BURLINGAME, Calif., Oct. 11, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Virgin America, the new U.S. start-up airline with pending government approval plans to start domestic service early next year, today announced a collection of launch studio partners for its inflight entertainment (IFE). The airline has reached individual agreements with Disney, Fox, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Brothers to provide major theatrical content at every seat and on every flight.
Although details of the deals are not being disclosed, the agreements will provide Virgin America's guests with the best in motion picture and television entertainment. The airline's industry leading onboard entertainment will offer its customers 'pay-per-view' movies, live TV via satellite, a wide array of audio music entertainment including the ability to compile individual audio playlists, a broad selection of popular electronic games, and even meals on-demand.
"Our partnerships with Disney, Fox, Paramount, and Warner Brothers are helping us redefine the traveling experience as it exists for airline customers today," said Charles Ogilvie, Virgin America's Director of Inflight Entertainment & Partnerships. "Our guests will be able to pick from the latest and greatest Hollywood has to offer and enjoy their entertainment selections on their own schedule from the comfort of their seat."
"Disney is happy to be part of the Virgin America team's challenge to redefine the inflight entertainment experience," said Linda Palmer, Senior Vice President -- Non-Theatrical Distribution at Disney. "All arms of this studio are excited about Virgin America taking flight!"
"Fox Inflight's mission is to stay on the leading edge of the industry," said Neal Rothman, Executive Director, Digital Exhibition & Non-Theatrical Licensing at Fox. "We know we're doing that as members of Virgin America launch content team."
"Interactive entertainment is a space that Paramount is excited about. Being members of the Virgin America launch team is something that we are excited about and is an important milestone as the U.S. domestic industry progresses toward more interactive inflight entertainment," said Joan Filippini, Senior Vice President -- Non-Theatrical Distribution at Paramount.
"Nothing is more exciting than participating in this truly unique Virgin America experience," said Jeff Crawford, Senior Vice President -- Non-Theatrical Sales at Warner Brothers. "Warner Brothers is committed to delivering its finest content on-demand and cabin-wide."
The airline previously announced entertainment partners including CoKinetic Systems Corporation, IMS, Inflight Canada, Pace Communications, Panasonic Avionics, Spafax, and Wunderman. A new addition to team is the New York-based Anomaly agency.
Anomaly's charge together with other IFE team members is to identify cross-platform integrated partnership opportunities. This team has found innovative ways to structure partnerships that find value for all stakeholders and allow the inflight entertainment to be used as a unique touchpoint.
Wunderman's digital marketing team based in Irvine, California has spent the last two years as Virgin America's partner, building the graphical user interface (GUI) that Virgin America guests will see on the inflight entertainment system, an interactive environment that rivals some of the most cunning, sleek, cutting-edge ground-based and portable user experiences.
"The Virgin America IFE team's agency members, Wunderman and Anomaly, have been instrumental in building an interactive experience that incorporates an unprecedented navigational system with integrated partnership opportunities that have all never been done before," said Mr. Ogilvie.
Virgin America anticipates announcing additional IFE team members, content relationships and strategic partners in the near future.
About Virgin America:
Virgin America, a 'new generation' low-fare airline, intends to launch scheduled domestic airline service early in 2007 upon government approval. U.S.-owned and operated, Virgin America is based at San Francisco International Airport and has placed firm orders for 34 Airbus A320 aircraft. Aspiring candidates can visit www.virginamerica.com to learn more about joining the Virgin America team.
About Disney:
The Walt Disney Studios is a unit of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and produces and distributes motion pictures under the following banners: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Disney-Pixar Animation and DisneyToon Studios as well as Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Miramax Films. Buena Vista International serves as the studio's international distribution arm. Buena Vista Home Entertainment distributes Disney and other film titles to the rental and sell-through home entertainment markets worldwide. Buena Vista Theatrical Productions is one of the largest producers of Broadway musicals, and the Buena Vista Music Group distributes original music and motion picture soundtracks under its four record labels: Walt Disney Records, Buena Vista Records, Hollywood Records and Lyric Street Records.
About Fox:
One of the world's largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Fox Atomic.
About Paramount Pictures:
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA), is a global entertainment company that produces and distributes filmed entertainment through the Paramount Motion Picture Group which includes Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nick Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Studios and Worldwide Television Distribution
About Warner Bros. Entertainment:
Warner Bros. Entertainment, a fully integrated, broad-based entertainment company, is a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses. Warner Bros. Entertainment, a Time Warner Company, stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry, from feature films to television, home video/DVD, animation, comic books, interactive entertainment and games, product and brand licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.
Today, the vast Warner Bros. library, considered one of the most prestigious and prodigious in the world, consists of more than 6,600 feature films, 40,000 television titles and 14,000 animated titles (including over 1,500 classic animated shorts). The library currently consists of films from such distinguished banners as Warner Bros. Pictures, Castle Rock, Warner Independent Pictures, Lorimar Pictures, RKO and classic MGM (pre-1986).
About Wunderman:
Wunderman is one of the largest, most experienced global marketing services networks in the world. Built on a unified data platform and secured by an integrated marketing technology infrastructure, Wunderman delivers direct to customers, relevant content in a creative way that motivates them to act and create ongoing relationships that last a lifetime. Since 2002, Wunderman work was recognized with 22 Lions at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, including the coveted Direct Grand Prix two years in a row. In 2005, Wunderman received 434 awards and citations. Wunderman is ranked among AdWeek's top Interactive agencies. Wunderman is part of Young & Rubicam Brands and a member of the WPP Group (Nasdaq:WPPGY). For more information, visit www.wunderman.com.
About Anomaly:
Anomaly is a new type of Communications Company specializing in the creation of entrepreneurial marketing opportunities and holistic solutions for brands. Comprised of a proven group of executives with broad experience that spans brand and business strategy, advertising, design, media, innovation, content, mobile media & technology, naming & corporate id, and client-side management. Anomaly's clients include: The Coca-Cola Company, Virgin America, The New York Times, and Beverage Partners Worldwide, a joint venture between Coca-Cola and Nestle. Anomaly is headquartered in New York City and has more than 65 full-time staffers.