PointRoll, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) and the leading provider of rich media advertising, announced today the Give Ideas Life website, a joint promotion with Adobe, which will be an online hub for all advertisers, agencies and freelancers to showcase their best online advertising efforts. With this launch, PointRoll and Adobe will host a video advertising contest, inviting over 300 leading agencies to submit rich media creative briefs for EPIX(TM), a new multiplatform premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service. From the collective power of Viacom, Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate, EPIX delivers new Hollywood titles plus classic feature films, original series, and music and comedy specials across all video platforms.
The new PointRoll and Adobe Give Ideas Life website offers tools for agency creatives, a gallery to display their best work, and an open forum where they can share creative best practices. The Give Ideas Life contest, which will showcase Adobe Flash technology and is now accepting submissions at www.eventsadobe.com/give_life/, supports all things interactive and innovative in online advertising. The contest offers a great opportunity for creative agencies to sample new video technology, fully express their creativity without any restrictions, and gain exposure. The winning agency will have their campaign for EPIX and EpixHD.com showcased on a digital billboard in Times Square.
“PointRoll is excited to emphasize our commitment to interactive advertising by introducing the Give Ideas Life website and creating a forum where creatives can interact, share ideas and promote innovation,” said Chris Baughman, AVP Creative Strategy at PointRoll. “PointRoll and Adobe have collaborated to support the cultivation of high-quality video in rich media ads and look forward to working together in the future. The Give Ideas Life site and contest offer new ways to enhance these tools and advance the rich media space.”
Agencies can submit their most cutting edge concepts at the site until November 23, 2009. Submissions will be judged by a panel of industry leaders, and the winning campaign will be unveiled December 21, 2009.
“EPIX is thrilled to be the subject of this competition,” said Emil Rensing, Chief Digital Officer of EPIX. “Anytime great companies like PointRoll and Adobe come together with their clients to push the limits of technology and creative, you’re bound to get spectacular results.”
The Give Ideas Life website will stand as a repository for the best online video programs. More people than ever are watching content online, with eMarketer estimating 144 million online video viewers in the U.S. in 2009. As this audience continues to grow, PointRoll and Adobe believe that innovative and engaging video advertisements will evolve as leading tactics in advertising campaigns.
“The Give Ideas Life contest provides an excellent opportunity for advertising and creative agencies to showcase their skills,” said Desiree Motamedi, group product marketing manager, Dynamic Media Organization at Adobe. “Adobe is dedicated to advancing the interactive advertising market and we are excited to work with PointRoll to see the innovation that will result from this contest.”
About PointRoll
PointRoll, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), is the world’s leading online advertising rich media provider. PointRoll’s superior rich media technologies and services enable brand marketers to connect with consumers by creating interactive online environments. Providing interactive features such as streaming video, polling, instant e-mail and data collection, PointRoll delivers measurable online advertising campaign results. PointRoll serves more than 85 billion rich media impressions each year – and serves two-thirds of the Fortune 500 brands. For more information, please visit www.pointroll.com.
About EPIX
EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a next-generation multiplatform premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service launched on October 30, 2009. EPIX is currently distributed by Verizon FiOS on Channel 395 in SD and Channel 895 in HD and will be distributed by other partners. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of the partner studios, EPIX will deliver films from Paramount, Paramount Vantage, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies released theatrically on or after January 1, 2008 and MGM, United Artists and Lionsgate titles released theatrically on or after January 1, 2009, which will be available exclusively to its subscribers.
Providing a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service, EPIX will air new Hollywood titles plus classic feature films, original series, and music and comedy specials. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up on video-on-demand, online and on the linear channel. Further, EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry’s most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available online to subscribers via its enhanced service EPIX Megaplex.
The joint venture controls all rights to EPIX’s programming and Viacom provides operational support, including marketing and affiliate services through its MTV Networks division.
Follow the EPIX twitter feed at http://www.twitter.com/EpixHD.
