Restructured MTV announces more changes, best-ever ratings
Troubled media brand MTV has announced changes to its programming, talent and content teams following a major restructure.
The company has brought in Drew Michel as manager of programming from Max/XYZ Networks and Steph Withey has been promoted to executive producer.
Paola Cracknell – a freelancer for MTV since November 2010 – has been appointed senior manager, talent and artist relations, following the exit of her predecessor.
At the end of last year, MTV made 13 redundancies as part of a major restructure of its Australian and New Zealand operations. The departures have been staggered, with some outgoing staff yet to leave the company.
In a statement, Rebecca Batties, GM of Music Brands and Comedy Central, said: “I’ve constructed an ideal team full of expertise and innovation to further drive our local programming initiatives and capitalise upon both global and local content with today’s millennial audiences.”
MTV announced its summer programming line-up in November, and overseas-made shows have delivered best-ever ratings for the network, with audience growth of 15% year on year.
US-made Jersey Shore became the most watched series in MTV’s history in Australia, and Teen Mom, Awkward, 16 & Pregnant and UK-produced Geordie Shore each set timeslot records for the channel.
Web traffic to MTV.com.au – which merged with MTV.co.nz last year – has also increased, with page views for the telecast of 2011 MTV EMA up 105% year on year.
“Our performance in 2011 tells us that audiences in Australia and New Zealand are connecting more and more with MTV’s content, and they are doing so in record numbers across all screens,” added Batties.
“This sets the bar even higher for us in 2012, and I’m confident that with what’s in the international content pipeline and with new leadership in the talent, programming and content teams, we are well poised to connect with even more Aussie and Kiwi young people on MTV’s screens.”
You sure give a lot of inches to a company that basically does nothing except sell advertising in this market.. No promos, No Content, No real Programming.
Actually I stand corrected, obviously they still have some publicity too who are feeding you the “This sets the bar even higher for us in 2012” lines.
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