Sometimes press releases are written by PRs for political reasons (if you're an inhouse person) or because its billable time (if you're in consultancy).
We know that they are shocking, we know that the journalists are not interested in them and that they probably don't make sense.
I'll put my hand up and admit that my name is on the bottom of some truly shocking releases, but I wanted to share and celebrate this Disney release around Disney's new adaption of the CS Lewis fantasy series.
I personally love the reference in the second paragraph to "highest theatre quality possible" about content playable on a PC or an iPod.
Kudos to the interesting people email list group for flagging up this beauty and KMC Partners Public Relations of Cambridge Massachusetts for crafting the release and providing me with a modicum of amusement.
Disney Uses Broadband Video Software From Maven Networks to Better Reach Consumers Online, Drive Ticket Sales, Reinforce the Disney Brand
BURBANK, Calif., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Buena Vista Pictures Marketing, a unit of the Walt Disney Studios, today announced the availability of full- screen, theatrical-quality video content from Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media's "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" directly to the PCs and video-enabled iPods of movie fans. Using a broadband video software platform from Maven Networks, Disney today launched "The Narnia Full-Screen Experience."
The Internet channel, available on the film's official website, narnia.com, allows broadband consumers to receive trailers, clips, behind-the-scenes segments, interviews, and other film content to their laptops or PCs in unmatched theatrical quality. For consumers who enjoy "on the go" viewing options, the Maven software allows them to receive trailers and clips that are automatically downloaded and synchronized directly to their video-enabled iPods.
With this initiative, Disney becomes the first film studio to publish promotional campaigns to video-enabled iPods. With video consumption rapidly on the rise online and through Internet-enabled devices, Maven's software allows Disney to deliver and manage its video content in a single package, optimally encoded and formatted for iPod, PC and TV viewing. Other video solutions only provide video optimized for a single device or require content owners to pre-select formats and download content independently and multiple times.
"The Narnia Full-Screen Experience' ushers in an exciting, cutting-edge way of delivering movie materials to audiences," said Dennis Rice, senior vice president of publicity for Buena Vista Pictures Marketing. "The Maven application allows movie fans at home to see trailers and clips the way they should be seen, in the highest theatrical quality possible. With the tremendous amount of interest we've already seen for 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' we felt this was the perfect opportunity to partner with Maven, as there is no better application to showcase the scope and grandeur of the movie."
"Consumers are watching videos online anywhere, anytime they want, and want access to the same content on all of their entertainment devices," said Hilmi Ozguc, CEO of Maven Networks. "We're proud to partner with Disney in making highest-quality content available to video-enabled iPods and PCs, and in helping them market their film content to meet changing consumer viewing habits."
Maven Networks' broadband video software platform powers the online experience of film studios, media companies and leading marketers who seek an exceptionally rich user experience in an era when consumers spend more of their media time online. Once installed, the Narnia channel automatically checks for content updates, and will also offer a range of interactive options, including the ability to send to a friend, check for movie times and purchase tickets.
Directed by Andrew Adamson ("Shrek," "Shrek 2") and produced by Academy Award(R)-winning producer Mark Johnson ("Rain Man"), "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" is one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, and is scheduled to arrive in theatres everywhere on December 9th.
About Maven Networks
Maven Networks provides broadband video technologies that unite the visual impact of television with the interactivity and measurability of the Internet. Maven's end-to-end video publishing, delivery and management platform generates new revenue streams for content providers and builds deeper customer relationships for marketers. The company's products, the Maven Media System and Maven Intelligent Delivery System (IDS), are used by world-class customers, including 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Atom Films, Clear Channel Communications' Premiere Radio unit, Nordstrom, EMI Virgin Records, General Motors, Pepsi and A&E Television Networks International, to deliver more engaging HD video experiences. More information about Maven can be found at www.maven.net .
SOURCE Walt Disney Studios
12/02/2005
CONTACT: Dennis Rice, Senior Vice President, Publicity, Buena Vista Pictures Marketing, +1-818-560-5610; or Jack Pan of Disney, +1-818-560-6318, jack.pan@disney.com;
or
Kristen Collins, +1-617-758-4193, Kristen@kmcpartners.com, or Mary Kae Marinac, +1-978-685-3136, mkmarinac@comcast.net, both for Maven Networks Web site: http://www.maven.net/ Web site: http://narnia.com
