Press Release
CONtv, the new on-demand streaming service from Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) and Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) targeted to Comic Con fans, has announced its third original series with “My Morphing Life,” helmed by fan favorite television and digital star Jason David Frank (“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”). Based on Frank’s popular YouTube web series, “My Morphing Life” will be a featured part of CONtv’s original programming slate. The new network will launch in early February 2015, with the new series set to premiere in early March.
A Power Ranger for over 20 years, Frank has truly embodied his role as the celebrated and heroic Green Ranger. “My Morphing Life” follows Frank through his daily adrenaline-fueled antics to give fans a thrilling look inside his base-jumping, high-flying, ass-kicking life as he breaks world records, greets fans, raises his daughter and tackles death-defying stunts.
Given the success of the series’ first season (originally titled “My Morphin Life”) on YouTube, Frank has become a new media star in his own right, engaging his loyal fans with regular video vlogs and messaging across YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. With support from Saban Brands, home to the Power Rangers franchise, Season One has generated over 1.5 million views to date. Directed, produced and often times shot by Frank himself, the newly created, action-packed second season will bring 11 new short-form episodes to CONtv.
“I can’t wait to show fans how much we upped the ante with more explosive action, storyline and thrills for CONtv,” said Frank. “It’s been awesome seeing how engaged our audience has been already and we are excited to keep it going for our fans!”
“Jason David Frank is a staple at the Wizard World events due to his amazing touchpoint with the fans,” says John Macaluso, CEO of Wizard World. “By bringing him to CONtv, we can bring even more Power Rangers fans from around the globe to witness Jason’s incredible life outside of the shows.”
“Jason has proven himself incredibly adept at social media and has developed a remarkable, sustained relationship with his fans. Meanwhile, after all this time, The Power Rangers continue to resonate with audiences,” said Bill Sondheim, President of Cinedigm Entertainment. “‘My Morphing Life’ promises to bring original action to the network by following the famous Green Ranger through some truly spellbinding, real-life feats.”
As a digital network, CONtv is demonstrating its ongoing interest in collaborating with new media talent and champion shorter format digital web content alongside its more traditional film and television offerings.
This new series joins the recently announced originals “Last Fan Standing,” a game show hosted and produced by fan-favorite actor Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, Army Of Darkness), and the horror-competition series “Fight Of The Living Dead,” which follows digital celebrities including Joey Graceffa (4.2 million YouTube subscribers), Jesse and Jeana (PrankvsPrank, 6.9 YouTube subscribers), and Justine Ezarik (iJustine, 2.1 million YouTube subscribers), as they fight to survive the undead’s relentlessly grisly, and frighteningly realistic onslaught through a “real-world” Zombie apocalypse.
As a network for and by fans, CONtv will continue to partner with engaging talent to incite interactive fan experiences, much like those that are garnered through attending pop culture conventions.
Upon its launch in February 2015, the digital service will be offered as a free ad-supported platform as well as a low-cost monthly subscription of $6.99/month with content exclusives, audience rewards, a dynamic second-screen experience, and ticketing bundle opportunities for Wizard World conventions. The network recently announced an expansive portfolio of acquired film and television content available on the new service including a deep catalogue of the best in pop culture obsession from pulse-pounding horror, to short-lived TV series, to cult classic films. CONtv plans to launch across a wide spectrum of devices including Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Android, Samsung Smart TV, Windows, Mac OS, mobile, and tablet devices.
About CONtv
CONtv is a new digital entertainment network exclusively dedicated to the fanspace. Launching in early 2015, CONtv will offer audiences access to thousands of hours of original programming, elusive cult films and television shows, celebrated genre movies, and exclusive live coverage of Comic Con events nationwide. From quirky original series to an eclectic catalog of 1200 must-watch titles, CONtv’s seemingly endless stream of animé, fantasy, grindhouse, horror, martial arts, sci-fi, and superhero content will be available on demand through a free, ad-supported format or a low-cost, subscription-based model of $6.99 a month for premium content. CONtv is a partnership of Cinedigm Entertainment Group, the nation’s largest independent distributor of digital entertainment, and Wizard World, producers of the largest chain of Comic Con and pop culture conventions in the U.S. Together, they provide an unrivalled experiential hub of content, community, and conventions across the broad spectrum of platforms including Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Mac OS, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Windows, Xbox, mobile and tablet devices.
About Cinedigm
Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) is a leading independent content distributor in the United States, with direct relationships with over 60,000 physical retail storefronts and digital platforms, including Wal-Mart, Target, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon, as well as the national Video on Demand platform on cable television. The company’s library of over 52,000 films and TV episodes encompasses award-winning documentaries from Docurama Films®, next-gen Indies from Flatiron Film Company®, acclaimed independent films and festival picks through partnerships with the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Films and a wide range of content from brand name suppliers, including National Geographic, Discovery, Scholastic, NFL, Shout Factory, Hallmark, The Jim Henson Company and more.
Additionally, given Cinedigm’s infrastructure, technology, content and distribution expertise, the company has rapidly become a leader in the quickly evolving over-the-top digital network business. Cinedigm’s first channel, DOCURAMA, launched in May 2014, and is currently available on over 200 million consumer devices including ioS, Roku, Xbox and Samsung, with additional platforms currently being rolled out. CONtv, a Comic Con branded channel, in partnership with WIZARD WORLD, is set for launch in Q1 2015. The Company also announced its third OTT channel via a partnership with The Dove Foundation. DOVE MOVIE CHANNEL will be a digital streaming subscription service targeted to families and kids seeking high quality and family friendly content approved by Dove and will launch in mid-2015.
Cinedigm™ and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp™ are trademarks of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp www.cinedigm.com.
About Wizard World
Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A’s, the Wizard World Film Festival, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World also produces socialcon featuring social media stars and will be launching CONtv, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™.
The 2015 Wizard World schedule is available at: wizd.me/PRSchedule2015.
