Verizon Wireless and Saavn Bring Bollywood Music Videos And More To Mobile

LAS VEGAS, BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and NEW YORK, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- From CTIA WIRELESS 2008, Verizon Wireless, the builder and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Saavn, the world's largest digital distributor of South Asian content, announced the availability of the Bollywood Music by Saavn video channel on Verizon Wireless' V CAST Video service.

Available exclusively to V CAST Video customers, the Bollywood Music by Saavn channel marks the first time Bollywood videos have been available to mobile customers in the U.S. Backed by Saavn's wide network of industry relationships, the channel offers V CAST Video customers the best of current and classic Bollywood, including full-length music videos and exclusive pre- release video promos, available on V CAST Video before they air on television or the Internet.

Jennifer Byrne, director of V CAST Video and social media for Verizon, said, "As the next step beyond the availability of Bollywood ringtones and ringback tones from Saavn on Verizon Wireless phones, the addition of Bollywood videos on V CAST Video means Verizon Wireless customers can now take more of their favorite entertainment with them while on-the-go."

"With cutting-edge programming like Bollywood Music by Saavn on V CAST, Verizon Wireless is leading the mobile revolution," said Vinodh Bhat, general manager of Saavn. "Bollywood music and videos are not readily available in mainstream outlets, but are hugely popular in the U.S. Verizon Wireless' commitment to carrying Bollywood content brings us closer to our goal of making Bollywood available to anyone, at any time."

Initial offerings on the Bollywood Music by Saavn V CAST Video channel include videos from Race, the top album of 2008 to date, Om Shanti Om, the highest-selling album of 2007, and Heyy Babyy, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Jab We Met and Partner, all top-10 albums in 2007. Also included are classic favorites like Chalte Chalte and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and exclusive pre-release promos from films like Race and Krazzy 4. With a catalog of thousands of albums, and new content delivered continuously, Saavn's Bollywood offering on V CAST Video promises a rich, robust experience for Verizon Wireless customers with an interest in Bollywood, in foreign film, or in music in general.

Customers with select V CAST-enabled phones can check out V CAST Video whenever they want for just $3.00 for 24-hour use or by signing up for the $15.00 V CAST VPak monthly subscription, which also includes access to Verizon Wireless' ESPN MVP, Get It Now(R) and Mobile Web 2.0(SM) services. Customers get unlimited basic video, but application download fees apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime or megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription. Bollywood Music by Saavn is premium content and available for an additional $4.99 monthly subscription.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com/.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: http://www.verizonwireless.com/. To preview and request broadcast- quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Saavn

Saavn is the largest digital distributor of South Asian content in the world, with exclusive rights to movies, television shows, and music videos from the premiere movie producers, television networks, and record labels in India and other parts of the world. The company has relationships with leading South Asian content producers such as Yash Raj Films, Adlabs, UTV, and T-Series and key distribution relationships with companies such as Verizon Wireless, Time Warner, Cox, Rogers, iTunes, Amazon Unbox, Google/YouTube and Artist Direct. In addition to packaging programming for these cable, Internet, and mobile carrier companies, Saavn also runs media and marketing programs to help them serve the passionate audience for Bollywood and other South Asian content. The Saavn team consists of media veterans with experience in content licensing, programming, retail products, marketing, and multi- platform distribution. Saavn is headquartered in New York, NY and is a venture of Hungama Mobile Pvt. Ltd.; 212MEDIA, LLC; and Schramm Sports & Entertainment, Inc.