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First Hip Hop Video Channel for Mobile Phones

25 September 2005 No Comment

AG Interactive, the new media subsidiary of American Greetings Corporation (NYSE:AM), and Def Jam Enterprises, today announced Def Connect, the definitive Hip Hop mobile video offering. Def Connect offers six channels of exclusive, made-for-mobile video content including Comedy, Poetry, Ride With Funkmaster Flex, Entertainers Classic Rucker Park, Ralph McDaniel’s Video Music Box, and History Makers…

Def Connect is the most comprehensive Hip Hop video service available for mobile platforms today and a major expansion of the mobile services developed by AG Interactive and Def Jam Enterprises. AG Interactive and Def Jam Enterprises created hundreds of hours of new video content through exclusive partnerships with the hottest sources in media and entertainment, dramatically expanding its Def Jam Mobile portfolio.

“AG Interactive provides the widest range of mobile content to consumers worldwide through the most extensive distribution channels including mobile, instant messenger, and online,” stated Bryan Biniak, senior vice president, AG Interactive.

“With Def Connect, we’re providing original programming to both entertain as well as merchandise Def Jam Mobile’s market-leading portfolio of mobile personalization, games, news, and messaging products.”

The Def Connect channels include:
– Comedy: original comedy filmed exclusively for Def Connect at comedy
clubs across the country featuring the top up-and-coming comedians
including Rodney Perry, Shang, Mystro and more …
– Poetry: original performances by the most inspirational spoken word
talent in the Hip Hop market including Dana Gilmore, Poemcees, and
Georgia Me …
– Ride with Funkmaster Flex: a mobile exclusive from the car show king
including the original programming and archival footage featuring
behind-the-wheel celebrity interviews with Eminem, 50 Cent and Mariah
Carey.
– Entertainers Classic Rucker Park: basketball and Hip Hop converge in
exclusive video footage from the home of streetball in NYC’s Rucker
Park – the only league endorsed by the NBA. Watch game highlights,
behind-the-scene interviews with coaches and players including Orlando
Magic’s Steve Francis, New York Knick’s Trevor Ariza, The Game and Fat
Joe to name just a few …
– Ralph McDaniel’s Video Music Box: Over 20 years of archival interviews
brought to you by Ralph McDaniels, from Run DMC, LL Cool J, and Public
Enemy to Young Jeezy, Pitbull, and Kayne West …
– History Makers: Biographies of the legends of African American
culture including Harry Belefonte, BB King and many other greats.

“The hip hop lifestyle has proven to be a global financial powerhouse,” stated Russell Simmons, CEO, Rush Communications. “The launch of Def Jam Mobile represents more than music. It represents the entire hip hop lifestyle including games, film, television, video, comedy, sports, fashion, and news.”

Def Connect Pricing and Availability

Def Connect will be distributed through carriers globally on a subscription and pay-per-view basis, launching first on O2 in the United Kingdom. Def Connect takes advantage of the proliferation of rapidly expanding wireless networks which enable consumers to connect to the best of Hip Hop media and entertainment 24X7. Def Connect will provide new episodes for its six channels on a weekly basis, keeping the content fresh and providing something new for Hip Hops fans to look forward to 365 days a year.

About Def Jam Enterprises

Def Jam Enterprises, a subsidiary of Rush Communications’ fashion and entertainment empire, offers consumers a wide range of popular products and services in a variety of industries including fashion, film, gaming, and mobile. By leveraging the power of the Def Jam brand, Def Jam Enterprises has co-produced two highly successful video games with Electronic Arts: Def Jam Vendetta and Def Jam Fight For NY. Since its launch last year, Def Jam University has already established itself as a premier urban fashion brand. Def Jam Mobile, in partnership with AG Interactive, is the premier provider of Hip Hop content for wireless consumers. Def Jam Enterprises will continue to expand into new arenas by staying true to the logo. For more information, please visit www.defjamenterprises.com.

About AG Interactive

AG Interactive is a worldwide leader in online, instant messaging, mobile expressions and entertainment. The online group, AG.com, offers over 20,000 premium quality greetings and other types of expressive content through its popular websites including AmericanGreetings.com, BlueMountain.com, BlueMountainCards.co.uk, and egreetings.com, as well as co-branded greetings sites with leading portals. Collectively, the AG Interactive online sites represent the largest online greeting card destination in the world, attracting over two million paying subscribers and millions of unique visitors every month.

The mobile services group, AGmobile, is a leader in mobile content creation, distribution and marketing. It offers consumers a broad set of wireless and multi-media expressions and entertainment including ringtones, graphics, video and games. Through its mobile properties, including defjammobile.com, univisionmovil.com, MIDIRingtones, Blue Mountain Mobile and Kiwee, AGmobile creates and distributes innovative content to mobile phone users through 25 wireless carriers in over ten countries and in multiple languages. By leveraging the world’s largest digital library of award-winning expressive content and premium licensed content along with an unrivaled international distribution capability, AG Interactive offers consumers and business partners the premier online and mobile services available today. AG Interactive is a subsidiary of American Greetings Corporation (NYSE:AM), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of social expression products, generating annual net sales of approximately $2 billion. For more information, please visit www.interactive.ag.com 

Source: AG Interactive

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