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MTV to Acquire Atom Films, Other Sites

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

August 9, 2006, 6:42 PM

MTV Networks said Wednesday it had entered into an agreement with Atom Entertainment to acquire the company for $200 million. The company runs four Web sites including the popular AtomFilms.com and Shockwave.com, as well as gaming site AddictingGames.com and video site AddictingClips.com.

The acquisition of Atom marks a continuing effort by MTV to advance its multiplatform entertainment strategy. The company recently acquired entertainment brands XFIRE, Y2M, GameTrailers.com, IFILM, and Neopets.

"[Atom] adds great scale with users, improves our growing casual gaming position, and brings a world-class digital video library and fantastic management team," Tom Freston, CEO of MTV Networks' parent company Viacom, said in a statement.

With the addition of Atom's gaming sites, MTV Networks will become a leading force in casual gaming, with 50 million gamers playing more than 400 million games per month. The video sites would further expand the company's broadband multimedia offerings, now offered across 24 broadband channels.

"Leveraging MTVN's platform will accelerate our growth and create new opportunities for both consumers and advertisers," Atom CEO Mika Salmi said. "We are proud of the business we've built and look forward to working together with MTVN to lead the way in the casual gaming and short-form video content business."

The acquisition is expected to close by the third quarter of this year.

Add a Comment (7 Comments)

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By Silentmaster101

posted Aug 10, 2006 - 8:47 AM

i see everyone here shares my opinion of mtv...

goodbye atom films, you will be missed.

Score: 0

By zee7

posted Aug 10, 2006 - 8:27 AM

I didn't think it was possible to hate Viacom any more than I already do, but they keep surprising me.

Viacom = Garbage

Everything they touch turns to sh*t.

Score: 0

By donpacman

posted Aug 10, 2006 - 2:24 AM

"Pimp my AtomFilms.com"

Time to find new sites.

Score: 0

By catfish182

posted Aug 9, 2006 - 8:42 PM

MTv will suck the coolness out of this also. MTv is so not about what it orginally stood for. It sucks. It sucks major ass. I give atom films to suck in 4 months. Tons of stupid MTv ads everywhere and no independant thought.

Sorry for having thearpy here but MTv just sucks.

Score: 0

By Das mod

edited Aug 9, 2006 - 7:36 PM

i just hope MTV doesnt ruin those websites like they ruined their own TV network a few years back by adding all those atupid teenager shows and real life crap .....