AUSTIN, Texas - (Business Wire) ON Networks
® (ON), in partnership with South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival, today announced that Microsoft
’s Xbox LIVE, the online gaming and entertainment network for the Xbox 360 game console, will be the distribution sponsor for the Greenlight Awards
™, providing an exclusive, one-month syndication deal for the winning Digital TV series.
The Greenlight Awards competition is the industry’s first to recognize the next great, original digital series. The competition will select finalists in two categories – Best Original Production and Best Original Series Idea. Unlike traditional television programs, which are limited by broadcast schedules and narrow distribution, Digital TV series vary in length and are available to consumers anywhere, anytime via various networks across the Internet, mobile devices, gaming consoles, IPTV and cable systems. These new programs also give advertisers, writers, talent and producers global access to viewers along with new revenue channels.
“We’re honored to support the industry’s first competition aimed at discovering the best new talent in the growing world of digital TV production,” said Peter Orullian, Group Product Manager with Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE. “This new form of entertainment is filling the need for content that can be watched anywhere on any device when and how the viewer wants.”
In addition to Microsoft Xbox participation, the Greenlight Awards also announced four new competition judges:
- Randall Dark – Randall is one of the early visionaries and pioneers of the High Definition (HD) movement. He founded several HD companies and received one of the International Electronic Cinema Festival’s top honors: The Pioneer Award, bestowed in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the success of High Definition. He is a member of the Television Arts and Sciences Academy and is one of a select few members of the Consumer Electronics Association’s Academy of Digital Pioneers, a group recognized for their efforts implementing digital television in the United States.
- Joe Swanberg – Joe is an accomplished film and show creator in the emerging Internet video world. His first three features, Kissing on the Mouth (2005), LOL (2006) and Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007) had their world premieres at SXSW and his new film, Nights and Weekends (2008) will screen there this year. Hannah Takes the Stairs received a theatrical release from IFC in 2007 and will be available on video from The Weinstein Company in early 2008. He created the web-series Young American Bodies, which has been viewed by millions of people on Nerve.com. The third season, currently in production, has been picked up by IFC and will premiere in May.
- Michael Uslan – Michael is the executive producer of the Batman movies and created the world’s first accredited college course on “Comic Book Folklore.” He was the producer of several films, including The Spirit (Lionsgate 2009) and Constantine (Warner Bros. 2005), among others. He won an Emmy Award as Executive Producer for “Best Animated Series” for Where on Earth is Carmen San Diego? (FOX Network 1994-97). He is also an author of numerous books and sits on several advisory boards. Current projects in development include Shazam (New Line) and The Shadow, with Sam Raimi & Josh Donen (Sony Pictures).
- Daisy Whitney – Daisy is a top new media industry reporter and commentator who has written for a number of publications, including TelevisionWeek, Advertising Age, Shape, Business 2.0 and The Denver Post. She is currently TelevisionWeek’s new media reporter, extensively covering broadband video, interactive television, video-on-demand, mobile programming, digital video recording and high-definition television. She also writes regularly for Advertising Age and Media covering trends in television, online and advertising. Daisy is also the creator and host of The New Media, a weekly webcast on the business of online video carried on www.daisywhitney.com and www.tvweek.com.
These individuals join previously announced judges, actor Luke Wilson, indie writer/director Richard Linklater, and Zadi Diaz, co-creator and host of the hit web series EPIC-FU.
The Greenlight Awards competition finalists will be celebrated during a special VIP event held during SXSW on March 9, 2008 from 9pm-11pm in Austin, Texas at the popular SIX Lounge, which is co-owned by Lance Armstrong. In addition to receiving cash awards, finalists will also have an opportunity to develop and distribute their shows through ON Networks and its worldwide syndication partners. The winning production will also receive an exclusive, one-month syndication deal on Xbox LIVE, the online gaming and entertainment network for the Xbox 360 game console.
“We’re honored to have support and participation from Microsoft and a set of distinguished industry insiders as we kick-off the first competition aimed at recognizing independent content creation, digital distribution and new media,” said Jen Grogono, co-founder and Chief Content Officer for ON Networks. “We look forward to working with this growing team to help establish the Greenlight Awards as an important annual event.”
About SXSW
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival, now in its 15th year, emphasizes all aspects of the art and business of independent filmmaking. The Festival has gained international acclaim for the quality of its programming with a special focus on emerging talents who benefit from having their films in the company of the cinematic greats whose work is regularly presented. It takes place in Austin, TX March 7-15, 2008. More information at: http://2008.sxsw.com/film
About ON Networks, Inc.
ON Networks is changing the way traditional TV programs are created, distributed, consumed and monetized. It’s a new media company delivering original, high-definition shows on-demand across multiple digital platforms, including the Internet, digital cable, IPTV, and various mobile and gaming devices. Offering lifestyle programs covering a variety of topics, ON’s weekly shows satisfy the growing demand for relevant, smart and entertaining programming that is available when, where and how viewers want to watch it. ON Networks is a privately-held company backed by Accel Partners, Austin Ventures and AT&T. See tomorrow’s television programming today at www.onnetworks.com.
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 will have a portfolio of more than 300 games and will be available in nearly 40 countries by the end of 2007. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.
About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE is the first and most comprehensive unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox LIVE connects millions of members across 26 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV shows and movies in the United States as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.
ON Networks is a registered trademark of ON Networks, Inc. Greenlight Awards is a trademark of ON Networks, Inc. All other names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
For ON Networks
Karl Scholz, 512-493-0909
karl.scholz@virtualprdirector.com
