Paramount Digital Entertainment Extends VooZoo Into MTV Networks' vMTV and Makena's There.com Virtual Worlds

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Digital Entertainment today announced that the popular VooZoo application is launching in MTV Networks' vMTV virtual world and Makena's There.com. This marks the first movie studio to partner with There.com and underscores Paramount Pictures' commitment to making famous scenes from its most popular movies available to users in social environments and on wireless devices.

With VooZoo, vMTV and There.com members can send each other video emoticons called "Voohoos," which are made up of video clips from Paramount Pictures' library that last from a few seconds and capture the most famous one-liners from a gamut of movies including classics like "Footloose," "Flashdance" and "Beverly Hills Cop" to mainstream favorites including "Mean Girls," "Clueless" and "Zoolander."

Members of both worlds will be able to purchase the clips for about $1 each and use them when chatting with other members just as they would use other emoticons such as "smile", "lol" (laugh out loud), or "twist" (a dance move). Instead of just quoting lines from pop-culture icons like Cher Horowitz (Clueless) or Ferris Bueller (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), etc., members can actually express themselves with the actual movie clip, which plays in a small window above their head. While There's library of literally hundreds of emotes is already one of its most popular features, the ability to incorporate the "complete" multimedia experience of these iconic moments will take it to a whole new level, arguably one of the few that can't be easily reproduced in real life.

"We are very focused on giving consumers premier choices from our catalogue of movies that goes way beyond a passive experience," states Derek Broes, senior vice president of new business development, Paramount Digital Entertainment. "VooZoo allows consumers to differentiate themselves from one another by which characters and lines they choose to express their thoughts during virtual conversations."

Over time, thousands of movie clips from Paramount Pictures' library will be made available to There.com members. All of the movie clips offered will comply with There.com's PG-13 environment. Consumers will also have the opportunity to purchase a DVD via a sell-through capability that will pop up once a video clip is selected.

In addition, MTV Networks will offer clips reflecting the best pop-culture moments from its extensive stable of hit shows. The VooZoo application is currently in private beta in There.com and will be available some time in Q2 in vMTV.

"vMTV marries the great programming of television with the unparalleled interactivity of the Internet," said Jeff Yapp, Executive Vice President of Program Enterprises for MTV Networks. "With the VooZoo application, our audience can have an even deeper level of engagement with the popular major-motion picture and television franchises they love."

"There.com is all about social interaction and self-expression. Your avatar can already dance, talk, run, jump and drive a buggy and the addition of video movie clips takes social interaction to another level," said Michael Wilson, CEO of Makena Technologies. "Rather than repeat a movie quote when talking with friends, our members can use the actual movie clip, allowing them to share their thoughts and feelings in a richer, more engaging way."

VooZoo in vMTV and There.com marks the third migration of the application onto multiple platforms since its debut on Facebook last month. Earlier this week, Paramount Mobile Entertainment, a division of Paramount Digital Entertainment, announced the launch of VooZoo Mobile, further demonstrating themselves as a studio leading the charge in the creation of digital solutions for short form content.

Paramount Digital Entertainment and MTV Networks are units of Viacom . MTV Networks and Makena are long partners in the virtual world space; Makena's There.com serves as the platform for vMTV.

About Paramount Digital Entertainment

Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) is a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation. PDE develops and distributes filmed entertainment across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices, videogames, virtual worlds and emerging technologies.

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom , a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, DreamWorks, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group, and Worldwide Television Distribution.

About Makena Technologies, Inc.

Makena Technologies is the parent company of There.com, a fully interactive, 3D online virtual world where members can customize and create their own 3D character, meet and hang out with friends in real-time using voice and text chat, build their own virtual homes, participate in events ranging from car races to paintball to fashion shows and even create and sell their own virtual items. There.com is a safe and exciting "PG-13" environment for ages 13 and up that has something to offer nearly anyone. Makena Technologies has offices in San Mateo, CA and Laguna Beach, CA. For more information, visit http://www.there.com/.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 150 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 300 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.