February 13, 2007

By by Associated Press

MTV Networks, a unit of the media conglomerate Viacom Inc., is cutting 250 jobs, or about 6 percent of its workforce, as the cable network operator seeks to cut costs and refocus its resources on the Internet.

Judy McGrath, the chief executive of MTV Networks, told staff in a memo on Monday that the company would "refine our business and organizational models" and build up some areas such as online and new networks while paring others.

As a result, the company will eliminate about 250 jobs in the United States across MTV Networks, a unit that includes MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and Country Music Television.

McGrath indicated in her message that MTV's overseas operations also were "exploring new business models for television and online" and that decisions about that would be made over the "near term."

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