MTV Networks Music Group Announces Exclusive Deal With Gain Ltd. for Upcoming New Media Comic Book Projects

MTV Networks Music Group Announces Exclusive Deal With Gain Ltd. for Upcoming New Media Comic Book Projects

NEW YORK, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV Networks Music Group, a unit of Viacom's (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B) MTV Networks, today announced an exclusive deal with Gain Ltd, creators of the proprietary system "Bomb-xx" that develops extremely engaging audio-visual experiences, to develop new media versions of comic books, graphic novels and children's books. Each experience will be customized across multiple media screens, including computers, portable video players, portable and console gaming devices, and mobile phones. Gain Ltd was co-founded by Jeff Shuter and Daniel Viney.

"Some of the best characters and stories come from comics and graphic novels, but until now distribution channels have been very limited," said David Gale, Executive Vice President, New Media for MTV Networks. "Gain combines the original format of comic books, graphic novels and children's books with the emotional excitement of a great movie that fans can see on-the-go or on-demand, but always in high-quality."

MTV Networks Music Group's vast array of television and digital platforms will allow for extensive distribution of Gain's unique content, beginning with MTV. Various projects will bring together comic book publishers, creators and distributors to create and market existing and original content produced to maximize distribution and build a broader fan base from the traditional niche market for comics and graphic novels. In addition, forthcoming projects will be distributed across other new media formats outside of the MTV Networks' brands.

"Comic books historically have ignited people's imagination and intuition to piece together and decode the story as it unfolds on each page," said Daniel Viney, co-founder, producer and creator, Gain Enterprises. "Our mission has always been to curate new proprietary formats that enhance the user experience and spur even more intrigue in the story."

"What's unique to our product is that each experience is highly music- based with animation that is much like choreography to a dance," added Jeff Shuter, co-founder, producer and creator, Gain Enterprises. "Every moment and beat is highly charged to keep fans engaged in the storyline. The goal is to transcend the conventional comic book experience and we are excited to work with MTV Networks to continue forming connections between the traditional comic book and new media worlds for the benefit of audiences everywhere."

Gain founders, Viney and Shuter, made their mark with their "Bomb-xx" adaptations of comics for major movie studios, including Fox Atomic's first film "Turistas" and the recent "28 Weeks Later," as well as Lions Gate's "Saw 2." Gain also created original works for the Weinstein Company's movies "Arthur and the Invisibles" and "The Protector," and an adaptation of Marvel Comics' "Ultimate Spiderman."

Gain Enterprises was co-founded by Jeff Shuter and Daniel Viney with the mission to develop hybrid forms of content and entertainment for the new media space. Both Shuter and Viney serve as lead producers and creators.

MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 136 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, LOGO, 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 200 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.

Source: MTV Networks Music Group

CONTACT: Mariana Agathoklis, +1-212-846-5755,
Mariana.Agathoklis@mtvstaff.com, or Jeannie Kedas, +1-212-846-4629,
Jeannie.Kedas@mtvstaff.com, both of MTVN Music Group

Web site:

http://www.mtv.com/

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