Google and Viacom’s MTV Networks to Test New Online Video Distribution Model

MTVN Hit Programs Also Available Now for Download-To-Own on Google Video

NEW YORK, NY, and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Aug. 7, 2006 – Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), are collaborating to test an innovative video distribution model that will serve consumers, web publishers and advertisers. Google will distribute ad-supported content from MTV Networks to targeted website publishers, allowing publishers to showcase clips from premium programming like Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and MTV’s Laguna Beach to enhance the content on their websites. As the first-of-its-kind offering from both companies, this new model will provide users with new ways to experience content and create targeted marketing vehicles for advertisers. It will also serve to promote programming that is available via cable, satellite and other distribution platforms carrying MTVN’s on-air channels. The companies expect to be testing the model later this month.

This venture marks the first time integrated video programming and advertising will be made available directly to Google’s extensive AdSense network, which delivers targeted text and image ads to its network of websites and blogs. This also represents the first time clips from MTV Networks’ kids and family, music and entertainment programming will be available to consumers widely across the Web on an ad-supported basis on sites outside MTVN’s proprietary sites.

"Collaborating with Google gives us a terrific opportunity to take our content and distribute it even more widely on the web in a seamless and targeted way," said Tom Freston, President and CEO, Viacom. "This deal fits in perfectly with our strategy to deliver the best content to our audiences – wherever they are. We’re very happy to be working with Google, a true innovator in content distribution."

"We’re excited to work with MTV Networks on new ways of distributing its content to consumers via the Internet and on Google Video," said Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO. "With the combination of our video technology, and extensive advertiser and publisher network, Google is in a leading position to help content owners, web publishers and advertisers generate interest and increase revenue opportunities."

MTVN programming that initially will be distributed via Google Video and targeted publishers includes clips from:

  • MTV’s "Laguna Beach: The Real OC" – video clips detailing major plotlines from the hit show’s third season, which premieres on television August 14.
  • MTV Video Music Awards – promotional clips from this year’s VMAs, airing Aug. 31, memorable highlights from past VMAs, and exclusive clips from the upcoming "Scandalicious Show" previewing this year’s VMAs.
  • Nickelodeon’s "SpongeBob SquarePants" – Your Brain on SpongeBob, taken from the hugely popular animated series.

"We are content people who make great creative product for all platforms," said Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO, MTV Networks. "Our brands are great navigation tools for our audiences, and this deal with Google will enable us to follow and lead them to new places."

"We welcome the opportunity to work with great content providers like MTV Networks to explore additional forms of distribution for online video," said David Eun, Google’s vice president of content partnerships. "MTV Networks offers a perfect blend of content that is interesting, exciting and relevant to web publishers, advertisers and users alike. We look forward to the results of this relationship, and the impact it will have on these audiences."

MTVN Hit Programs Also Available Now for Download-To-Own on Google Video
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This new distribution model is just one of two significant relationships announced today between Google and MTV Networks. The companies also announced that MTV Networks’ hit programs will now be available for download through Google Video, for $1.99 per episode. With more content from across MTVN’s entire hit portfolio to be added, the initial offering includes full-length episodes from:

Comedy Central
:
"Chappelle’s Show":Comedian Dave Chappelle’s series that provides a comedic and sometimes defiant look at American culture; "South Park", celebrating its 10th hit season, features the animated misadventures of four eight-year-old boys whose everyday lives regularly intersect with world events.

MTV:
Beavis & Butthead: The Mike Judge Collection, Vol. 1", jam-packed with 40 episodes, including special director’s cut episodes, an exclusive featurette, and those ever-popular music videos with classic Beavis and Butt-Head commentary; "Laguna Beach", reality series that follows the lives of privileged teens as they deal with the high school politics of hookups, breakups, love triangles and popular cliques; "Gauntlet 2", features Real World and Road Rules alumni in teams that are divided into "Rookies" versus "Veterans" as they face off and compete for cash and prizes; "My Super Sweet Sixteen", MTV’s News & Docs series that documents coming-of-age celebrations and follows teens – and their parents – as they prepare for one of the biggest nights of their lives; "Jackass", hosted by Johnny Knoxville, this series features absurd pranks and ridiculous stunts performed by a bumbling cast of trained professionals; and "Punked", the show features Ashton Kutcher and his team of co-conspirators pulling off elaborate pranks on his celebrity friends.

MTV2:
"WonderShowzen", an absurd, smart and hilariously brilliant comedy/variety show that spoofs children’s television to create an entirely unique adult comedy.

Nickelodeon:
"Avatar: The Last Airbender", the epic, action-filled journey of a 12-year-old boy torn between fulfilling his fate as the long-awaited Avatar and just wanting to be a regular kid. "SpongeBob SquarePants", chronicling the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimistic and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends; "Zoey 101", a live-action series starring Jamie Lynn Spears as 13-year-old Zoey Brooks, a winsome leader whose independent nature is put to the test at the newly co-ed Pacific Coast Academy; " The Fairly OddParents", an animated series that follows 10-year-old Timmy Turner as his two fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda, appear unexpectedly on the scene; and "Dora The Explorer", a play-along, animated adventure series starring a seven-year-old Latina heroine.

The N:
"Beyond the Break", a drama series about the competitive world of surfing, where four women pursue their dreams of becoming professional surfers; " South of Nowhere", the dramatic series about the five members of the Carlin family and their multi-faceted journey of identity and self-discovery; and "O’Grady", an animated series about four self-centered high school students dealing with the "weirdness," an inexplicable, phenomena that afflicts their town.

About MTV Networks:

MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its interactive properties worldwide, including Neopets, Xfire, IFILM, GameTrailers.com, and online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide. The Company’s web properties recorded more than 175 million video streams in June, a triple-digit increase over the same period last year. Within one year, the Company has launched 24 broadband channels globally, including MTV Overdrive, mtvU’s Uber, TurboNick, VH1’s VSpot and Comedy Central’s Motherload. All feature dynamic original content and are expected to stream more than 1 billion videos by year’s end. Further, viewing of MTVN’s on-air channels accounts for over 25% of all time spent watching cable television, with such valuable brands as Nickelodeon which is now enjoying its 11th year as the top- rated cable network.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 120 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services – MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks.

About Google Inc.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Contacts:

Jennifer Hakes
Google
650/253-1894
jhakes@google.com

Lauren Hurvitz
MTVN
212/846-8036
lauren.hurvitz@mtvstaff.com

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