MTV pledges stronger online offering

Singapore - In line with recent strategic moves, MTV Networks (MTVN) will further beef up its online offering and has announced a development slate of twenty-four targeted websites bringing its global website portfolio to more than 300 sites by year's end.

The websites originate from the network's stable of brands including Comedy Central's TheDailyShow.com, MTV's Dances From Tha' ‘Hood, Nickelodeon's iCarly.com, VH1's VH1EyeCandy.com, GameTrailers.com's WikiCheats.com, Logo's Alien Boot Camp and MTVN International's MTV European Music Awards as well as Comedy Central Germany's Comedy Blackboard, amongst others.

"Our targeted sites provide rich environments that connect like-minded fans to one another, which ultimately strengthens their connections to our brands, and enhances the value proposition for our advertisers. Our strategy is to keep moving beyond our core branded sites to invite fans to go as deep as they'd like with our content, and the interests they're most passionate about," Judy McGrath, chairman and CEO for MTVN said.

The news follows the company's announcement last month saying they would commit more than US$500 million (S$762 million) over the next two years for the development and distribution of its gaming business across its global portfolio. MTVN says it will focus on developing three primary gaming experiences, including online and mobile casual games that appeal to kids, young adults and women; games media and editorial content for the hardcore gamers among its young adult and adult male audiences; and console and handheld games that serve kids, young adults and men.

In local news, MTV Asia has hired Yvonne Tey as director of marketing partnership / client services based in Singapore - she joins 24 September from current company, MSN Asia where she is marketing manager. Tey's appointment is seen as a replacement for Magdalene Ew, who in June left to become country marketing manager for Nike Singapore. Ew has subsequently left Nike Singapore and joined Singapore F1 race promoters, Singapore GP as marketing director.