Why would MTV buy such a product? They announced their reasoning today, they want fans of MTV to have a deeper interaction in the MTV product.
MTV wants to promote a few of Harmonix's other software packages based around karaoke gaming and allow gamers to interactively game musically on their site. Of course, the MTV logo would appear on these musical games, which is always good advertising for a cable channel and website revolving around music.
People that buy games like Guitar Hero are obviously interested in music so the target demographic for MTV is in the palm of their hands. Harmonix is MTV's second music related purchase, aquiring Jamba, a seller of ring tones and other products for mobile phones for $188 million. The new aquisition of Harmonix was made for $175 million in cash.
I'd expect to see new changes in MTV's website over the coming months as they start to incorporate the ideas from their new purchases.
Thanks to TANK for the information.
