Went chasing BDE at .62 on news. - World's first full-length feature film sold online using peer-to-peer technology
SYDNEY, Australia, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharman Networks, publisher and distributor of Kazaa, the world's most popular file sharing application, today announced the world's first full-length feature film to be sold online using secure peer-to-peer technology.
Under a distribution agreement between Sharman's partner Altnet and filmmaker Aum Creates, the full-length Hindi-language thriller 'Supari' is available for purchase to Kazaa's estimated 60 million users worldwide for US$2.99. Altnet's technology allows Aum Creates to be paid each time the movie file is shared and purchased via Kazaa. Kazaa users can also download free movie trailers, production footage, and music videos, as well as purchase songs from the movie soundtrack for US 90 cents each.
The film is protected, promoted and distributed with Altnet technology, which gives content owners complete control over the rules of distribution and pricing of their products. The efficiency of peer-to-peer can provide an approximate 90% cut in bandwidth costs compared with traditional web site distribution. Altnet's service gives the film a preferred placement in Kazaa search listings, making it easy for fans to find.
According to Nikki Hemming, CEO Sharman Networks, "The Bollywood movie market is growing at twice the rate of Hollywood, in terms of production and revenue. This is where the benefits of peer-to-peer technology become really clear. Selling large, high quality files online, such as feature films, at low cost to a massive audience across the globe quite simply cannot be done efficiently using traditional websites. Peer-to-peer technology offers the movie industry a huge opportunity to massively enhance its distribution and generate revenue."
Supari's Indian distributors Yash Raj Films initiated promotion of the film on Kazaa prior to its release in India. According to Supari Director, Padam Kumar, "Through movie trailer, soundtrack, and 'behind the scenes' footage promotions, Kazaa has already managed to create widespread awareness for Supari. Selling the full movie is a logical next step, and with a relatively low budget movie, it is a very cost effective way to reach the masses.
"P2P is an exciting new avenue for revenue generation and global distribution for the film industry. The global reach of Kazaa is phenomenal, and it is a very targeted marketing avenue for us since it's so entertainment focused."
Supari movies can be found in the video section of the Kazaa application or by searching for 'Supari'. Download Kazaa at www.kazaa.com.
About Sharman Networks Limited
Sharman Networks Limited distributes the popular Kazaa Media Desktop software, the leading peer-to-peer application that allows users to search, download, organize and interact with a variety of file types. Founded in 2002, Sharman Networks is a private company committed to distributing computing software applications that are pioneering the digital revolution. Sharman Networks is a worldwide operation. For more information about Kazaa Media Desktop, Sharman Network's leading P2P software application, please visit Kazaa.com.
About Altnet
Altnet is the leading peer-to-peer distributor of secure digital media that originates from content owners. Altnet reaches an estimated 100 million users and is the #1 issuer of rights managed music in the world. Altnet's products integrate with websites, applications, and peer-to-peer networks to allow Internet users to simply and easily locate, download, trial, and purchase digital content. Altnet is a subsidiary of Brilliant Digital Entertainment (Amex: BDE - News).
