MTV SWEET ON JUDY

Longtime MTV exec Judy McGrath has been named Chairman/CEO for MTV Networks Group by Viacom Co-President/Co-COO Tom Freston.

McGrath, who will report directly to Freston, was previously MTV Networks Group President, responsible for MTV, MTV2, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central and the recently announced LOGO, set to launch in 2005.

McGrath takes on Freston's previous role, which includes overall responsibility for the networks named above as well as Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Spike TV, TV Land, Noggin, The N, MTV Networks Digital Suite, MTV Networks International and all of the company's related consumer products and digital businesses.

MTV Networks Group President Herb Scannell, responsible for Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Spike TV, TV Land, Noggin and the N, will report directly to Judy, along with MTV Networks International President Bill Roedy. As part of the move, MTV Networks President/COO Mark Rosenthal has decided to leave the company.

Said Tom: "Judy is the perfect fit for this job. Ours is a business of creative vision, smart brand building, unrelenting consumer focus and good execution. We are riding at an all-time high now, clearly the industry leader, and I feel very proud and fortunate to be able to turn this job over to Judy and very much look forward to seeing her influence on the company grow and grow. I can't wait to see her face after Ashton Kutcher tells her she's been Punk'd, though."

McGrath said, "I couldn't be more excited and honored to take on this new role. Over the past 17 years, Tom set the tone for the most unique and vibrant culture in the media world. My top priority is to continue to make this the best place for talented people to do their best work. I inherit the strongest management team in the business in Herb Scannell and Bill Roedy, and I can't wait to get started on working with them and their respective teams to take MTV Networks boldly into the future. This will be fun. Tell Ashton I'll be right with him."

Freston added, "It is with great respect and appreciation that we support Mark's decision to leave the company. He had a great career here over many, many years and, under his leadership, our sales and the corporate groups he manages have never been in better shape. On the heels of what looks to be a record-breaking upfront and a phenomenal year of growth, Mark leaves us extremely well-positioned for the future. We will miss him enormously and have a great deal of pride in his accomplishments here."

Judy McGrath takes the helm of MTV Networks with each of its businesses operating at record highs. MTV Networks reaches 400 million viewers in 164 countries and 18 languages through 94 channels worldwide.

Judy and her team have developed such cultural touchtones as the MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Movie Awards, Total Request Live, The Real World, Making the Band and The Osbournes.

McGrath is also known for her commitment to pro-social programming, with campaigns like the Peabody Award-winning Choose or Lose, and Emmy award-winning Fight For Your Rights: Protect Yourself, an AIDS Awareness campaign.

A member of the MTV family since its beginning, Judy joined Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company (WASEC), MTV Networks' predecessor company, in 1981 as a copywriter in MTV's On-Air Promotions department and made her mark with contests like "Devo Goes Hawaiian" and "One Night Stand with Journey." She subsequently moved up the ranks and became MTV Editorial Director, Exec. VP and Creative Director, and then President. Before joining the company, Judy held positions as Copy Chief of Glamour magazine and Senior Writer for Mademoiselle Magazine.