Viacom's MTV Networks Signs Pepsi and Intel As Charter Sponsors For Mobile Offerings
First MTVN Mobile Advertising Deals Signal New, Integrated Multiplatform
Opportunities
ORLANDO, Fla., March 28 -- Committed to helping marketing
partners embrace all platforms, MTV Networks (MTVN), a unit of Viacom
(NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), today announced that Pepsi-Cola North America and
Intel Corporation have signed on as charter sponsors for a variety of
MTVN's mobile offerings. The move, which marks the first time MTVN is
selling advertising across its mobile portfolio, represents new
opportunities for marketers to bring their brands to life in an integrated
fashion across MTVN's digital platforms, from online to wireless.
The announcement was made today by Philippe Dauman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Viacom, in his keynote address at the CTIA Wireless
2007 convention.
The Intel Corp. and Pepsi brands will feature prominently on the MTV
and COMEDY CENTRAL mobile TV channels, as well as the all-new MTV, VH1 and
COMEDY CENTRAL mobile websites that are debuting today. The MTVN mobile TV
channels and websites ensure diverse audiences can stay easily connected to
the music, comedy, pop culture and entertainment programming they love in
the manner that best suits their needs. By embracing the mobile media
platforms, Pepsi and Intel are ensuring the widest possible reach for
engaging existing and potential customers.
"With the introduction of mobile advertising, MTVN creates an entirely
new revenue stream, as well as a new way to fuel further content innovation
and growth on mobile," said Dauman. "I'm thrilled that MTVN is taking this
step toward fully unlocking the value of its mobile portfolio with strong,
credible, and widely recognized brands like Pepsi and Intel."
"MTVN is a made-for-mobile company, powered by our knack for creating
fresh and irreverent content that translates to the 'third screen,' and
makes a lasting connection with audiences," said Judy McGrath, Chairman and
CEO, MTVN. "Our strategy is to provide our audiences with compelling
entertainment experiences, and by introducing mobile advertising, we're
offering our advertisers a closer connection with our audiences across
platforms."
"As we continue to evolve our advertising, we see this as a great
opportunity to reach our on-the-go consumers in an engaging environment,"
said Cie Nicholson, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer,
Pepsi-Cola North America. "We look forward to collaborating with our
partners at MTVN on this exciting new project."
"We believe consumers should enjoy entertainment when and where they
want it -- on their desktop or notebook PC, on TV through a media center PC
or on their mobile phone," said Heather Dixon, America's digital home and
mobility marketing manager, Intel Corp. "Intel has a long-standing
relationship with MTV Networks and we will continue to work closely to
bring high-quality shows and content to PC's based on the Intel(R)
Core(TM)2 Duo processor, as well as devices like the mobile phone."
The MTVN mobile TV channels feature top-rated viewer favorites, such as:
* Popular MTV shows "The Real World," "The Hills," "Engaged and
Underage," "Bam's Unholy Union," "My Super Sweet 16," "Two-A-Days,"
"Next," "Exposed" and "True Life";
* "The Colbert Report" and the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning
"South Park" and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" from COMEDY CENTRAL.
The new MTVN WAP (wireless application protocol) websites include:
* MTV offering news updates, show information and scoops, and a featured
artist section;
* VH1 featuring celebrity photo flipbooks, VH1 News commentary, music and
artist features and the VH1 and "Best Week Ever" blogs; and
* COMEDY CENTRAL with a "Joke of the Day," a "What's Your Sign" horoscope
and a section dedicated to the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series
"South Park."
In addition, MTVN's CMT, Logo, Nickelodeon, Spike TV, and TV Land will
be launching mobile websites beginning in second quarter 2007.
MTV Networks creates immersive entertainment experiences for its
audiences on every platform, including mobile. Today's announcement with
Pepsi and Intel was one of several that MTVN's brands made at the CTIA 2007
Wireless show. MTVN and Sprint expanded its partnership to bring even more
of MTVN's popular music, entertainment, kids and comedy programming to
Sprint customers through every possible mobile medium. COMEDY CENTRAL
announced the launch of "South Park 10: The Game," a 40-level
action/adventure mobile game based on the first 10 seasons of the Emmy and
Peabody-Award winning series. MTV Networks Kids and Family Group and Amp'd
Mobile announced a new partnership where content from Nickelodeon and The N
content will appear within new channels on Amp'd Live mobile service.
Nickelodeon and Amp'd will also launch a completely separate channel based
on the property "SpongeBob SquarePants" in second quarter 2007.
GameTrailers.com, the premier provider of video for gamers, announced the
launch of its new mobile video channel.
With 40 mobile channels, 80 mobile distribution deals, and thousands of
content hours provided monthly around the globe, MTV Networks is the
world's leader in entertainment content and programming for wireless.
Across its brands, MTVN puts everything from high-quality short-form and
full-length video, to news and pop culture content, to games and graphics,
to ringtones and voicetones on the handsets and in the hands of its diverse
and highly targeted audiences.
About MTV Networks and Viacom
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the
world's leading creators of programming and content across all media
platforms. MTV Networks, with 135 channels worldwide, 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/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL
SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these
networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its
audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than
200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless
and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements,
joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming
services can be seen worldwide.
Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company, with
prominent and respected brands. Engaging its audiences through television,
motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom seeks to reach its audiences
however they consume content. Viacom's leading brands include the
multiplatform properties of MTV Networks, including MTV: Music Television,
VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, Logo, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, COMEDY
CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, and more than 130 networks around the world, as
well as digital assets such as MTV.com, comedycentral.com, VSPOT,
TurboNick, Neopets, Xfire and iFilm; BET Networks; Paramount Pictures;
DreamWorks; and Famous Music. More information about Viacom and its
businesses is available at http://www.viacom.com.
SOURCE MTV Networks
http://www.mtv.com/
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