PlayJam goes indie
March 6, 2008
Interactive media entrepreneur Jasper Smith has reacquired his visual media company Static 2358, which includes the iTV games channel PlayJam, from software provider OpenTV.
PlayJam channels launched on France's Canal Sat and BSkyB in 2000, delivering both free and pay-per-play prized-based games. OpenTV purchased PlayJam/Static in 2001. Now available in over 55 million TV homes across the world via Sky (UK), Dish TV (USA and India), Sky Italia (Italy), Multichoice (South Africa), UPC (Netherlands) and Astro (Malaysia), PlayJam's 800 plus games across all genres have gained over 8 billion downloads during the last 5 years, working alongside major media brands including Electronic Arts and Time Warner and IPC Media.
Newly established holding company General Entertainment & Technology Corporation (GET Corp) now owns 81 per cent of Playjam and Static 2358. Open TV retains a 19 per cent stake in both PlayJam and Static 2358, cementing a global alliance between both companies.
Smith says the reacquisition will mark a shift towards a stronger general entertainment theme centred on free and skill-based games through interactive and video content. By working with selected partners the company aims to seamlessly bringing together games, user generated content and social networking across interactive TV, mobile telephony and the web, ensuring that The PlayJam Games Network delivers the next phase in IPTV entertainment. “We‚re developing the holy grail of casual gaming. PlayJam will become the best iTV games service in the world where anyone can join. Empowering users to publish video content on the web and TV simultaneously creates a unique offering benefiting both broadcasters and brands.” Smith commented.