The week’s executive shuffle at Viacom came into clear focus with news that what used to be three network groups are being restructured into two. Doug Herzog, who led the former Entertainment Group, will take charge of the new Viacom Music and Entertainment Group, consisting of MTV, MTV2, Logo, VH1, Comedy Central and Spike, and their related digital networks. Cyma Zarghami, who this year marks her 30th year with the company, will take on an expanded role leading the new Kids and Family Group. Her purview includes all brands currently in the Nickelodeon Group–Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nick at Nite, NickMom and NickToons–as well as TV Land, CMT and CMT Pure Country. Debra Lee will continue to hold the reins at BET. Out are former MTV chief Van Toffler, who is starting an indie production company, and TV Land president Larry Jones. In an internal email to employees, Viacom president/CEO Philippe Dauman told employees, “Our industry is in transition and change does not always come easy… We are working hard to adapt to changing audience behavior, to incorporate new forms of distribution and to better integrate technology into everything we do.”
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