark of the digital age."
MTV Networks has made strong moves in serving young adult consumers through its global acquisitions activity and community and gaming assets, with NeoPets; GameTrailers; Xfire; Y2M, the largest network of online U.S. college newspapers; user-generated content and networking through IFILM, MTV Flux, The Click from The N, MTV's Virtual Laguna Beach, Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect; and original broadband and wireless content across all the brands.
Recognizing its global audiences' expanding interests, MTVN has acquired a significant number of relevant businesses. Most recently, the company announced its acquisitions of Quizilla, an online teen community site, and Harmonix Music Systems, a leader in music-oriented videogames.
MTVN currently has 30 broadband sites and is the leading mobile video content producer in the world. The company also has made its content readily available for download to own through deals with AOL, Amazon, Apple and Google. Combining MTVN's own websites and its acquired businesses, the company registered close to 35 million unique users in Sept. 2006, and ranked as the number-one online entertainment destination and the 10th most popular overall destination on the Web (comScore Media Metrix Sept. 2006, U.S. only).
Salmi founded Atom Ent. in 1998 with its first brand, AtomFilms. After establishing itself as a leading next-generation entertainment company, AtomFilms merged with Shockwave.com in early 2001 to form Atom Ent. Today, the company's consumer services (Shockwave.com, AtomFilms, AddictingClips and AddictingGames) comprise a portfolio of leading online destinations for games, short films and video audiences on the Internet.
Prior to Atom Ent., Salmi led business development for the media and entertainment industries at RealNetworks. He also spent eight years in the music business, working for TVT Records, Sony Music and EMI Music, where he discovered bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Presidents of the United States of America.
MTV Networks (www.mtv.com), a unit of Viacom, is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 130 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, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of digital services. MTV Networks connects with audiences through robust consumer products businesses and more than 100 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services, and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures and syndication deals, whereby its programming services can be seen worldwide.
