SHOWTIME LAUNCHES MOBILE VIDEO
SHOWTIME's WAP solution to be powered by the Mobile Streams' “Vuesia” Technology Platform
NEW YORK, NY- October 9, 2006 – Mobile Streams and Showtime Networks Inc. announced today that Mobile Streams has built an Off-Deck WAP portal to provide mobile users with access to content from SHOWTIME programs for the first time. WAP, or Wireless Application Protocol, is a secure specification that allows users to access information instantly via handheld wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, smartphones and communicators. Mobile users with 2.5G or 3G handsets will be able to access the mobile offering, subject to carrier and handset capabilities.
This is a groundbreaking arrangement where a television network will give consumers cross-carrier access to video clips from its shows. At launch, the SHOWTIME WAP portal gives mobile users access to video clips and wallpapers from the critically acclaimed new Original Series DEXTER starring Michael C. Hall, as well as video clips from the Emmy®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning WEEDS and the new sketch comedy series THE UNDERGROUND starring Damon Wayans. Content from other Showtime programming, such as SLEEPER CELL, THE L WORD and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
The launch of this WAP portal coincides with the multimedia promotional campaign surrounding the premiere of SHOWTIME's newest hit original series DEXTER. In addition to giving consumers access to this portal on their mobile phones via http://wap.sho.com, messaging has been integrated into print, outdoor and on-air promotion for DEXTER to prompt mobile users to send a text message to SHOWTIME to request more content and information on the show. For example, users can text the word “DEXTER” to the short code SHOTV (74688) in order to receive more information and content on the show via mobile. Users can also learn how to access this mobile content at http://sho.com/dexter.
Robert Hayes, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media for Showtime Networks commented: “Mobile has become an increasingly important component of our overall program promotion and marketing campaigns. It offers us an excellent subscriber acquisition and program sampling opportunity on the expanding mobile platform” Hayes concluded.
Chris Rovtar, Senior Vice President of Mobile Streams, who manages the SHOWTIME relationship says: “We are extremely excited to be involved in the SHOWTIME mobile application. This is the opportune time to raise the curtain on SHOWTIME mobile content by providing users with a very rich video experience.”
The SHOWTIME WAP solution is managed by Mobile Streams' full service
enterprise mobile media management solution “Vuesia”, which manages content ingestion, transcoding, and formatting for all handsets for both domestic and international carriers.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND™ and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.
About Mobile Streams
Mobile Streams is a leading provider of music, comedy, sport and entertainment content to handsets and other wireless devices, whose mobile expertise and distribution platform, “Vuesia,” is used globally by some of the world's largest media groups and mobile phone networks including Vodafone, and 3 in the UK, America Movil, Movistar & TIM in Latin America, Fido & Rogers in Canada and Dobson in the US.
“Vuesia” is Mobile Streams' full service enterprise mobile media management solution. “Vuesia” facilitates content ingestion, management, delivery, billing and reporting.
The Company creates, licenses and delivers quality content to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and consumers in the form of ringtones, graphics, video clips and other products. It has developed relationships with both content owners and MNOs which enable it to act as an intermediary, providing an end-to-end service encompassing a broad range of elements from content licensing to content production, account management and channel management.
Mobile Streams has subsidiaries in Germany, the US, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Sydney and Singapore and has approximately 100 employees.
For more information please go to www.mobilestreams.com
SHOWTIME's WAP solution to be powered by the Mobile Streams' “Vuesia” Technology Platform
NEW YORK, NY- October 9, 2006 – Mobile Streams and Showtime Networks Inc. announced today that Mobile Streams has built an Off-Deck WAP portal to provide mobile users with access to content from SHOWTIME programs for the first time. WAP, or Wireless Application Protocol, is a secure specification that allows users to access information instantly via handheld wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, smartphones and communicators. Mobile users with 2.5G or 3G handsets will be able to access the mobile offering, subject to carrier and handset capabilities.
This is a groundbreaking arrangement where a television network will give consumers cross-carrier access to video clips from its shows. At launch, the SHOWTIME WAP portal gives mobile users access to video clips and wallpapers from the critically acclaimed new Original Series DEXTER starring Michael C. Hall, as well as video clips from the Emmy®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning WEEDS and the new sketch comedy series THE UNDERGROUND starring Damon Wayans. Content from other Showtime programming, such as SLEEPER CELL, THE L WORD and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
The launch of this WAP portal coincides with the multimedia promotional campaign surrounding the premiere of SHOWTIME's newest hit original series DEXTER. In addition to giving consumers access to this portal on their mobile phones via http://wap.sho.com, messaging has been integrated into print, outdoor and on-air promotion for DEXTER to prompt mobile users to send a text message to SHOWTIME to request more content and information on the show. For example, users can text the word “DEXTER” to the short code SHOTV (74688) in order to receive more information and content on the show via mobile. Users can also learn how to access this mobile content at http://sho.com/dexter.
Robert Hayes, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media for Showtime Networks commented: “Mobile has become an increasingly important component of our overall program promotion and marketing campaigns. It offers us an excellent subscriber acquisition and program sampling opportunity on the expanding mobile platform” Hayes concluded.
Chris Rovtar, Senior Vice President of Mobile Streams, who manages the SHOWTIME relationship says: “We are extremely excited to be involved in the SHOWTIME mobile application. This is the opportune time to raise the curtain on SHOWTIME mobile content by providing users with a very rich video experience.”
The SHOWTIME WAP solution is managed by Mobile Streams' full service
enterprise mobile media management solution “Vuesia”, which manages content ingestion, transcoding, and formatting for all handsets for both domestic and international carriers.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND™ and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.
About Mobile Streams
Mobile Streams is a leading provider of music, comedy, sport and entertainment content to handsets and other wireless devices, whose mobile expertise and distribution platform, “Vuesia,” is used globally by some of the world's largest media groups and mobile phone networks including Vodafone, and 3 in the UK, America Movil, Movistar & TIM in Latin America, Fido & Rogers in Canada and Dobson in the US.
“Vuesia” is Mobile Streams' full service enterprise mobile media management solution. “Vuesia” facilitates content ingestion, management, delivery, billing and reporting.
The Company creates, licenses and delivers quality content to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and consumers in the form of ringtones, graphics, video clips and other products. It has developed relationships with both content owners and MNOs which enable it to act as an intermediary, providing an end-to-end service encompassing a broad range of elements from content licensing to content production, account management and channel management.
Mobile Streams has subsidiaries in Germany, the US, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Sydney and Singapore and has approximately 100 employees.
For more information please go to www.mobilestreams.com
