Distraction, Fireworks Team Up to Expand Multiplatform VOD Service

MONTREAL, April 4:
Distraction has recruited Fireworks International to help expand the
international reach of content from Ripe Digital, a free, multiplatform
on-demand service.

Distraction recently
acquired the worldwide distribution rights for the programming from Ripe
Digital’s three branded channels, Ripe TV, Octane TV and Flow TV, which receive
more than 5 million combined views a month via broadband. Ripe TV offers
sports, comedy and other men’s interest content for the 18- to 34-year old set;
Octane TV reaches out to auto fans; and Flow TV is a hip-hop music and culture
channel.

The partnership aims to
exploit Fireworks’ experience in delivering digital and television content.

“We look forward to
working with both Distraction and Fireworks as they continue to expand Ripe
Digital’s reach into the international marketplace,” said Tim Wesley, the
executive VP of business development and operations for Ripe Digital. “We are
confident that this combination will prove effective in broadening our sales
worldwide.”

Jonathan Ford, the senior
VP of digital acquisitions and distribution for Fireworks International,
commented, “We are excited to be joining forces with Distraction in distributing
Ripe Digital. Ripe Digital’s programming is leading the way in showing the
market how to produce truly multi-platform content that meets the demands of is
target audience”.

“We are delighted to be
able to reinforce and extend our delivery of the Ripe Digital catalogue with
Fireworks; a company [that] has a specialist knowledge of the new-media
platforms,” added Michel Rodrigue, the president of Distraction. “We’re looking
forward to teaming up.”

—By Ned Berke