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TOKYO, Japan Sept. 30, 2008 -- NTT DOCOMO INC. today announced that it will form a joint venture
company, Avex Broadcasting & Communications Inc., with Avex Entertainment Inc.(AEI) , a subsidiary of Avex Group Holdings Inc., for the production and on-demand distribution of video content packaged for the mobile phone environment.
The company is scheduled to begin operating in March 2009 with
capital of 3.5 billion yen and capital reserves of 3.5 billion yen, 30%
from DOCOMO and 70% from AEI.
AEI is a part of the Avex Group, one of Japan's biggest music and
movie entertainment companies, with operations involving the
production, packaging, sale/distribution (including Web) and rights
management of music and visual content not only in Japan but other
markets of Asia as well.
Unlike most mobile-content companies that distribute video works
which were originally developed for movie theaters and DVD systems, the
new company will produce and distribute content developed specifically
for the small screens of mobile phones, giving special consideration to
scripting, editing, photography, etc. tailored for the mobile phone
environment.
DOCOMO will provide its IT infrastructure, advanced mobile
technologies and vast experience in providing mobile customers with
popular video content. AEI will contribute its expertise in the fields
of content creation, artist management and services centered on
intellectual property.
After its establishment planned for next February, the new company
expects to form content-creation partnerships with five video-content
production companies, including Fuji Television Network, Inc.,
one of Japan's most successful nationwide television networks, and Oz
Co., Ltd., whose producer Takashige "Taka" Ichise is responsible for
hit horror movies such as "Ringu" (Japanese version of "The Ring") and
the Hollywood blockbuster "The Grudge." Additional partnerships are
anticipated.
Information Source: NTT DOCOMO
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