SharkJumping

MTV Networks/Viacom announced (see ) this week that they were acquiring (home of Shockwave.com, Atom Films and Addicting Clips/Games) for approximately $200M.  I want to be clear that I'm biased about Atom since CEO Mika Salmi is a friend, as are some of the other executives, but this is a simply great move by MTV, and it appears to be a fair price by both sides.

With Atom, MTV gets a great creative team, a select group of popular sites in games and video with 20M+ monthly unique visitors to plug into MTV's strong advertising team, and  another source of content for the rest of MTV Networks.  I have to tip my hat to the executives and investors of Atom who persevered for the last 7 years through the bubble mayhem, the downturn carnage, and now the steady upswing in their properties, with the end financial result being quite positive for all involved - plus it's yet another great outcome for a RealNetworks alum, as so many of us are.  I love casual games, and I think this purchase vaults MTV Networks right into a strong position in this rapidly growing category, and the Atom/Addicting video assets are a strong fit for both iFilm and for MTV's more mature video properties as a "farm team" or modern A&R team to find upcoming talent.

Great move for MTV Networks, and kudos to the Atom team for sticking it out through the grim times.  I think this move is being underestimated by the market for how much it will bring to the company.