MTV Networks and Warner Music Group Offer First Ever Mobile Content From MTV Europe Music Awards 2005
LONDON 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.