Zune Teams Up With MEAN Magazine to Produce New Original Series

Microsoft are commissioning original content for the Zune platform, and what is interesting is that “We will also look to expand distribution across other Microsoft platforms to make the series available to an even larger audience”. Does that mean Media Center will get some of the original content? We will see…

“Cinemash” to premiere as first episodic digital show developed by Zune.

REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 4, 2009 — Zune, Microsoft Corp.’s end-to-end music and entertainment service, today announced that it is working with MEAN Magazine to produce “Cinemash,” a new original digital series that will take a comedic approach to reinventing classic scenes from popular movies. The premiere of “Cinemash” will be the first in a series of ad-supported episodic video shorts that Zune plans to develop and distribute. The first episode will be available exclusively at Zune Marketplace for free download this spring.
“Video is an important part of the Zune experience, and by working with cutting-edge partners like MEAN we are expanding our offering to give our customers original programming they can’t get anywhere else,” said Paul Davidson, lead video and original content producer for Zune. “We will also look to expand distribution across other Microsoft platforms to make the series available to an even larger audience.”
Working with some of the most talented actors, directors and producers in the entertainment industry, Zune will develop additional pilots over the next 12 months ranging from live-action and animated comedy to urban and music programming. In addition to being offered as free downloads from the Zune Marketplace online store, the digital series may also be available on other Microsoft platforms such as MSN and Xbox LIVE in the future. 
MEAN (Music, Entertainment, Art, News), a bimonthly magazine focusing on trailblazers in the fields of fashion, art and cinema, has previously produced innovative shorts featuring well-known talent such as James McAvoy, Elizabeth Banks, Kate Beckinsale, Sir Ben Kingsley and Seth Rogen that have reached over 1 million viewers worldwide. “Cinemash” will continue in this tradition, giving popular film and television actors the opportunity to reenact the roles they have always dreamed of playing.
“Zune and MEAN are joining forces to move the bar forward and create the most progressive, inspired series that will knock cinephiles off their feet,” said Kashy Khaledi, publisher/creative director of MEAN Magazine. “‛Cinemash’ will give talent a new platform for creative collaboration, bringing together state-of-the-art production quality with digital distribution to millions of viewers.”
About Zune
Zune is Microsoft’s music and entertainment brand that provides an integrated digital entertainment experience. The Zune platform includes a line of portable digital media players, elegant software, the Zune Marketplace online store and the Zune Social online music community, created to help people discover music. Zune is part of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division and supports the company’s software-based services vision to help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space. More information can be found online at http://www.zune.net/en-us/press