MTV Networks International’s First Made-for-Mobile Animations Make Their Global Debut
LONDON – 05 June, 2006 – MTV Networks International (MTVNI), owned by Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), today announces the debut of its first animated series of made-for-mobile shorts, Wulffmorgenthaler. A co-production between MTVNI and the ‘Danish Duo’ Mikael Wulff and Anders Morgenthaler, the series of 20 short animations is inspired by the famous Wulffmorgenthaler comic strips of the same name. The witty, compelling animations are the perfect ‘snack-size’ and are guaranteed to leave mobile users wanting more. Wulffmorgenthaler is a further example of MTVNI’s commitment to create and provide users with breakthrough, original mobile content.
The clips will be available on MTVNI’s mobile TV channels and on Video on Demand (VOD) in markets across Europe, Australia and the US. Wulffmorgenthaler content is exclusive to mobile for eight weeks, after which time it will be rolled out on MTVNI’s broadband services, reinforcing the company’s commitment to a multi-platform strategy.
Each animated clip is unique and features different characters and story lines. The shorts continue the comical twists of Wulffmorgenthaler’s original cartoons. One episode, for example, ‘Frank’s Pimple’, features Frank squeezing a pimple; but somehow Frank squeezes his pimple the wrong way! Fresh out of the famous Zentropa Studios, the largest Scandinavian film production company co-owned by Danish film director Lars Von Trier, Wulffmorgenthaler is the first time Wulff and Morgenthaler have produced animations of this kind.
“Wulffmorgenthaler supports our strategic business goal to deliver the most original, compelling content on multiple platforms in multiple markets. The animations underline our commitment to discover and create truly international content that is optimised to deliver the best user-experience across the many digital media platforms,” said Gideon Bierer, Senior Vice President, Digital Media for MTVNI.
Wulff and Morgenthaler commented, “Entertainment on mobiles should work as a quick shot of adrenaline - something creative and fun which can be enjoyed and used while on the move. Mobile handsets are the smallest stage for entertainment imaginable; it has to work in a very basic manner. There is no space for anything but the important stuff – the good idea. It’s exciting to be working with MTVNI on the animations and we value the experience they have in the digital space.”
The animations join MTVNI’s other made-for-mobile content such as Head and Body, produced in partnership with Motorola. MTVNI currently has 12 mobile TV channels, 5 MTV Shorts (known as Snax in the UK) in 10 markets, 2 MTV Music (known as Trax in the UK) in 8 markets, 3 Nickelodeon channels in 3 markets, 1 Paramount comedy channel and 1 Game One channel in 1 market.
For more information visit: www.mtv.tv/wm
Wullfmorgenthaler will be available in June across various countries and mobile operators. Animations are available in French, German, Italian, Spanish and English. Territories include:
· UK, Mobile TV on the MTV Snax loop with Vodafone and 3
· Germany, Mobile TV with T-Mobile, Vodafone D2 and 02 Germany and on VOD including animations, wallpapers and themes with T-Mobile, Vodafone D2, 02 Germany, E-Plus, wap.mtv.de, handy.viva.tv
· Austria, Mobile TV with Drei
· France, Mobile TV with Vodafone
· USA, SVOD with Verizon VCast, Sprint, Amp’d
· Latin America, VOD with Netpeople
· Australia, Mobile TV with ….(To be filled out)
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For further information please contact:
Rachel Cotton
Firefly Communications for MTVNI
Tel: +44 (0)20 7386 1428
Email: Rachel.cotton@fireflycomms.com
Morten E. Wulff
Wulffmorgenthaler.com™
Mobile: +45 28 888 070
Email: mew@wulffmorgenthaler.com
MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Game One and IFILM. MTV Networks' brands are seen in 480 million households in 171 countries and 28 languages via 122 locally programmed and operated TV channels and 100 Web sites. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
Wulffmorgenthaler ApS is an international provider of entertaiment content across all technological platforms. The company is most renowned for it’s “Daily Comic Strip” which is displayed in numerous respected newspapers around Europe and on the company’s website, www.wulffmorgenthaler.com, which has more than 20,000 daily unique visitors. Anders Morgenthaler’s feature film debut, a full length animated film, entitled ‘Princess’, was presented at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
