Thumbplay News

NEW YORK – August 20, 2008 – Thumbplay® (http://www.thumbplay.com), the #1 mobile entertainment service in the U.S.*, has secured off-deck distribution rights for Player X’ award-winning video and game content. The deal represents Player X’ first direct-to-consumer partnership and was announced today by the two companies.

Effective immediately, Thumbplay customers will have access to Player X’ stellar portfolio of video and game content, which includes an exclusive Hellboy Animated series, new videos based on Universal Studios’ and Paramount Pictures’ movie franchises, as well as hit games such as The Crystal Maze and High School Days.

“We’re seeing tremendous growth in video and games among Thumbplay’s customers,” said Are Traasdahl, Thumbplay’s CEO and founder. “This growth is occurring for two reasons, the content is extremely engaging and the mobile experience – on a huge range of phones – is exceptionally good. In terms of content creation, Player X is as good as it gets, and we couldn’t be more proud to have them in our ever-growing family of incredibly talented partners.”

“For us, this is the perfect partnership. We make great content, and Thumbplay makes sure millions and millions of people have access to it,” said Tony Pearce, CEO of Player X. “What is more, they consistently deliver a great customer experience. As a result, I can’t think of any organization as well-suited to being our first direct-to-consumer partner.”

Thumbplay’s extensive and ever-growing entertainment library currently consists of more than 100,000 pieces of licensed content – including music, videos, games and more. Their direct-to-consumer service is accessible on more than 2,000 devices among every major carrier in the U.S.

Thumbplay has maintained and grown its leadership position in the industry by providing its consumers with the best possible customer experience, including live, “24/7/365” customer service and a commitment to delivering the largest catalog of entertainment possible. Thumbplay’s “locker” service also allows users to automatically back-up and store purchased items. Thumbplay features licensed music, video and gaming content from some of the world’s largest entertainment companies, including EMI, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Pictures Television, as well as several independent labels and artists and video game companies. Thumbplay’s mobile entertainment catalog is integrated into Clear Channel Radio, AOL and MSN Mobile sites, as well as iLike.com, one of the Web’s leading social music discovery services. Moreover, based on Thumbplay’s reputation for exceptional customer care and technological innovation, MTV recently tapped the company to power their mobile content site.

Each month, Thumbplay.com gets more than five million unique visitors and its mobile (WAP) site (m.thumbplay.com) receives more than 12 million page views, making it one of the most popular mobile Web sites.

*Source: Nielsen Mobile’s “Mobile Content Storefront Revenue” Report, Q3 and Q4 2007 and Q1 and Q2 2008 (based on non-carrier revenue generation at the top U.S. wireless carriers)

About Player X
Player X is a mobile media company that specialises in games, video and TV. It develops, publishes and distributes mobile entertainment content through global operators, portals and handset manufacturers. Player X has deals with more than 140 global operators and a potential audience of more than 2.5 billion people. The company operates in all five continents across the world and has offices in all the key territories in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

About Thumbplay
Thumbplay, Inc. is defining the mobile entertainment experience for U.S. consumers. As the largest and fastest growing mobile entertainment content destination, Thumbplay gives consumers access to the broadest and deepest catalog in the industry, spanning audio, video and gaming content from the leading music labels and artists, game publishers and media companies. Its innovative delivery and marketing platform makes it easy for users to discover, manage, store and share mobile content online and on their wireless devices.

Headquartered in New York City, Thumbplay was founded in September 2004 by Are Traasdahl and Evan Schwartz. It is backed by Bain Capital Ventures, SoftBank Capital, i-Hatch Ventures, Redwood Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Meritech, Brookside Capital Partners and Cross Creek Capital. More information can be found at (http://www.thumbplay.com) or at (http://m.thumbplay.com) from a mobile phone.

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Labels: press-release

posted by Kaplow at 12:00 PM

New Online & Mobile Storefronts Bring Flexibility, Backup Features to MTV Mobile Subscribers

NEW YORK, August 11, 2008 — Thumbplay^® (www.thumbplay.com), the #1 mobile entertainment destination in the U.S.*, today announced that it is working with MTV to enhance and manage its mobile personalization offerings for MTV, MTV2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams and MTV Tr3s.

Thumbplay will power personalized content for MTV Mobile, including ringtones, applications, games, wallpapers and more. Fans will now enjoy the flexibility to purchase MTV-branded content a la carte or via subscription-based credits and have it delivered directly to the more than 2,000 mobile devices supported by Thumbplay. In addition to expanded choice, MTV fans will also enjoy an online content locker that automatically backs-up purchased items to their account. MTV will promote the new service with marketing on-air, online and via MTV Mobile’s WAP sites.

“MTV fans deserve a service that is fun, intuitive and easy-to-use – and that’s exactly what we’re delivering,” said Are Traasdahl, Thumbplay’s CEO and founder. “Our company has achieved its leadership position by providing our customers, and our partners’ consumers, with seamless technology that allows them to quickly and easily search for, find and download the mobile content they want. When you combine a great user experience with the value of the MTV brand and MTV’s reach to a digitally-oriented audience, I have every confidence it will be an enormous success.”

“The consumer experience is always at the center of what we offer to our fans online and on mobile,” said Greg Clayman, Executive Vice President of Digital Distribution for MTV Networks. “Thumbplay’s proven track-record in terms of technological know-how and infrastructure, as well as its experience and position as the leading mobile entertainment content destination, will offer our audience a great customer experience and provide great enhancements to MTV’s personalized content delivery.

About Thumbplay

Thumbplay, Inc. is defining the mobile entertainment experience for U.S. consumers. As the largest and fastest growing mobile entertainment content destination, Thumbplay gives consumers access to the broadest and deepest catalog in the industry, spanning audio, video and gaming content from the leading music labels and artists, game publishers and media companies. Its innovative delivery and marketing platform makes it easy for users to discover, manage, store and share mobile content online and on their wireless devices.

Headquartered in New York City, Thumbplay was founded in September 2004 by Are Traasdahl and Evan Schwartz. It is backed by Bain Capital Ventures, SoftBank Capital, i-Hatch Ventures, Redwood Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Meritech, Brookside Capital Partners and Cross Creek Capital. More information can be found at www.thumbplay.com or at m.thumbplay.com from a mobile phone.

About MTV Networks

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 more than 150 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, LOGO, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, 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 300 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.

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Labels: press-release

posted by Kaplow at 9:08 AM