Tom Ascheim takes on the newly created position of evp/gm, Nickelodeon Digital Television, overseeing all four of Nick's premiere digital television channels, which include Noggin, The N, Nickelodeon Games and Sports (GAS) and Nicktoons, as well as Nickelodeon Video on Demand (VOD) offerings.
"Tom has the heart of a Nickelodeon veteran and the expertise of a successful entrepreneur which is exactly the combination we need as brand leaders to follow kids into the digital age," said Cyma Zarghami, president, Nickelodeon Television, to whom Ascheim reports. "The combination of Nick and the digital services allows us to offer broad entertainment on Nick and some very targeted and specialized product on the other services. The newly united digital group led by Tom is a forceful team of talent that makes the future exciting for our brand and our business."
Nick GAS gm Mark Offitzer and Nicktoons gm Keith Dawkins will report to Ascheim.
Since 1999, Ascheim has been responsible for running the day-to-day operation of Noggin and The N, including on-air programming, online content, scheduling and marketing. He was Nickelodeon's vp of business development, publishing and multimedia, from 1997 to 1999. A 13-year veteran of Nickelodeon and Viacom, Ascheim joined Nickelodeon as its first business development exec in 1990. He was named vp, entertainment products for the company's consumer products group in 1993, and in 1994, he was vp, development and business development for Viacom New Media.
Noggin (www.noggin.com) is the commercial-free, educational digital network for preschoolers, now available in 38 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite television during the day. The N (www.the-n.com) is the nighttime network for teens, also available in 38 million households. Nickelodeon GAS is the first and only digital network dedicated to the games and sports kids love, and is available in 17 million homes. Nicktoons (www.nick.com) which has 13 million subscribers, is the home for kid TV's popular animated hits including RUGRATS, AHHH! REAL MONSTERS, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS and AS TOLD BY GINGER.
