Michael Klein Named MTV's EVP of Original Content

MTV, a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), today named Michael Klein as Executive Vice President of Original Content to oversee all original programming, development, and creative across MTV and its related brands. A veteran creative executive whose credits include "Vanity Fair Confidential" for ID; "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" and "Man V. Food" for Travel Channel; and "What Not to Wear" and "Miami Ink" for TLC, Klein joins MTV from Condé Nast Entertainment, where he served most recently as Executive Vice President of Programming and Content Strategy, Digital Channels. He will report directly to Sean Atkins, President of MTV.

"Michael is a proven hitmaker with a strong feel for our audience, a keen eye for talent, and a successful track record of reinventing brands through distinctive, creator-driven content," said Atkins. "His leadership and experience are an excellent fit for MTV in this pivotal moment for the network, as we accelerate a new development slate of music and pop culture-inspired programming."

In his role at Condé Nast Entertainment, Klein was responsible for programming strategy, development, and production for the company's portfolio of Millennial-targeted digital channels across unscripted, scripted, animation, documentary, and virtual reality. Under Klein's leadership, the portfolio - which includes Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Wired, GQ, and The New Yorker - attracted more than 2.7 billion video views last year and produced award-winning series including Glamour's "Screw You Cancer" and GQ's "Casualties of the Gridiron." Earlier, as Executive Vice President of Alternative Programming, he was a member of the senior team that launched Condé Nast Entertainment. In that role, Klein oversaw development and production of original non-fiction programming including "Vanity Fair Confidential" for ID, "The New Yorker Presents," and "The Fashion Fund" for Amazon.

Prior to launching Condé Nast Entertainment, Klein served as Senior Vice President of Programming and Development for the Sundance Channel. There, he helped drive the network to the highest audience engagement in its history with original series including "Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys," "All On The Line with Joe Zee," and "Push Girls." Earlier, Klein served as Senior Vice President of Content for the Travel Channel, where he helped engineer a network renaissance and record ratings with original series including "Man V. Food" and "Ghost Adventures".

Klein has also held executive roles at Discovery Communications Inc. including Vice President of Program Production at TLC, where he launched brand-redefining series including "Little People, Big World," "What Not to Wear," and "Miami Ink."

About MTV: MTV is a global media brand inspired by the creative spirit of music and the freedom and passion of youth. MTV is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA).