MTV Networks Names Mark Rosenthal President

Mark Rosenthal has been named to the newly created position of president and chief operating officer of MTV Networks. Rosenthal, previously executive vice president for affiliate sales and marketing, will run day-to-day operations of the five networks in the group, reporting to Tom Freston, chairman and chief executive. However, the presidents of those networks--Nickelodeon, MTV, TV Land, VH1 and, as of Thursday, M2--will report to Freston.

“We’ve outgrown our current structure,” said Rosenthal, who was recently considered to be a lead candidate to run F/X and the Fox Sports regional networks. “I’ll assist Tom and the channel heads grow our businesses domestically and internationally.”

* Robert Moore was named executive vice president and chief financial officer of Walt Disney Studios. Moore, 33, was senior vice president and chief financial officer of Walt Disney Television & Telecommunications. He reports to Disney Studios Chairman Joe Roth.

* Bill Coveny is expected to leave his position as senior vice president of current programming at Fox Broadcasting to fill the No. 2 slot in drama development at CBS Entertainment. Coveny, who currently oversees production of existing prime-time programs at Fox, worked at CBS before joining the network.

* Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White has launched Kalimba Records, a new boutique label and recording studio in Santa Monica.

* Seagram named former Viacom executive Raymond A. Boyce vice president of corporate communications and public relations. He reports to Seagram Vice Chairman Robert W. Matschullat.

* Jim Wedaa was named executive vice president of film producer Jacobson, which is based at Walt Disney Studios.

* Jeffrey Orridge has joined Warner Bros. Consumer Products as director of its new Warner Bros. Sports Licensing division.

* At Eyemark Entertainment, Robb Dalton has been named senior vice president of business and program development and Brooke Karzen has been named director of programming.

* Turner Pictures named Betsy Sokolow vice president of public relations and promoted Kristine Belson and Matt Tolmach to senior vice presidents of production.