Several European Distribution Deals Announced Involving Mag Rack Video-On-Demand Service
New York, NY – March 22, 2006 – iD Distribution has signed a series of strategic agreements to distribute Rainbow Media's Mag Rack content throughout Europe. Part of Rainbow's international expansion, the deals include more than 150 segments from the company's video-on-demand (VOD) television network, which have been licensed to broadcasters in Scandinavia, Hungary and Greece. The announcement was made today by Glenn Oakley, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Rainbow Media.
Launched in 2001 in the United States, Mag Rack is the ultimate on-demand television network, delivering made-for-VOD programming that fully engages consumers and provides them with compelling, personalized television. Mag Rack is available to 10 million on-demand customers in 50 U.S. markets.
"With Mag Rack, we have prided ourselves in being at the forefront of VOD programming in the U.S.," said Oakley in announcing the sales. "These deals will now allow us to offer international broadcasters the same high quality VOD series with proven audience appeal and superior performance."
"This is a unique offering for the growing international VOD market," said Sally Miles, iD's Managing Director. "The wide variety of content and incredibly high entertainment value Mag Rack programming provides is a combination that will certainly generate many more buyers in the exciting on-demand arena."
Added Dan Ronayne, Mag Rack General Manager: "VOD puts the power of choice at the viewer's fingertips, and our bouquet of unique and targeted VOD programs offers something for every taste. We look forward to serving the diverse tastes of the European marketplace."
Part of a broader initiative that includes all the Rainbow brands, the Mag Rack deals represent Rainbow's first international VOD sales, with video-on-demand one of three content tiers now available to international broadcasters. The others include linear channels and high definition (HD) programming. iD Distribution has recently inked several HD distribution agreements for Rainbow, including 25 hours of content for National Geographic's international HD rollout; 10 hours for China's first-ever HDTV channel, CCTV; and 20.5 hours for Thailand's UBC-each helping to fill an HD void in the international marketplace.
Rainbow's international Mag Rack deals include:
- Modern Times Group's Viasat Broadcasting, a leading digital satellite pay-TV broadcaster in Scandinavia, which has licensed 56 segments from Mag Rack's Auto Access and four segments from its Maximum Science VOD offerings.
- Hungary's Spectrum, which has licensed 13 segments from Mag Rack's Mission: Space and 11 segments from Inside Weddings.
- Let's Go Garden, 20 segments from Photography Close-Up and 13 segments from Mission: Space.
VOD Segment Descriptions:
Auto Access is ideal for viewers who buy smart when shopping for a new or used car. The segments include car manufacturers' annual reveals in New York, Los Angeles and Detroit, as well as programs on concept cars and new technologies for a glimpse of what's coming down the road.
Mission: Space, hosted by Andy Chaiken, co-author of A Man on the Moon, the book that was the basis for HBO's From the Earth to the Moon, uncovers the mysteries of space with fascinating programs about the vastness and beauty of our universe, including human attempts to explore the realms beyond earth.
Let's Go Garden, hosted by Jackie Albarella, focuses on the practical side of gardening with projects real people can achieve whether a beginning gardener or a passionate green thumb.
Inside Weddings, produced by theknot.com, is the perfect resource for anyone planning a dream wedding, as segments are packed with valuable advice on everything from gowns and formal wear, flowers and photography to unique places to celebrate.
Photography Close Up has assembled a virtual who's who from the world of photography to bring camera enthusiasts the latest news and tips on various photo genres, developments in digital photography and plenty of valuable advice.
Maximum Science – Who discovered oxygen? Is Pluto really a planet? Maximum Science raises many questions and gives simple and concise answers. Aspiring Nobel Prize winners will love this series, which is educational and informative for all ages.
About iD Distribution
iD Distribution is a dynamic company launched in 2004 with the investment backing of Ingenious Media. Working with some of the top UK and US production companies, representing a new and exciting catalogue of programs and formats in the entertainment, factual, reality and lifestyle genres, iD Distribution is committed to providing the best service to production companies and broadcasters.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic programming with linear networks including national networks – AMC, fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; its regional programming service – Rainbow Sports Networks; on-demand networks including Mag Rack and sportskool; and the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere – the VOOM HD Networks. Rainbow's other businesses include its film distribution, production and exhibition division – IFC Entertainment; in addition to its advertising sales division – Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation – and its full service network programming origination and distribution company – Rainbow Network Communications.