Paramount International Networks

Viacom International Inc.
Formerly
  • MTV Networks International (1987–2011)
  • Viacom International Media Networks (2011–2019)
  • ViacomCBS Networks International (2019–2022)
Company typeDivision
IndustryBroadcasting
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Headquarters
Key people
  • Pam Kaufman (president and CEO of International Markets, Global Consumer Products & Experiences)
ParentViacom (1987–2005; 2005–2019)
Paramount Global (2019–present)
Divisions

Viacom International Inc.[1] (doing business as Paramount International Networks (PIN))[2] is the international division of the Paramount Media Networks subsidiary of Paramount Global that oversees the production, broadcasting and promotion of its brands outside of the United States. These brands include Paramount Network, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and BET,[3] as well as CBS-branded channels co-owned with AMC Networks International. PIN also owned a 30% stake in the Rainbow S.p.A. animation studio in Italy from 2011 to 2023[4] and a stake (majority, then later minority) in Viacom18, an Indian joint venture with domestic partner TV18, from 2007 to 2024.

The division is headquartered within Paramount Global's offices in New York City and London, with other international offices located in São Paulo, Berlin, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Lagos, Madrid, Milan, Mumbai, Paris, Singapore, Budapest, Belgrade and Sydney amongst others. Its first international offices opened in the late 1980s in London and Amsterdam with the launch of MTV Europe (now MTV Global). It was created from a rebrand of predecessor Viacom's MTV Networks, which included MTV, BET, VH1 and Nickelodeon, to include Comedy Central. MTV Asia was a leader against rival Channel V in China, India and South Korea in 1999.[5]

Currently led by Pamela "Pam" Kaufman as part of her broader role as president and CEO of international markets, the division under one of its previous names "Viacom International Media Networks" was previously led from 2011 to 2016 by Robert "Bob" Bakish, in one of his many roles at the conglomerate, having joined Paramount Global's predecessor, Viacom, in its first incarnation in 1997. In 2016, Bakish got promoted to CEO of the second incarnation of Viacom and stayed on as such following its merger with CBS Corporation to form ViacomCBS, renamed Paramount Global in 2022. He stepped down as CEO and left the conglomerate on 29 April 2024.

  1. ^ US Copyright Office Registration No. PAu004232057 / 2024-07-17
  2. ^ "Leadership of Paramount". Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022. Gillmer oversees [...] for the MTV Entertainment Group (MTVE) and Paramount International Networks & Streaming.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference leadership2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference rainbow was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Hughes, Owen (1 March 1999). "Battle of the Bands". Multichannel News International. Cahners. p. 5. Retrieved 11 May 2024.