Media News
CA and Mumbai, November 29, 2007
Hungama Mobile, a major provider of mobile phone content and digital entertainment services, has signed an agreement with Paramount Digital Entertainment to localize and distribute Paramount branded mobile and interactive content for the Indian market. Paramount Digital Entertainment is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation, a unit of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIAB).
The agreement makes Paramount’s wireless and interactive content available to more than 200 million Indian subscribers. The primary intent of the agreement between Paramount Pictures, a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment and Hungama Mobile, one of the largest Indian producers and distributors of mobile value-added services, is to combine the strengths and experiences of each company to deliver world-class, advanced technology-based, interactive and entertaining mobile content. Services include themed logos, polyphonic ring-tones, animated wallpaper screens, mobile games, video clips, and applications, among others to be based upon Paramount’s catalogue. The two companies will work together to execute synergy promotions in the new media space for previous catalogue titles as well as upcoming Paramount releases.
Hungama Mobile has been at the forefront of technological innovations, exciting mobile products and offerings. With this crucial relationship, an Indian Mobile VAS player will now localize and provide exclusive content directly from Paramount Pictures.
“With extraordinary growth and more new mobile subscribers than any other country in the world, India presents a great opportunity for our rapidly expanding global business. This is the first time that Hollywood content of such diversity, quality and size will be made available to the Indian consumers. We are looking forward to offering innovative and popular digital entertainment to Indian users," said Pradeep Mittur, Paramount Digital Entertainment Vice President, Interactive and Mobile Entertainment, Asia Pacific.
“Hungama Mobile being the market leader, with a comprehensive distribution network and proven skills in movie-based content was selected as our strategic partner through a vigorous process,” he added. “The Indian telecom market is the fastest growing market in the world, adding 8.5 million new subscribers each month.”
On accomplishing the major milestone, Neeraj Roy, MD & CEO, Hungama Mobile said, “Our success stems from the strength of Hungama Mobile’s digital distribution network and the numerous new applications and services that we successfully execute with all carriers in India and South Asia. Our agreement with Paramount Digital Entertainment is a significant testament to our best-in-class infrastructure, technology, quality, distribution and innovative marketing skills.”
"Having established ourselves as the undisputed leaders in Bollywood content, we are looking forward to leveraging our niche experience in content development and mobile technologies and aim to be the pioneers of Hollywood content for the Indian market," Roy added.
Headquartered in Mumbai, Hungama Mobile has over the past few years developed a digital distribution network across Mobile, Internet and IPTV services across 32 countries with over 100 partners. The company develops mobile and digital entertainment content across Music, Imagery, Video, Games and Applications.
Hungama Mobile will localize and distribute a wide range of mobile and internet based entertainment for a select mix of Paramount’s library and upcoming titles.
For further information, please contact:
Paramount Digital Entertainment
Shaleek Wilson
1-323 956 4635
Shaleek_wilson@paramount.com
Hanmer & Partners
Vaishali Killawala
91-22-6653 5969
vaishali@hanmerpr.com