More Than 20 Million Viewers to Experience the Future of Television During
Spike TV's 2007 "Video Game Awards"
Sunday, December 9 at 9pm, ET/PT Spike TV Viewers Will Use Their DIRECTV and
DISH Network(R) Remote Controls to Transform Their Viewing Experience
LAS VEGAS, and NEW YORK, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Spike TV, a division of
Viacom's (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTVN Entertainment Group, will bring amazing
interactive television functionality into the living rooms of DIRECTV and DISH
Network(R) subscribers for Spike TV's 2007 "Video Game Awards", which will air
on Sunday, December 9 at 9:00 pm ET/PT. Spike TV has teamed up with
Ensequence, the interactive television company, to bring the features to life
for Sunday's show.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071206/NYTH104 )
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060322/NYW096LOGO )
Spike TV's 2007 "Video Game Awards" represents the broadest interactive
television deployment in the United States. During the telecast, more than 20
million DISH Network(R) and DIRECTV viewers will be able to use their existing
remote controls to: -- Access never-released cheat codes for their favorite
games.
-- Play a classic arcade game.
-- Watch exclusive content, including trailers for upcoming game releases.
-- Learn about specially produced video game features.
-- Get reviews of previous "Video Game Awards" winners, fun facts, game
genre history and game developers' concept ideas.
The Spike TV audience of hard-core gamers has extremely high expectations
for interactivity and they expect the most innovative and engaging
experiences. By teaming up with Ensequence, the network was given the
creative flexibility to dynamically build the most sophisticated interactive
television experience possible - while also reaching the widest audience.
Interactive television is a critical component of a fully integrated digital
media strategy that cuts across television, broadband and mobile.
"The fans of all our MTV Networks brands crave a deeper level of
interaction and ITV is emerging as a powerful tool for us to meet that need,"
said Denise Dahldorf, executive vice president, content distribution and
marketing, MTV Networks. "We're thrilled to partner with DIRECTV and the DISH
Network(R) - two undisputed leaders in ITV - to push forward this exciting
platform and provide our audiences with an even more dynamic and engaging
experience around Spike TV's VGAs."
During the "Video Game Awards," viewers will be able to use their existing
remote controls to unlock hidden, fully interactive "Easter egg" content, such
as never-before-released cheat codes for popular games. Viewers will receive
hints on how to obtain each cheat code by pressing a combination of numbers on
the remote control. This will promote a "scavenger hunt" type of challenge
and encourage viewers to explore interactive features and watch the entire
broadcast.
"We're proud to partner with Spike TV to deliver this amazing interactive
television experience," said Dalen Harrison, Ensequence CEO. "The Spike TV
2007 "Video Game Awards" is a great example of how the world's most innovative
content producers such as Viacom are revolutionizing television. This show
marks a major milestone in television history in the United States. Spike TV
is reaching an unprecedented number of television homes with a truly unique
interactive television experience and we are thrilled to be a part of it."
About Spike (www.spiketv.com)
Spike TV is available in 96.1 million homes and is a division of MTV
Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc.
(NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
About Ensequence (www.ensequence.com)
Ensequence, the interactive television company, is helping to change the
future of television. Ensequence partners with the world's most innovative
programmers, advertisers and operators to create the most sophisticated
interactive television experiences and deliver these experiences across the
widest range of platforms -- including television, broadband and mobile
devices. The combination of their award-winning on-Q software suites and
professional services makes it possible to dynamically build and quickly
deploy highly targeted interactive television content and easily measure
results with near real-time, web-like performance metrics. Ensequence clients
include: Spike TV, Bravo, Nike, Major League Baseball Advanced Media, MTV
Networks UK & Ireland, Disney, Hewlett-Packard, QVC UK, UKTV, TV Guide, the
BBC, BSkyB, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, and Sky Sports. To
experience the future of television, visit www.ensequence.com.
SOURCE Spike TV
Aileen R. Budow of Spike TV, +1-917-842-9653, aileen.budow@spiketv.com; or
Jessie Dawes of Ensequence, +1-503-416-3867, jessie.dawes@ensequence.com; or
Ken Shuman of Horn Group for Spike TV, +1-415-905-4013, kshuman@horngroup.com
