CMT today announced that Frank Tanki has been named General Manager of the brand, expanding his duties as General Manager of TV Land to include oversight of both iconic brands. A 12-year veteran of Viacom, most recently as the EVP of marketing and creative for Spike TV, Tanki will be responsible for the day-to-day operations at CMT, including Programming, Marketing & Creative and Communications, and will work closely with CMT's development team to set the overall strategy for the brand. He will continue to report directly to Kevin Kay, President of Spike (soon to be Paramount Network), TV Land and CMT. He will retain his current position as General Manager of TV Land and will work from both the New York and NASHVILLE offices.
The appointment comes on the heels of strong growth for the brand. CMT just notched its highest-rated fiscal 3rd quarter since 2014 with 14% year-over-year growth among Adults 18-49. Furthermore, CMT has posted 29 consecutive weeks of year-over-year growth with Adults 18-49. Competitively, CMT ranks as the fastest growing Top 50 (non-news) channel with Women 18-49. "As a fan of CMT and country music, I'm thrilled to join the team and remain committed to ensuring this iconic brand continues its upward trajectory as the leading destination for country music and culture," said Tanki. "My focus is to successfully navigate CMT through the changing media landscape and extend the power of the brand's voice." "CMT is one of the most distinct brands in all of media and Frank is the perfect leader to guide the team to new summits of success," said Kevin Kay, President of Spike, TV Land and CMT. "I am confident that Frank will apply the same ingenuity that has been the hallmark of his career at Viacom to ensure that CMT continues to thrive, while keeping the network true to its brand."Videos