MTVN, Videogame Journalist in Talent, Development Deal

January 23, 2008 World Screen

NEW YORK, January 23: MTV Networks’ Entertainment Group, a
division of Viacom, has reached a new talent and development deal with
videogame journalist Geoff Keighley, the host of Spike TV’s Game Head.

Premiering Friday, January 25, the fifth season of Game
Head will be relaunched as GameTrailers
TV with Geoff Keighley. Available for the
first time in high-definition, the weekly magazine-style show will feature an
expanded online presence and a tighter integration with GameTrailers.com, an
online provider of video for gamers. Featuring a rotation of more than 20
segments, Keighley and co-hosts Amanda MacKay and Daniel Kayser will provide
exclusive content catering to gamers with varying interest levels, from the
casual gamer to hardcore enthusiasts. In addition to premiering on Spike TV and
Spike HD, the program will be available in high definition on GameTrailers.com
and Xbox Live Marketplace.

In addition to serving as an executive producer on the new
show, Keighley has entered into a development deal with Spike TV to create
additional on-air programming, consult on the annual Spike TV Video Game
Awards show and host a number of
to-be-announced specials. He will also continue hosting and producing Bonus
Round, GameTrailers’ popular online
roundtable talk show about the videogame industry.

“We are thrilled to have the industry’s number one host on
the number one videogame show on television,” said Kevin Kay, the president of
Spike TV. “This new deal allows us to work more closely with Geoff to ensure
that Spike continues to be home to the best videogame programming both online
and on TV.”

“It has long been my hope to sign Geoff to a larger overall
deal so we can make better use of his talents across all of our properties,”
said Jon Slusser, the senior VP of Spike Digital and Videogames. “Geoff’s
experience as a journalist and passion for videogames make him one of the best
gaming experts in the field and he is an invaluable addition to the MTVN
Entertainment Group.”

—By Irene Lew