MTV Commercials Shuts Down Amid Corporate Downsizing

MTV Commercials, which was launched three and a half years ago as acommercial production studio, was shut down last week as part of amajor consolidation throughout MTV Networks. While the studio had beenthriving by bringing the sassy MTV culture to mainstream clients suchas Oxy, Nike, and Sony Playstation, it was not enough to counteroverall network considerations.

Executive production/head of production Nick Litwinko, who alsodirected some of the division's best combinations of comedic liveaction and effects, said of the closing, "This was a great adventure. Igot a chance to direct and produce some really diverse and interestingprojects and work with some talented agency creatives and producers.MTV Commercials gave me a wonderful introduction to the advertisingworld."

Head of marketing and sales Henry Hagerty added, "We had a great runwith a great brand and we proved that the worlds of MTV and advertisingcould create some really different work together. I'm sorry that it'sover, but feel proud to have helped the very talented New York Cityanimation community as much as we did. One only has to walk by a NewYork City firehouse to keep this all in perspective."

According to an internal memo from MTV Networks, corporaterestructuring included a "move to have independent, outside facilitiessupport MTV's animation strategy going forward."