Viacom-owned MTV Networks has earmarked a major wodge of cash - to the tune of $500 million (£250 million) - to expand its gaming businesses worldwide in the next two years.

Speaking to Reuters, MTV Chairman and Chief Executive Judy McGrath explained what this was going to be about, "As we take our brands narrow and deep to serve our targeted, niche audiences, we're putting well over $500 million behind building our games business across all of the brands in our portfolio.

"I'd like to see more game applications on some of our current big brands across the music group."

So, more games development - admittedly tied to MTV programming - but nevertheless another developer enters the fray with some clout.

It appears that MTV has joined the rest of is in its assessment of the importance of video gaming, if the following statement by MTV Networks President of Global Digital Media Mika Salmi is anything to go on: "Games are critical", he opined this week.

Well, obviously, says SPOnG - and we would, wouldn't we?

MTV Games, in association with Harmonix and EA, is currently ramping up the hype in preparation for this Christmas’ release of Rock Band. Well, in America at least, with us poor Europeans having to wait till next Easter till we can virtually rock out with our buddies (mates).

More on Rock Band from Leipzig next week.

^{Source: Reuters}