Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading next generation studio, and Zed, the leading mobile content company worldwide in terms of revenue and geographical reach, today announced a partnership to develop and launch Zed's multiplatform program "Instantly Rich," already a hit on Spain's Antena 3 TV network, in such leading territories as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The pairing on "Instantly Rich" is Lionsgate and Zed's first worldwide project since forming their partnership to explore cross-platform synergies between mobile multimedia and television in September 2008. In addition to sales to major broadcast, cable and other traditional television networks, the program, a proprietary format of Zed, will also be sold to leading mobile operators for mobile SMS integration.
"Instantly Rich" is a 60-minute weekly reality show that originally launched as "Rico al Instante" in January on Spain's Antena 3 TV, where it successfully became one of the network's number one non-scripted programs. Format sales of "Instantly Rich" will be overseen by Craig Cegielski, Executive Vice President, Programming and Sales, of Lionsgate International Television, and Miguel Lopez-Quesada, General Manager of Zed TV, in territories covered under the agreement.
On the mobile SMS platform, "Instantly Rich" will invite viewers to compete via SMS text messaging for the opportunity to be selected as contestants on the following week's program, with a chance to win up to $1 million each week on live television. Leading up to the show, five production crews will be dispatched to the cities where that week's finalists will be selected through surprise visits to their homes. The production crews will document each finalist's participation in predetermined challenges, along with their efforts to garner the voting support of their communities and the viewing audience, who will cast votes in real time via SMS or by telephone. Contestants can win prizes up to $1 million.
Social and mobile multimedia platforms, web sites, social media widgets and mobile applications will build visibility and momentum for the show and its contestants. While show contestants can register their candidacy on mobile SMS, they will also be able to participate via social media network, including proprietary Zed People, as well as on mobile WAP and other downloadable mobile applications.
"This is a revolutionary new concept in reality television programming in which mobile and social networking platforms are drivers for content and not afterthoughts," said Lionsgate President of Television Programming & Production Kevin Beggs. "We expect mobile multimedia to generate a significant portion of the show's overall revenues, and we believe that this multiplatform launch once again reflects Lionsgate's commitment to groundbreaking television innovation."
Miguel Lopez-Quesada, General Manager of Zed TV, said, "We see ourselves as players with a disruptive technology, so it's great to partner with another industry pioneer. During our previous relationship with Lionsgate, we realized there was a strong partnership in the making between two nimble, market-leading companies. This initiative continues to grow that partnership and, for the first time, we're developing a series that not only leverages the $130 billion global SMS market, but also strengthens Zed's goal of having a multiplatform vision covering console, cinema, PC, mobile and now television."
"Instantly Rich" will tap a large and fast-growing mobile messaging and content marketplace. According to Portio Research, mobile messaging generated revenues of $130 billion worldwide in 2008, and this figure is expected to rise to $224 billion by 2013. Portio also reported that mobile content, including mobile music, games, video and TV, was worth $23.9 billion globally in 2008. Portio projects that mobile content will grow to a total market value of $47.2 billion by 2013.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is the leading next generation studio with a major presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company is leveraging its content leadership and marketing expertise through the recent acquisition of TV Guide Network, one of the 25 most widely distributed cable networks, and partnerships that include the FEARnet branded VOD and Internet horror channel with Sony and Comcast, the expected fall 2009 launch of EPIX, a new premium entertainment channel with partners Viacom and MGM, investment in the leading young men's digital distribution platform Break.com, the recent acquisition of the content and navigation portal TV Guide.com, ownership of the premier independent television syndication company Debmar-Mercury and an alliance with independent filmed entertainment production and distribution company Roadside Attractions.
The Company is an industry market share leader at the North American theatrical box office for calendar 2009 to date and has had recent theatrical box office successes that include Tyler Perry's MADEA GOES TO JAIL, which generated a $41 million opening weekend, largest in Lionsgate history, and has been number one at the box office for the past two consecutive weeks, MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, SAW V, RELIGULOUS, FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, RAMBO and THE BANK JOB. Lionsgate has also forged strong positions in television and home entertainment with the production of such critically-acclaimed television series as "Mad Men," "Weeds" and "Crash," the distribution of Tyler Perry's "House of Payne," "Family Feud" and "South Park" and upcoming shows including Tyler Perry's "Meet The Browns" and "The Wendy Williams Show," as well as market share of nearly 7% and the industry's leading box office-to-DVD conversion rate in home entertainment. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.
ABOUT ZED
Zed develops and markets entertainment and community products and services for mobile and the Internet. The company is the leading mobile value-added services (MVAS) player in the world in terms of revenue and geographical footprint. Zed operates in 54 countries, including Europe's largest markets, USA, Russia and China. Zed holds agreements with 130 wireless operators all over the world and employs 1,400 staff.
Founded in 1996, the company's history is characterized by ongoing development of innovative services in the entertainment and leisure arena for mobile and internet, and remains at the forefront of the industry. For more information visit www.zedw.com.