Cyma Zarghami, who has been instrumental in making Nickelodeon the highest-rated basic cable network in total day ratings for more than eight straight years, has been promoted to the newly created position of President, Nickelodeon Television. In her new role, Zarghami will oversee all of Nickelodeon's television businesses, adding the digital channel Noggin/The N, which is now in 40 million homes, to her responsibilities, while continuing to oversee Nickelodeon Games & Sports (GAS) and Nicktoons.
Formerly evp/gm of the network since 1996, Zarghami will continue to oversee all program production and development for Nick's television businesses, as well as marketing, programming and creative. She continues to report to Herb Scannell, MTVN Group president, and president, Nickelodeon Networks.
"Cyma Zarghami is a tremendous leader and strategist who literally grew up at Nickelodeon, and has exhibited her prowess as a programmer time and time again as proven by the channel's ratings performance," Scannell said. "She embodies the heart and soul of Nickelodeon and always finds a way to know what kids want before anyone else does. In her new role, she will add oversight of our digital channels, ensuring that the Nick brand will be wherever kids are as new generations come of age."
A kids programming veteran, Zarghami has managed a continuous string of hits at Nickelodeon, including taking SPONGEBOB SQUAREPARTS to new heights, making THE FARILY ODDPARENTS Nick's newest hit, and building DORA THE EXPLORER into the number-one preschool program in commercial television. Zarghami reinvigorated Nickelodeon's storied RUGRATS franchise by launching its spin-off series ALL GROWN UP to the highest ratings in the networks history. Zarghami has also introduced many of Nick's key signature programming concepts and achievements, including the extension of programming dayparts to kids when broadcast networks are not serving them and breakthrough packaging concepts.
Zarghami began her career with Nickelodeon 17 years ago, rising through the ranks to play an instrumental role in the company's marketing partnerships, initiatives and growth, including the launch of Nickelodeon U.K. in 1993 and Nick at Nite's TV Land in 1996. Named gm of Nickelodeon in 1996, she helped launch all of Nickelodeon's major dayparts, including television's premier preschool block, Nick Jr., SNICK (Saturday Night Nickelodeon) and TEENick.
Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 86 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than eight consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
