MUMBAI: TV18 and Viacom18?s venture, IndiaCast, has launched the international version of MTV India in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. With this launch, MTV India?s international distribution footprint now spans 31 countries.

MTV India will be available on Pehla branded packs across DTH, Cable, IPTV and SMATV in Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan and Mauritiana. MTV India will also be launching on other platforms shortly.

Featuring music and youth reality content from India in Hindi, MTV India will complement Viacom International Media Networks? (VIMN) existing MTV channel, which services the Middle East and North Africa region with Arabic and international music and entertainment content.

This is IndiaCast?s second channel in the region after Hindi GEC COLORS was launched in September 2010. The company?s team in Dubai, which currently distributes and handles advertising sales for COLORS, will be managing the distribution and sales for MTV India as well in the region.

This launch expands the offering for advertisers in the region, allowing them to reach both family and youth audiences.

IndiaCast COO Gaurav Gandhi said, "Indians are passionate about their music and Hindi Music in particular has a huge following both in India and overseas. The launch of MTV India in the Middle East & North Africa region, will give an opportunity for the South Asian and other audiences to connect with the Indian music and reality programming that they love most. MTV India is our second brand in the region and we intend to grow our presence here with more offerings from our extensive news and regional channel portfolio in the near future."

MTV India business head Aditya Swamy said, "MTV India has constantly engaged and entertained young India and now the opportunity to do so with young people in the other countries is very exciting. While we will leverage our cult franchises such as Roadies, Unplugged and Rush in these markets, we will also look at some region specific initiatives which will resonate with the local audience."

MUMBAI: Viacom18 has appointed Sameer Goswami as VP and head of business operations, North America.

Goswami will be responsible for managing and expanding the company?s broadcast operations across the continent.

Goswami joins from Vision Asia ? Australia and New Zealand, where he was the CEO and has played a key role in revitalising the company. He will report to Viacom18 head - distribution and International Business and Sun18 COO- North Gaurav Gandhi.

Gandhi said, ?We are delighted to have Sameer join our team. I am confident that Sameer?s valuable experience in media and broadcast and his entrepreneurial mindset will be a great asset in growing Aapka Colors business in North America?

On his new role Goswami added, "In my new role, I am looking forward to working with this talented group of enthusiasts and applying my knowledge and experience to help in the growth of the network?s business in North America.?

Goswami comes in with experience across diverse International markets in advertising, FMCG marketing and entertainment industries.

Prior to joining Vision Asia, he has also worked with ConAgra Foods, Hungama.com, Leo Burnett and Lintas India.