Music industry veteran and cable television executive Tom Calderone was named Executive Vice President, General Manager of VH1 in May of 2005.

Calderone is responsible for the leadership, strategy and management of the network that keeps viewers in touch with the music and pop culture they love through a wide variety of series, specials, live events and digital media. VH1, one of the strongest brands in cable television, now reaches 90 million households.

In his position, Calderone oversees and directs business development, marketing and promotion, finance, communications, public affairs, research and human resources. He also oversees VH1 digital media efforts including VH1.com and VH1's digital music networks including VH1 Classic, now in 45 million households, and VH1 Soul, now in 20 million households. Calderone also partners with Brian Graden, President of Entertainment for MTV Networks Music Group to build on VH1's momentum of 20 consecutive quarters of total viewer growth. In fact, the network reached its highest primetime viewership levels yet in 2006, growing total viewers by 14% over the prior year's average.

In April 2006, Calderone was also charged with overseeing MHD, MTV Networks' high-definition music channel. In addition, he is the chairman for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, which has donated nearly $34 million worth of music instruments to restore music education programs in public schools, improving the lives of over 800,000 students in 1,400 schools in 80 cities across the country. Calderone also directs VH1's multi-million dollar media partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The initiative generates awareness about the pandemic and inspires our viewers to make a positive impact on the crisis.

Previously, Calderone was Executive Vice President of Music Programming and Talent for MTV & MTV2 where he oversaw the development of such breakthrough music franchises as "Spankin' New Music," and "MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups" and played an instrumental role in the renewed MTV2 by shepherding new programming as the underground hit "Wonder Showzen," the music performance series "Discover and Download" and music blocks "Sucker Free Sundays" and "Subterranean."

He began his career at MTV as Senior Vice President, Music and Talent Programming in 1998 where he led the music and talent team's efforts in creating new music initiatives for the various MTV screens including on television, online and wireless, as well as managing artist relations and communication with the music industry.

When he was promoted to Executive Vice President Music and Talent Programming for MTV & MTV2, Calderone took on a larger role in the development of music programming involving some of the biggest artists and musicians. He also worked on the production of such top rated television events as the MTV Video Music Awards and MTV Movie Awards as well as such successful franchises as "Unplugged," "The Leak," and "MTV's New Year's Eve."

Before joining MTV in October of 1998, Calderone was a consultant with Jacobs Media, advising various radio stations across the country on music, talent and marketing strategies. Prior to that he was Operations Manager/Program Director at WDRE in New York and at WHFS in Washington, DC. Calderone holds a B.A. in communications from Buffalo State College.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul and VSPOT, VH1's broadband channel.Connect with VH1 at www.VH1.com.

VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.