Fans Get Behind-the-Scenes on Their Mobile PhonesLONDON AND NEW YORK, NY, Nov 03, 2005 -- As part of a continued effort to offer consumers original
music-based programming on their mobile phones, MTV Networks and
Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) announced today that for the
first time content from the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards will be made
available to consumers across Europe.
Following the awards show, mobile subscribers in most European
territories will get the chance to download or stream to their phones
a unique short-form mobile package of WMG and other world-renowned
artists appearing at the awards.
Included in the mobile package will be clips of red carpet arrivals
and pre-show interviews; short backstage interviews with the artists;
clips of award presentations from artists such as WMG's Sean Paul;
and excerpts of music videos.
This new mobile package will be available to consumers in most
European territories beginning Friday afternoon (November 4) following
the MTV Europe Music Awards.
"We are always looking for new and exciting ways to deliver Warner
Music artists' content to fans on a global scale," said Jay Durgan,
Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategic
Partnerships at Warner Music International. "This unique mobile
package, featuring content and appearances, is another example of our
continued collaboration with MTV Networks to showcase new product
platforms for mobile music-based content."
Gary Ellis, VP, Content & Operations, MTV Networks International,
said: "One of our strongest ever mobile packages, this is a key part
of our developing strategic relationship with Warner to deliver
unique artist content and video on demand to mobile users.
"MTV wants to give our audiences a simultaneous multi-media
experience. Our web show and mobile show complement our TV show. By
harnessing digital capabilities to provide a triple screen experience
with different content on each, our audiences will be part of the
excitement of Europe's premier live music event," he said.
The package is part of MTV's largest ever digital show. For the
first time music fans will be able to tune in on their phones for
backstage photos, up-to-the-minute Awards news and behind-the-scenes
gossip. In another MTV first, viewers will have the chance to talk
directly to their favorite artists at the Awards. Celebrity host
Skin will interview artists LIVE post performance or presentation,
asking questions submitted by fans in advance to the MTV Europe Music
Awards websites.
About Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group (WMG) became the only stand-alone music company to
be publicly traded in the United States in May 2005. With its broad
roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home
to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry
including Atlantic, Bad Boy, Elektra, Lava, Maverick, Nonesuch,
Reprise, Rhino, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word. Warner Music
International, a leading company in national and international
repertoire operates through numerous international affiliates and
licensees in more than 50 countries. Warner Music Group also includes
Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers,
with a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide.
About MTV Networks
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA) (NYSE:
VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and
content across all media platforms, with 111 channels, 94 Web sites
reaching 167 countries and territories worldwide. MTV Networks owns
and operates the following television programming services -- MTV:
MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY
CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, LOGO, Paramount Comedy
Channel, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Game One, Flux and a host of
other digital channel brands worldwide, including a package of 13
digital services in the United States. All of these networks are
trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences
through its robust consumer products businesses and well as through
more than 50 mobile video platforms worldwide and dozens of broadband
and interactive television services. The company also has licensing
agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its
programming services can be seen worldwide.