VIACOM RESTRUCTURES

Viacom will be restructuring its domestic entertainment divisions into two groups—a Music and Entertainment Group and a Kids and Family Group--announced Prexy/CEO Philippe Dauman.

The news follows the announcement that 28-year Viacom veteran Van Toffler would be stepping down from his post as head of the Music & Logo Group, and the restructuring will take effect upon his departure from the company in April.

The Music and Entertainment Group will include MTV, MTV2, VH1, Comedy Central, LOGO and Spike along with their respective digital properties, and be headed by Doug Herzog.

The exec (seen at left with Jon Stewart, Michelle Ganeless and Judy McGrath) joined MTV more than three decades ago and, after rising to President of MTV Productions, ascended to prez of Comedy Central, where he oversaw the births of The Daily Show and South Park. He left for gigs at USA and FOX before returning in 2004. He’ll be working on both coasts in his new capacity.

Cyma Zarghami, a 30-year veteran of Nickelodeon, will be in charge of Kids and Family, which includes Nickoledeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nick at Night and more, as well as TV Land, CMT and CMT Pure Country.

Dauman called the new groups “an enormous opportunity to take advantage of our strong creative teams, to share our expertise, and to promote greater cross-marketing and, in some cases, cross-channel programming activity.” He praised Herzog’s understanding of “what it takes to stay relevant and on the leading edge of popular culture,” while hailing Zarghami as “an insightful and extremely capable leader.”

All concerned then headed to the set of the Kids’ Choice Awards to get slimed.