Player X Strikes It Lucky With FremantleMedia Classic Game Shows For Mobile
FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW), the licensing division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of programme brands in the world, and mobile content specialist, Player X, today announced a licensing deal which will see a raft of FremantleMedia's classic TV game shows roll out on mobile around the world.
FLW has licensed Player X the worldwide rights (excluding the US) to create and produce original mobile phone games based on some of the world's most beloved game shows including The Price Is Right, Family Feud, Blockbusters, Sale Of The Century and Strike It Lucky. Under the terms of the agreement, Player X has also been granted rights to develop and create branded real tones, wallpapers and active screensavers.
The games, created by developer Qbranch Wireless, are available from this month and replicate the format of the shows by allowing contestants to play along to the original game show rules. Player X's exclusive distribution deals with more than 70 global operators means the games have a potential audience of more than 400 million people. To date most UK operators have placed the first game just released, The Price Is Right, on their decks and opeators in other global territories will be announced shortly. All games will be launched by 30th June 2006.
Melissa Goodwin, Vice President Europe, Middle East and Africa, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, said: "The FremantleMedia library boasts some of the world's top game shows and they are some of the most iconic brands on the market today. Our partnership with Player X will help expand this brand presence to masses of fans familiar with the shows as well as a much broader base of consumers who are simply looking for a fun and interactive game to play on their mobile phones."
Tony Pearce, CEO, Player X added: "We believe this format is absolutely perfect for mobile gameplay and the current popularity of classic game shows means there is a big market for this content. These are the biggest TV game show brands around and perfectly targeted towards the mass mobile gamer. We're looking forward to bringing out more FremantleMedia game shows in the months to come."
For further information:
Lynne-Mei Lee, FremantleMedia
Tel. + 44 (0) 20 7691 6782
lynne-mei.lee@fremantlemedia.com
Paul Munford, Player X
Tel. + 44 (0)7970 673 695
paul.munford@playerx.com
The Price Is Right is the longest running game show in TV history and has aired in 28 territories. The show, which first broadcast in 1972 on CBS, is the number one daytime series of 2004/2005 in the US and a recent special on ITV1 in the UK saw an audience of over 7 million viewers tune in, winning shares of over 50% for young adults. The Price Is Right ranks as the number one show in its time slot in Mexico, France and Germany and is also currently airing in Australia, Indonesia and Portugal.
Family Feud has aired in 38 territories worldwide and was the highest rated syndicated game show from 1978 - 1984. The show ranked number one in its timeslot in the UK, Germany, France and Venezuela and the format is so popular in Indonesia, that they have created three different versions of the show. A recent special of the UK version of the Family Feud format, Family Fortunes, aired at the end of October on ITV1 and attracted 8 million viewers and a 35% share.
Sale Of The Century recently relaunched on the 9 Network in Australia as Temptation and continues to rank first in its time slot gaining audiences of over one million viewers. The format also returned to UK screens in September in celebration of ITV's 50th anniversary and attracted an audience of 8.8 million viewers and a 42% market share. The show ranked number one in its time slot and is currently the highest rated game show in the UK for 2005.
Blockbusters has been broadcast in 12 territories around the world and peaked with over 10 million viewers in the UK in 1984. Strike It Lucky originally aired from 1986 until 1993 and consistently ranked as the number one show in its time slot. The game show relaunched in 1996 and continues to be a ratings success.
Notes to editors:
About Player X
Player X publishes and distributes wireless entertainment content through global operators, retailers, internet portals and handset manufacturers.
Since its formation in 2004, Player X has already successfully published leading games and mobile entertainment content onto the largest mobile operators in the industry and rapidly achieved levels of distribution in the key territories around the worl