Deal Makes FUSE the First U.S. Cable Network to Offer Marketgraph’s Proprietary SMS-TV ® (Short Message Service) Technology in Three, New Shows Premiering October 17
New York, NY – Monday, October 10, 2005 – fuse, the nation’s only all-music viewer influenced television network, has reached an agreement with Netherlands’s-based Marketgraph BV to secure U.S. rights to Marketgraph’s SMS-TV Formats, based on a proprietary technology that overlays two-way interactivity powered by text messaging on cellphones and other hand held devices to traditional television formats. The announcement was made here today by Lisa Choi Owens, fuse’s Vice President of Business Development.
FUSE will incorporate SMS-TV technology into three new, video-flow shows slated to premiere October 17, 2005, titled Perfect Pair, Dumped and Heavy Texting. Marketgraph BV’s two-way text messaging technology will also be incorporated into the long-running viewer favorite Daily Download with live chat capability incorporated into the show.
“We are excited that fuse will be the first American broadcaster to offer Marketgraph’s SMS-TV formats and technology, empowering innovation that has greatly vitalized the TV experience abroad, for both viewers and content creators,” said Choi Owens. “Already a hit feature of much-watched entertainment and reality shows in Europe, we think SMS is an ideal attraction to further deepen the fuse experience with our key demographic of tech-savvy, cellphone-totin’ teen-agers and young adults.”
The three premiering attractions will be relationship-based, enabling viewers to watch their favorite videos and use their cell phones to enter in information about themselves and their partners to receive personalized return messages, which may also appear onscreen before a national audience during fuse shows.
Airing Monday – Friday at 3:30 PM ET, beginning October 17, Perfect Pair will let viewers watch their favorite videos while using their cell phones to text their name and their partner’s name to learn their romantic compatibility. Results will then be posted on-air in the order that they are received. Viewers will enter their names and their corresponding compatibility will be texted back to their phone and may then appear onto the screen during the show for the chance to “claim their fame.”
The late night attraction, Heavy Texting, will air Monday – Friday at 2 AM – 4 AM ET, will be a spicier version of the fuse’s new compatibility game, with both harder edged videos and responses. And for those who want to know when the end of their love will be near, there will also be Dumped, airing Saturday – Sunday at 11 AM ET. With this interactive show, users will be able to text in their names to get a numerology-based forecast of the date their love will end up in Cupid’s junkyard!
About Fuse
Fuse is the nation’s only all-music, viewer-influenced television network, featuring music videos, exclusive artist interviews, live concerts and specials – all rooted in the music experience. fuse reflects the rapidly changing interests and attitudes of its 12-34 year-old audience by uniting the media platforms at the center of their communication and entertainment – TV, Web, mobile technologies and interactive gaming and by incorporating their opinions and suggestions into the network’s on-air and online programming. More information about fuse is available at www.fuse.tv.
About Marketgraph
Marketgraph is a leader in TV SOFTWARE and mobile based interactive TV. The Company’s products enhance the viewer experience on regular TV Broadcasting. Marketgraph interactive SMS-TV formats, mobile content and TV Software applications have broad market reach and are incorporated into a variety of platforms, including those of world known Music Stations and other TV brands. For more information, visit the Company’s Web site at www.sms-tv.com