On the heels of its creation of intelesource.org (see separate story, p. 7), publicly traded, Minneapolis-headquartered iNTELEFILM has entered into a content provider relationship with Hitplay Media, Los Angeles, for the delivery of short-form video content and the production of Internet video commercials on the Hitplay Targeted Video Network. Per the arrangement, the roster of directors and animators within the iNTELEFILM family of companies (i.e. bicoastal Curious Pictures, bicoastal/international The End and Chelsea Pictures, New York-based Populuxe Pictures) will develop, produce and deliver original and archival entertainment video to Hitplay, and will produce spots for broadband Internet applications.
"This new partnership demonstrates the direct application of iNTELEFILM’s core competency—the production of short-form video—to new Internet video delivery platforms," said iNTELEFILM COO Jim Gilbertson.
Hitplay plans to launch its syndicated Internet video network first on Hitplay.com in early 2000. For its large-scale video clip library, Hitplay produces, acquires and distributes video content such as extreme sports, music, entertainment and fashion. Hitplay also has patent-pending technology for dynamic insertion of targeted video advertising.
Hitplay president/CEO Todd Harris claimed that his company’s on-demand content network and targeted ad insertion delivered across a range of Internet devices offers the rich media benefits of both direct response and brand-building advertising. He described iNTELEFILM as being a "commercial production leader. … Hitplay can tap iNTELEFILM’s impressive creative talents and content libraries for our on-demand channels. Together, we will offer advertisers and agencies new broadband commercial strategies for delivery over our Targeted Video Network."
Hitplay was formed last year by Harris, a former broadband strategist for NBC and general manager of NBC’s VideoSeeker.com Web site.