MTVN expands mobile video on Sprint

Cory Bergman March 28th, 2007

The announcements from CTIA keep coming. Coming in April, Sprint will debut three linear video channels with programming from MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. Also, MTV, VH1 and Comedy Central are debuting new WAP sites. More in the release…

PRESS RELEASE — ORLANDO, Fla., March 28 — MTV Networks (MTVN), a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), and Sprint (NYSE: S) today expanded its partnership to bring even more of MTVN’s popular music, entertainment, kids and comedy programming to Sprint customers through every possible mobile medium. In total, Sprint will offer 14 different live streaming and video-on- demand (VOD) channels featuring MTVN content — the most of any carrier.

The partnership builds significantly on the amount of MTVN programming previously available on Sprint. In addition to video-on-demand content from 10 MTVN brands, Sprint will offer:

* Streams of content from MTV, Nickelodeon and COMEDY CENTRAL

* Mobile websites from MTV, VH1 and COMEDY CENTRAL

* A new GameTrailers mobile video channel, which includes a new original mobile series dedicated entirely to coverage of wireless games

“Sprint is a great partner and shares our vision for mobile programming — giving the viewers all the content they love in any way they desire,” said Greg Clayman, Senior Vice President of the MTVN Mobile Media Group. “From ‘The Real World,’ to ‘SpongeBob,’ to ‘The Daily Show,’ our programming defines the ever-changing pop-culture landscape, and we’re giving our viewers multiple means to stay deeply connected to their favorite storylines, celebrities and artists on their Sprint handset.”

“The expansion of Sprint’s partnership with MTV Networks adds to our already extensive selection of video content, which includes many popular high-quality brands,” said John Burris, Vice President of Wireless Data, Sprint. “With additional content from MTV Networks, Sprint is delivering a wide array of programming that will be enjoyed by a large cross section of our customers — it’s the content that customers most want, available in the ways that they most want it.”

Sprint subscribers will be able to enjoy all their favorite shows, access cool made-for-mobile content, view After Shows, check out exclusive cast member interviews and view behind-the-scenes action. The new streams of MTVN mobile TV channels will feature top-rated viewer favorites, such as:

* Popular MTV shows “The Real World,” “The Hills,” “Engaged and Underage,” “Bam’s Unholy Union,” “My Super Sweet 16,” “Two-A-Days,” “Next,” “Exposed” and “True Life”

* Pop culture phenomena “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Dora the Explorer” from Nickelodeon

* “The Colbert Report,” and the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning “South Park” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” from COMEDY CENTRAL

The new MTVN WAP (wireless application protocol) websites include:

* MTV offering news updates, show information and scoops, and a featured artist section

* VH1 featuring celebrity photo flipbooks, VH1 News commentary, music and artist features and the VH1 and “Best Week Ever” blogs

* COMEDY CENTRAL with a “Joke of the Day,” a “What’s Your Sign” horoscope and a section dedicated to the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “South Park”

The mobile TV streams and WAP sites join the stable of MTVN VOD channels available on Sprint, including the MTV, VH1, CMT, Nickelodeon, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, Logo and The N brands.