Fuse, the nation's only all-music, viewer-influenced television network, and AG Interactive, the new media subsidiary of American Greetings Corporation, have announced their intention to jointly develop, distribute and market an interactive music experience, delivering content through virtually all communication platforms.
The alliance represents an opportunity for U.S. wireless carriers, handset manufacturers and advertisers to tap into Fuse's powerful audience of tech-savvy young adults, the fastest growing segment driving the exploding wireless marketplace. It also signals the strategic extension of Fuse's convergent music programming philosophy that has made a leading network in concentration of 12-34 year-old viewers and number one among mobile phone-owning teens.
One example of the plan which is already in place is Fuse's "Daily Download" television show, where viewers are rewarded with a special word of the day -- called the "D" word -- which they plug into the Fuse website receiving free, legal music downloads for their PCs, and soon ringtones and wallpapers for their mobile phones.
To drive the promotion to a broader audience, Fuse and AG Interactive partnered with Tower Records to engage consumers through their U.S. retail storefronts and leading online presence. The "Daily Download" promotions feature on-air appearances by acclaimed recording artists, such as Usher, Metallica, Eminem with D12 and Good Charlotte, giving Fuse viewers access to the artists' music through free downloads to their computers and wireless phones. It also gives consumers access to other unique content through television offers, the Internet and music retail.
By year's end, Fuse plans to explore wireless applications for all of the network's original interactive programs. Some potential features in development include music video dedications, photoblogs, text messaging, voting and polling, video game demos, music news alerts, local market concert and event updates, and special promotions.
