Viacom to exceed digital rev goal in '07 - CEO

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NEW YORK, June 4 (Reuters) - Viacom Inc. (VIAb.N), home to the MTV Networks and Comedy Central, expects to exceed its goal of $500 million in revenue from its digital operations such as Web media, the chief executive said on Monday.

"We set a target last fall to double our digital revenue in 2007," Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said at a Deutsche Bank investors conference that aired over the Internet. "We've updated that since ... we are going to exceed that $500 mln in digital revenue."

Dauman said the company was capitalizing on its ability to offer advertisers commercial slots across its media properties, from cable television shows to Internet sites and now entertainment for mobile phones.

"We're very fortunate in that we are today, with a lot of upside ahead of us, the No. 1 destination as far as entertainment content online," Dauman said, referring to total audience data for its sites combined.

The entire media industry is betting on new forms of entertainment delivered on the Web or handheld devices for growth as traditional television, radio and print audiences decline.

Viacom aims to create a vast network of Web sites tied to its cable television shows. With more than 200 Internet sites now operating for its various brands, the company plans to introduce several hundred additional sites to appeal to specific audiences and expand advertising opportunities.

Viacom earlier this year launched a $1 billion lawsuit against Google Inc. (GOOG.O) and its YouTube video sharing site for allowing users to upload video clips from its programs without permission.

Dauman did not rule out resolving such copyright issues with YouTube in the future, but made clear it was Viacom's priority to remain in control of its ties to nearly 500 advertisers who buy the bulk of commercial time on its shows, wherever they may appear.

"We don't want to be in a position where we have another company selling advertising on the very same show" that Viacom is offering on its media outlets, he said.

Viacom Class B shares rose 6 cents to $44 on the New York Stock Exchange at mid-afternoon.

((Reporting by Michele Gershberg, editing by Richard Chang; Reuters Messaging: michele.gershberg.reuters.com@reuters.net; E-mail: michele.gershberg@reuters.com; +1-646-223-6185)) Keywords: VIACOM DIGITAL/

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