viva media gmbh (until 2004 "viva media ag") was a music television network originating from germany. it was founded as an alternative to mtv by time warner executives tom mcgrath and peter bogner with rudi dolezal and hannes rossacher from doro productions, which created music videos. the channel was a broadcast of viva germany as viva media ag in 1993 and has been owned by their former competitor viacom, the parent company of mtv, since 2004. viva channels exist in some european countries; the first spin-offs were launched in poland and switzerland in 2000.