Viacom announced that MTV and Nickelodeon will become full labels under the Paramount Motion Picture Group.
MTV Films and Nick Movies, which previously operated as on-lot producers, will now join several other labels under PMPG's umbrella, including Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Vantage and Paramount Classics.
Paramount and MTV Networks also named veteran producer Scott Aversano president of MTV Films and Nick Movies.
MTV Films titles have included Napoleon Dynamite, Election, The Longest Yard, Varsity Blues, Save the Last Dance, Murderball, Tupac: The Resurrection and Hustle & Flow. Nick Movies has been responsible for films including Nacho Libre and CGI-animated Barnyard.
“After successful 12-year stints as production companies at Paramount, we are going to upgrade MTV and Nick to full movie label status," Viacom CEO Tom Freston said in a prepared statement. "This will expand their role at Paramount, will better leverage their considerable talent and marketing capabilities and will allow for smoother day-to-day management on the lot with strong connections back to the core brands.”
