TWO GUYS FROM MTV
On Parallel Career Paths
Last week, AOLTW announced that Pittman would divide the operating units of the new company with Time Warner President Richard D. Parsons as one of two Co-Chief Operating Officers for the new company under Chairman Stephen Case and CEO gerald levin',390,400);">gerald levin',390,400);">Gerald Levin. Pittman will oversee all subscription or advertising-based businesses, including AOL, the Time Inc. magazine unit, Time Warner Cable, Turner Broadcasting, HBO and the WB TV network, while Parsons will get the "content"-oriented business units such as Warner Music Group, Warner Trade Publishing and the Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema movie studios.
Interestingly, Pittman, with his music industry experience, which includes stints as a PD at WNBC N.Y. and head of his own Quantum Media label, was not given control over the Music Group. Which begs the question, wassup wit dat?
Meanwhile, his old pal Freston, who used to head MTV marketing under Pittman before rising to Chairman/CEO of the company, has been given the combined cable operations in the wake of the Viacom-CBS merger. Freston will now assume leadership of CBS Cable's The Nashville Network (TNN) and Country Music Television (CMT) under the mantle of MTV Networks.
Somewhere in this great nation of ours, ex-MTV VJs Alan Hunter and Nina Blackwood heave a sigh of hope.
