Starz Launches Manga Portal

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Starz Media's Manga Entertainment today announced the launch of its new streaming video entertainment website, Manga.com. A unique blend of video, product-related information and other editorial content, the site will offer a customized user experience to satisfy everyone from product-hungry anime-fans to web-video enthusiasts looking for their daily fix of sexy animation.

The launch of Manga.com complements a recent series of both new and traditional media distribution agreements for Starz Media and Manga Entertainment. On TV, Manga Entertainment is responsible for SCI FI's "Animonday" block of programming (airing Mondays at 11:00 pm), which delivers new and classic
 anime TV series and movies. Starz Media recently announced a short-form, ad-supported Manga Entertainment content deal with Heavy.com and long-form, transaction-based agreements with Amazon and Xbox LIVE. Starz Media also has digital distribution deals in place with such services as BitTorrent, Guba, IGN's Direct2Drive, Netflix and Starz's own Vongo.

"Manga.com was developed with the fan in mind, but also to be used as a discovery mechanism for new users just being introduced to anime and the Manga brand," said David Katz, Director, Digital Media for Starz Media. "We really want the site to be accessible to anyone who might be interested in this content."

The features of Manga.com include:

* Engaging Original Content – Manga.com delivers original entertainment from a unique library of anime-style animation.

* Programmed Channel Experience – Specialized channels deliver the hottest clips from the Manga library organized by a fan-favorite theme.

* Product Information – Manga.com is the premiere source for DVD, TV and digital product information on Manga's titles. Fans can find synopses, directors and actors, DVD extras, and links to purchase DVD and digital products.

* Unique Editorial Perspective – Manga's new entertainment model includes editorial that combines the diverse content from the Manga catalog with the voice of its Otaku fans.

* Dynamic Video Experience – Manga.com, powered by Brightcove, allows fans to view video in a variety of ways. Fans can take advantage of Brightcove's community features to get a link to the video, blog it, email it to friends, or even collect an RSS feed of Manga videos posted to the site.

* Branded Environments for Advertisers – Manga offers powerful branded opportunities for advertising partners to connect with audiences. Manga channels 
and products can be linked with advertising sponsors, as well as distinctive branded headers to create unique environments that support the advertiser and genre-specific content.

Manga.com plans to launch new content channels and features on a regular basis, both from its existing catalog and from new Manga titles the company produces and acquires.

Starz Media has chosen the Brightcove Internet TV platform to distribute all 
short-form video content on the Manga.com website, available for free, ad-supported viewing.

Text from Animation World Network

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