Fremantle signs VOD deal

More than 160 shows licensed to BlinkBox

By STEVE CLARKE

LONDON — U.K. online upstart BlinkBox Entertainment has licensed more than 160 TV shows from FremantleMedia Enterprises in a deal that enables auds to edit the programs and add their own comments.

The deal, the first of its kind for Freemantle, includes fare like “Baywatch,” “Amityville,” “Button Moon,” “Dangermouse,” “Count Duckula,” “Rainbow” and “Wind in the Willows.”

The programs can be downloaded to own or rent on BlinkBox, which is a hybrid service combining elements of video on demand and social networking.

Auds can interact with the content by clipping a scene, adding a message and sending it to a friend’s mobile or PC as a so-called “blink.”

BlinkBox has already signed deals with Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Aardman Animations and Discovery Networks UK.

Two former executives from Channel 4 and Vodafone, the mobile phone operator, founded the combo in 2006.

Pete Kalhan, senior VP home entertainment and archive sales at FremantleMedia Enterprises said, “We are continually looking for new ways for consumers to connect with our programming.

“BlinkBox is an innovative solution that allows people to engage with FremantleMedia Enterprises TV series in brand new ways."

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117982864.html

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