FUEL TV, Oxygen, SPEED, Sundance Channel and TV Guide Will Provide
Premium Programming to New Destination and Distribution Network
NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES, May 30 /CNW/ - News Corporation and NBC
Universal today announced the addition of FUEL TV, Oxygen, SPEED, Sundance
Channel and TV Guide to their premium video joint venture's growing roster of
professional content partners. Each network will bring a variety of original
content that showcases its unique programming expertise to the new site and
video network on a non-exclusive basis.
"Each of our new content partners has a reputation for creating premium
entertainment experiences designed to fulfill television viewers' more
eclectic needs," said George Kliavkoff, chief digital officer, NBC Universal
and interim CEO of the joint venture. "We are delighted they have all agreed
to contribute their compelling content to our venture, which will help ensure
our ability to satisfy the more personalized demands of the growing number of
Web video consumers."
Under the terms of its agreements with FUEL TV and SPEED, the new venture
will distribute both partners' short-form content across its distribution
network and will host their programming on its destination site. The venture's
distribution network currently includes some of the most-popular sites on the
Web, including AOL, MSN, MySpace, Yahoo, Comcast and CNET.
Oxygen, the only cable network owned and operated by women, will
contribute short-form content from its vast array of unconventional and
original programming, initially including The Bad Girls Club, Fight Girls, 50
Funniest Women and Our Bodies, Myself.
"Oxygen is committed to making our content available on every platform
that our audience is, and this is an excellent opportunity to do just that,"
said Mary Murano, president of distribution for Oxygen. "Broadband is fast
becoming the future of content distribution and it is important for Oxygen to
be at the forefront. We are looking forward to a great partnership with some
of the industry's leading companies."
The new venture will also distribute a wide range of Sundance Channel
programming, including full-length original series, exclusive webisodes, short
films, original short-form content shot exclusively for the Web and clips from
feature films and documentaries. Included in the offerings are selections from
Sundance Channel's new weekly environmental block, THE GREEN, featuring all 13
episodes from the original series Big Ideas for a Small Planet as well as
short form series Ecoists and Eco Biz along with original webisodes exploring
each week's eco theme hosted by Simran Sethi. All six episodes of Sundance
Channel's series One Punk Under God, looking at alternative Christian minister
Jay Bakker, will also be offered.
Larry Aidem, Sundance Channel's president and CEO noted, "Sundance
Channel's participation in this new News Corp./NBCU joint venture underscores
our strategy and efforts to expand the reach of Sundance Channel content
beyond the linear network to a thriving audience seeking our content across
multiple platforms."
In addition to distributing content from TV Guide Broadband, an
advertising-supported video service offering programming about the world of
television and entertainment, across all its distribution partner sites, the
venture's destination site will offer fresh and entertaining short-form video
content from TV Guide Broadband, including: TV Guide's recommendations for the
best shows, movies and music on television; interviews with top celebrities;
behind-the-scenes from the hottest TV shows; and highlights from TV Guide
Network's original programming such as "America's Next Producer" and Red
Carpet interviews from the major Hollywood awards shows.
"Our partnership with the new joint venture underscores TV Guide's
continued commitment to extending our brand and valued content to broadband
users, and we are excited to work with blue chip distributors that are paving
the future for online video entertainment. The combined efforts of these
industry leaders will surely create an amazing product, and we like to partner
with winners," said Ryan O'Hara, president of TV Guide Network and TV Guide
Broadband. "Consumer appetite for TV and video content on the web is
exploding, and TV Guide Broadband will deliver a best-in-class video channel
with the most comprehensive collection of content covering the world of TV and
entertainment."
Launching later this summer, News Corporation and NBC Universal's video
destination and network will feature thousands of hours of full-length TV
programming, clips and movies, representing premium content from close to
twenty networks and major television and film studios. In addition to the
partners announced today, the venture has also signed non-equity content
agreements with CNET and Comcast Corporation, which has agreed to contribute
content from E!, Style, G4, Versus and Golf Channel.
The new NBCU/News Corp. joint venture will have offices in Los Angeles
and New York. Permanent management and corporate branding will be announced
shortly.
About News Corporation
News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets as
of December 31, 2006 of approximately US$59 billion and total annual revenues
of approximately US$27 billion. News Corporation is a diversified
international media and entertainment company with operations in eight
industry segments: filmed entertainment; television; cable network
programming; direct broadcast satellite television; magazines and inserts;
newspapers; book publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation are
conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the United
Kingdom, Australia, Asia and the Pacific Basin.
About NBC Universal
NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment
companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment,
news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May
2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment,
NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment
networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production
operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme
parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by
Vivendi.
About Fuel TV
FUEL TV is the only 24/7 action sports cable and satellite network in the
U.S. FUEL TV's programming covers the lifestyle and culture of skateboarding,
snowboarding, surfing, BMX, freestyle motocross, and wakeboarding. Through its
original and commissioned series and specials, short-form content, films, and
prestigious event coverage, the channel features action sports athletes - in
motion and in exclusive interviews - emerging musicians, celebrities, and
breaking news. Signature original shows include The Daily Habit, The Weekly
Update with Boost Mobile, and Firsthand. A unit of Fox Cable Networks, FUEL TV
was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in 24 million U.S. homes. FUEL TV is
viewed in 54 countries including the UK (FX UK); Australia (FUEL TV Aus), and
Latin America and Brazil (FX Latin America). To subscribe to FUEL TV call
877-4-FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv.
About Oxygen Media
Oxygen, the only cable network owned and operated by women, is currently
available in over 71 million homes. The network was launched in 2000 to fill a
void in the television landscape -- creating a network targeted to younger
women. Oxygen is rewriting the rulebook for women's television, with a vast
array of unconventional and original programming including The Janice
Dickinson Modeling Agency, The Bad Girls Club, Tori & Dean: Inn Love and
Campus Ladies. Geraldine Laybourne, the network's founder, Chairman and CEO,
has led the company to be a strong advocate for women. Through programs like
The Mentor's Walk, Oxygen's national program for bringing along the next
generation, and "Who Cares About Girls," Oxygen's new documentary series --
Oxygen is creating The New Girls Network.
About SPEED
SPEED is the nation's first and foremost cable television network
dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From
racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality
programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 75
million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports
cable networks in the country, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry
leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband
services. For more information please visit www.SPEEDtv.com
About Sundance Channel
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the
television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something
different. Bold, uncompromising and irreverent, Sundance Channel offers
audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, and
original programs, all unedited and commercial free. Launched in 1996,
Sundance Channel is a venture of NBC Universal, CBS and Robert Redford.
Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute
and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of
encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel's website address
is http://www.sundancechannel.com.
About TV Guide
Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: GMST) is a
leading global media, entertainment, and technology company that develops,
licenses, markets and distributes products and services that maximize the
video guidance and entertainment experience for consumers. The Company's
businesses include: television, publishing, and new media properties;
interactive program guide services and products; and intellectual property
licensing. Additional information about the Company can be found at
www.gemstartvguide.com.
For further information: News Corporation: Dana M. Harris 310-369-7255
dana.harris@fox.com or NBC Universal: Amy Zelvin 212-664-7436
Amy.zelvin@nbcuni.com or Fuel TV: Kristin Robinson 310-467-1369
Kristin.Robinson@fox.com or Oxygen: Rachelle Savoia 212-651-5093
rsavoia@oxygen.com or SPEED: Erik Areneson 704-731-2189 EArneson@speedtv.com.
or Sundance Channel: Sarah Eaton 212-708-8043 sarah.eaton@sundancechannel.com
or TV Guide: Leslie Furuta 323-817-4967 leslie.furuta@tvguide.com
