IDT Internet Mobile Group (IMG), a division of IDT Corp., has formed Zedge Studios to develop and license digital content for distribution through web and mobile platforms. IMG has also acquired a controlling interest in IDW Publishing (www.idwpublishing.com), an independent comics publisher known for the horror, action and sci-fi genres, boasting such high-profile titles as THE TRANSFORMERS, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, CSI, STAR TREK, 24 and SCARFACE.
Moshe Berger, formerly ceo of IDT Ent., which was sold to Liberty Media in 2006, aims to make IDT's Internet Mobile Group an industry leader. "We have seen the explosion of digital content, especially user-generated content, over a variety of platforms," said Berger, IMG ceo and head of Zedge Studios. "This is what the new generation of consumers craves. Our intention is for Zedge Studios to become the worldwide destination for content on the Web and on mobile devices. IDW Publishing's stellar reputation in the comics and graphic novel arenas and its emphasis on original intellectual properties in the action and horror genres are a perfect fit for Zedge Studios. Working closely with IDW's brilliant management and creative team will bring us one step closer to achieving our global goal."
An established leader in the comicbook and graphic novel marketplace, IDW Publishing has been named "Publisher of the Year" by Diamond Comic Distributors for the past three years. IDW strives to nurture original content from its dynamic creative roster. Sam Raimi (SPIDER-MAN) and his Ghost House Pictures optioned the rights to 30 DAYS OF NIGHT from IDW Publishing. Raimi is producing the live-action feature film adaptation of the original horror work, created by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith and published by IDW. Columbia Pictures is scheduled to release the film, which stars Josh Hartnett, in October 2007.
"I'm proud of the growth we've achieved at IDW over the last eight years and very excited to be working with IDT and IMG's Zedge Studios to catapult our company into new territories," said IDW co-founder/ceo Ted Adams. "We look forward to the expanded opportunities that this new business relationship will produce for our existing and future properties."
In December of 2006, IMG acquired Zedge (www.zedge.net), a popular social networking community for mobile users and provider of free mobile content, which recently topped the five million member mark. Zedge Studios will capitalize and build upon its loyal user base by developing, acquiring and financing intellectual property (IP) for distribution over multiple channels, including Zedge.net.
The site hosts a wealth of complimentary content and tools for mobile phones, with over 250 million pieces of content already downloaded. Zedgers generate, upload, download, or view and share wallpaper, themes, videos, ringtones, games and other free mobile content. Zedge hosts a robust social community and its blog, zedgeheadz (www.blog.zedge.net), focuses on the world of mobile content.
IDW lists some of the most successful and hottest print titles in the industry among its portfolio, including: television's #1 primetime series CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Sony's UNDERWORLD; Paramount's STAR TREK; Fox's 24; Hasbro's THE TRANSFORMERS; Universal's SCARFACE, LAND OF THE DEAD and SHAUN OF THE DEAD; and KONAMI'S SILENT HILL, CASTLEVANIA and METAL GEAR Solid. The company also works with foreign licensing agents to sell its comics around the world, with titles being published in multiple languages and crossing dozens of regions.
IDT Internet Mobile Group's (IMG) Zedge Studios develops and licenses original content for distribution through online and mobile platforms. Zedge Studios encompasses Zedge.net, the Norway-based user-generated mobile content and social networking community acquired in December 2006. IDT Internet Mobile Group is part of IDT Corp., a multinational company with operations in telecommunications and other industries.
