Warner Bros. To Bring TV Content To TiVo, Sling, Veoh, Joost, And Dailymotion

The Warner Bros. Television Group has signed distribution deals with TiVo, Sling, Veoh, Joost, and Dailymotion to bring their programming to these platforms in a free, ad-supported format. The new distribution availability will launch in mid-September, bringing the studio’s content to these platforms. The agreement includes content from The WB Network, KidsWB, and the Warner Bros. collection. As well as original content being created for TheWB.com. In addition to themed channels for TheWB.com and KidsWB.com the partners will be launching two new themed channels, Classics WBTV and a Sci Fi channel. The former will feature full-length episodes of landmark series from Warner Bros. and the latter will feature full-length episodes of the studios science fiction series.

I’m really excited and happy to see this. It is good to see a traditional media company really diving into new distribution systems, and, even better, not re-inventing the wheel with yet another website or box – but embracing existing distribution channels. Personally the two that excite me the most, unsurprisingly, are TiVo and Sling. I’d love to be able to download WB TV content right to my TiVo, or watching it via SlingPlayer – or on a SlingCatcher. I’m a fan of animation, and The WB has produced some of the best modern TV animation (Batman, Superman, Justice League, Animaniacs, etc) and I hope all of that great content is available through this system. I’m really looking forward to this being available.

Press release below:

WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS WITH DAILYMOTION, JOOST, SLING MEDIA, TiVo AND VEOH NETWORKS TO LAUNCH NEW BRANDED CHANNELS

BURBANK, Calif. (June 12, 2008) – The Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) has signed distribution agreements with a select group of preferred partners to launch a number of advertiser-supported branded channels in premium environments that will further WBTVG’s strategic expansion into the digital marketplace. WBTVG will work closely with Dailymotion, Joost, Sling Media, TiVo and Veoh Networks to launch channels that will include TheWB.com and KidsWB.com – the two new advertiser-supported broadband destinations WBTVG unveiled in late April at a press conference in New York City. The announcement was made today by Bruce Rosenblum, President, Warner Bros. Television Group.

The channels will launch in mid-September, providing WBTVG’s branded destinations with the added reach of the distribution partners’ target audiences, while giving consumers greater access to the Studio’s programming. The three-screen distribution strategy provides scale to advertisers, allowing them to associate with Warner Bros. brands through the expanding Warner Bros. digital arena, which gives advertisers access to targeted consumers via the Studio’s programming in a premium environment.

“These new premium partnerships fit our overall digital distribution strategy by providing users the opportunity to access our content where and when they choose,” said Rosenblum. “These partnerships will further the reach of the high-quality content we are creating to fuel our branded, ad-supported niche destinations which will benefit both the user and the advertiser.”

The branded channels at Dailymotion.com, Joost.com, Sling, TiVo and Veoh.com will offer, free of charge to consumers, full-length episodes of programming – some drawing from The WB Network, and others from Kids’ WB! and the Warner Bros. collection. In addition, selected original series will be made exclusively for TheWB.com, including “Sorority Forever,” an innovative mystery/drama from director/producer McG (the upcoming “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins,” “Supernatural,” the “Charlie’s Angels” movies) and Big Fantastic (“Prom Queen”) that peeks behind the walls of one of the most intriguing secret societies in the world: the sorority. Additional series being made available will be announced at a future date. In addition to these branded channels, WBTVG and these preferred partners will launch two new themed channels: Classics WBTV, a channel featuring full-length episodes of landmark series from the vast Warner Bros. Entertainment collection of programs, and a Sci Fi channel, including complete episodes from a selection of the Studio’s science fiction titles.

A premium, ad-supported, video-on-demand, interactive and personalized network targeting the Adults 16–34 demographic highly coveted by advertisers, TheWB.com will feature original programming created or acquired specifically for TheWB.com – including series from director/producer McG and writer/producer Josh Schwartz (“Gossip Girl,” “Chuck,” “The O.C.”); the re-release of a collection of The WB Network’s most popular series and other successful programming – and an extensive network of distribution partners. Designed for children aged 6–12, KidsWB.com is a premium, ad-supported destination built around youth-oriented, immersive entertainment which unites the Studio’s libraries of animated characters and programming, including Warner Bros. Animation, Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics.

These announcements follow the creation of branded channels for TheWB.com and KidsWB.com on AOL, as well as the launch of an original application on Facebook® Platform that allows seamless integration of Facebook’s social utility on TheWB.com, and TheWB.com’s entertainment content on Facebook. WBTVG’s Digital Media Sales team will handle the advertising inventory for both the broadband and wireless marketplaces.

About Warner Bros. Television Group
The Warner Bros. Television Group oversees the entire portfolio of Warner Bros. television businesses, including worldwide production, traditional and digital distribution and broadcasting. WBTVG is committed to creating, producing and distributing content across all traditional, emerging digital and future platforms in the evolving entertainment and media landscape. In the traditional television arena, WBTVG produces primetime, first-run, cable and animation series which are distributed worldwide. WBTVG is also an innovative leader in developing new business models for the evolving digital television marketplace, including ad-supported video-on-demand as well as broadband and wireless destinations featuring original content produced by WBTVG. The Group provides unmatched digital media sales opportunities tailored to clients seeking multiplatform campaigns across broadcast, cable, broadband and wireless outlets. Warner Bros. Entertainment is also a partner with CBS in The CW Television Network.

