Michael D. Armstrong serves as Executive Vice President, Worldwide Television Licensing and Operations for ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. In this position he manages relationships with third-party studios and oversees the international sales teams for formats and the CBS Newspath service for the global content licensing team.
Previously, Armstrong served as General Manager of BET Networks. In this role, Armstrong drove strategy and operations, with direct oversight of Content Strategy & Multiplatform Scheduling, Marketing, Corporate Communications and Operations. He also liaised closely with teams across Viacom’s Media Networks, including Strategy, Finance and Research & Audience Science.
Prior to that role, Armstrong was Executive Vice President and General Manager, Revenue and Emerging Brands, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). In this role, Armstrong managed the development and expansion of BET, Paramount Channel, and Spike internationally and oversaw International Program Sales, Affiliate Sales, and Viacom Velocity International, VIMN’s ad sales division.
Armstrong has led many firsts for the company including the creation and launch of Paramount Channel internationally in 2012, the largest ad supported film channel in the world, available in almost 100 countries and 106 million homes outside the US. In 2016, Armstrong co-led the launch of BET Play, Viacom’s first direct-to-consumer subscription video on demand offering for adult audiences. Under Armstrong’s guidance, BET is now available internationally in more than 72 countries and 39 million homes. Armstrong has also been instrumental in growing Spike’s distribution internationally, having worked with local market leadership to launch the first Spike channel outside the US in 2015 in the UK, followed by Benelux, the Middle East, Australia, Hungary and Russia.
Armstrong first joined the company in 1998 and held a variety sales and affiliate marketing roles for brands including MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CMT in both the New York and Chicago offices. He joined VIMN in 2011 as Senior Vice President and General Manager of BET International and Paramount Channel, having previously led BET International since May 2006.
Armstrong received a B.S. in marketing from Hampton University, where he also serves on the board. He received an M.B.A. in strategy and marketing from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he was honored with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 2012. He serves on the boards of Canada Goose (NYSE: GOOS), and Inspirato (NASDAQ: ISPO), and GLAZA (Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association). He is a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and previously chaired the boards of NAMIC (National Association for Multi Ethnicity in Communications) and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
