Viacom promotes for new digital unit

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) is launching a unit aimed at monetising its digital content and has promoted an exec from its MTV and Comedy Central networks to run it.

Brendan Yam

Brendan Yam has been named VP and general manager of the nascent Viacom Digital Studios International, a shortform business focusing on MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.

The new unit will focus on creating, distributing and monetising digital content for Viacom’s flagship brands outside the US.

Yam will report to Katherine Liu, VIMN’s senior VP of strategy and business development, and Kelly Day, president of Viacom Digital Studios (VDS).

He was most recently VP of multiplatform for MTV and Comedy Central International and head of business development for digital.

He will now manage new business development and commercial opportunities related to international shortform, including branded content and licensing deals, and content and platform partnerships.

With three production hubs, this new unit will create original digital series, topicals, co-commissions and complementary shorts with a pipeline that includes VIMN, VDS, Telefe and Porta dos Fundos.