About Dailymotion
A top 50 website worldwide (source: Alexa), Dailymotion is the world’s largest independent video entertainment website (source: comScore, April 2008). Every day, over 15,000 new videos are uploaded into Dailymotion’s global network of localized video entertainment sites. Every month, over 36 million unique users (source: comScore, April 2008) stream over 900 million videos including curated content from premium and Motionmaker creative contributors. Using the most advanced technology for both users and content creators, Dailymotion provides high-quality and HD video in a fast, easy-to-use Web site that also automatically filters infringing material. Dailymotion’s mission is to provide the best possible entertainment experience for users and the best marketing opportunities for advertisers, while respecting content protection. For more information, please visit http://www.dailymotion.com.

About Joost™
Founded by Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström, Joost brings video and social interaction together online. All of video on Joost is professionally produced and streams on-demand to people around the world for free in a high-quality format. Today, Joost has more than 30,000 program elements, including more than 400 television series and 1,200 movie and short film titles. To learn more about Joost, visit www.joost.com.

About Sling Media
Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), is a leading digital lifestyle company, offering consumer services and products that are a natural extension of today’s digital way of life. Sling Media’s product family includes the internationally acclaimed, Emmy award-winning Slingbox™ that allows consumers to watch and control their living room television shows at any time, from any location, using PCs, Macs, PDAs, and smartphones. In addition, Sling Media will offer a forthcoming video destination site, Sling.com, which will combine long form, premium content from a variety of media partners with clipped, short form content created and shared by Slingbox customers using Clip+Sling creating a truly unique site for both Slingbox customers as well as the community at large. For more information on Sling Media, or the Slingbox, visit www.slingmedia.com. For more information on Sling.com, visit www.sling.com.

About TiVo Inc.
Founded in 1997, TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO) pioneered a brand new category of products with the development of the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). Sold through leading consumer electronic retailers, TiVo has developed a brand that resonates boldly with consumers as providing a superior television experience. Through agreements with leading satellite and cable providers, TiVo also integrates its full set of DVR service features into the set-top boxes of mass distributors. TiVo’s DVR functionality and ease of use, with such features as Season Pass™ recordings and WishList® searches and TiVo KidZone has elevated its popularity among consumers and has created a whole new way for viewers to watch television. With a continued investment in its patented technologies, TiVo is revolutionizing the way consumers watch and access home entertainment. Rapidly becoming the focal point of the digital living room, TiVo’s DVR is at the center of experiencing new forms of content on the TV, such as broadband delivered video, music and photos. With innovative features, such as TiVoToGo™ transfers and online scheduling, TiVo is expanding the notion of consumers experiencing “TiVo, TV your way.®” The TiVo® service is also at the forefront of providing innovative marketing solutions for the television industry, including a unique platform for advertisers and audience measurement research. The company is based in Alviso, Calif.

About Veoh Networks
Named one of AdWeek’s Top 10 Digital Hotlist sites in 2007, Veoh Networks is an innovative Internet Television company that delivers broadcast-quality video programming via the Internet. The Veoh Networks portfolio includes Veoh.com, one of the most popular video hosting services on the Internet, and VeohTV, a free downloadable application that turns online video into Internet Television. Veoh.com has more than 100,000 content publishers – from CBS, Viacom’s MTV Networks, FEARNet, Lions Gate, PBS, National Lampoon, Road and Track and Us Magazine to thousands of independent filmmakers and content producers – and currently attracts over 28 million unique users per month. VeohTV makes it easy to turn any computer into a digital video recorder that allows viewers to watch and record shows from thousands of Internet video sources. For advertisers, Veoh offers compelling ways of engaging with a targeted audience and measuring performance of their ad buys. Veoh Networks is a privately held company that is backed by leading technology and media investors, including Shelter Capital Partners, Spark Capital, Michael Eisner’s Tornante Company, Goldman Sachs, Time Warner Inc., Intel Capital, Adobe Systems Incorporated, Gordon Crawford, Tom Freston and Jonathan Dolgen. The company’s principal offices are in Los Angeles and San Diego, California.

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Contact: Tammy Golihew
Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Publicity
(818) 954-4855

WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP DIGITAL PARTNERS RELEASE ADDENDUM
June 12, 2008

DAILYMOTION
“We are pleased to bring Warner Bros. Television Group’s content to Dailymotion where our users can enjoy it on our high quality video player,” said Joy Marcus, General Manager of Dailymotion US. “Warner Bros.’ programming is a strong addition to our repertoire of curated channels consisting of leading premium and creative user video.”

JOOST
Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, executive vice president of content strategy and acquisition for Joost, said, “The Warner Bros. Television Group has been a great partner of Joost for more than a year. The Studio is leading the way when it comes to innovative content development and distribution strategies, and we are looking forward to growing our business with them.”

SLING MEDIA
“We’re extremely proud and excited to be in business with the Warner Bros. Television Group who understands the importance of access to content on all platforms,” said Jason Hirschhorn, president of the Sling Media Entertainment Group. “Their programming is going to be an important backbone to our forthcoming site Sling.com.”

TiVo
“We are excited to have The WB’s original content sent directly to the homes of our TiVo subscribers,” said Tara Maitra, GM and VP of Content Services at TiVo Inc. “TiVo provides the best way to watch TV, and as we continue to add new content from partners, such as from The WB, we provide the best overall entertainment experience.”

VEOH
“Warner Bros. has long been a leading brand in high-quality entertainment, so we are very pleased to partner with them as they embrace the Internet Television space,” said Joshua Metzger, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, Veoh Networks. “The fresh, youthful programming that Warner Bros. Television Group provides is a perfect fit for Veoh’s young, influential and highly engaged audience.”

Disclaimer: I’m currently employed by Sling Media.