EMERYVILLE, Calif. – MobiTV, Inc. Monday announced the strategic hire of longtime music industry executive Nancy Levin as its executive producer of Music Television.
MobiTV is the enabling technology behind the mobile video service currently in the market from Telus Mobility, Bell Mobility and Rogers Wireless.
“Levin’s talents will be instrumental in building momentum in music content and music industry related media available through MobiTV’s global service,” says the MobiTV release.
Levin brings over 15 years of experience in senior management roles at several major record labels — including Warner Bros., Priority/EMI and MCI/Universal/Vivendi. Levin was most recently president of BeatGreets.com (a division of American Greetings), where she helped create the biggest music greeting card company in the world.
"Nancy has the experience, the vision and the respected relationships to help make MobiTV the premier service provider of mobile music entertainment," said Philip Alvelda, chairman and CEO of MobiTV. "Her talent and depth in the music business, coupled with our mobile technology and wireless partners, positions MobiTV to offer the best mobile music and music video services on the market."
Music videos are already one of the most popular forms of content available on MobiTV, and with the Levin hire, MobiTV is stepping up the focus on music and music videos, says the company.
MobiTV recently launched MobiRadio on Cingular which offers subscribers more than 44 stations of on-demand digital music, all wrapped in a user interface that enables you to see album art, artist and song information.
(Of course, there are copyright questions to be answered moving such a more advanced product into Canada, which looks like it would compete with radio, TV and satellite radio. None of the three wireless companies have said if they, too, plan to add this service here in the near future.)
“With such a talented team and an incredible service offering, this opportunity is ideally suited to my experience and interests," said Levin. "I intend to cut through the complexities of the music industry and take MobiTV and the mobile music business to a whole new level."
MobiTV’s commitment, beyond the hire of Levin, is further demonstrated following the recent appointment of Jarl Mohn, also known as former MTV head Lee Masters, to its board of directors. “Mohn is an industry legend who has spent the past 19 years leading some of the most recognized brands and companies in media and music. Mohn was the founding president and CEO of Liberty Digital, creator, president and CEO of "E! Entertainment Television," and executive vice-president and general manager of MTV and VH1. Prior to his career in television, Mohn enjoyed a successful 19 year career in radio.
