Sprint and HBO Partner to Bring THE SOPRANOS to Mobile Devices

Strategic Insights -

Sprint and Home Box Office (HBO) have formed a partnership to bring exclusive content from the critically acclaimed series THE SOPRANOS to Sprint PCS Vision customers nationwide. The partnership allows Sprint customers to download screen savers, ringers, and other content from the popular HBO series, providing fans with a unique and personal way to stay connected.

The partnership marks a new business venture for HBO, expanding the company's reach to a new audience through wireless entertainment applications. "Going wireless is a new business for us and a natural way of extending the HBO brand," said Michael Bishara, vice president, product development at HBO. "We envision this as just the beginning, and plan to expand content offerings to include our other popular series."

Sprint's enhanced Nationwide PCS Network provides customers with a wide range of entertainment options, including the ability to take and receive pictures, browse the internet, and check personal and corporate email. With 3.2 million Sprint PCS Vision customers through the end of 2003, Sprint leads the industry in adoption of advanced wireless data services.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sprint and HBO have formed a partnership to bring exclusive content from THE SOPRANOS to Sprint PCS Vision customers nationwide.
  • The partnership marks a new business venture for HBO, expanding the company's reach to a new audience through wireless entertainment applications.
  • Sprint's enhanced Nationwide PCS Network provides customers with a wide range of entertainment options, including the ability to take and receive pictures, browse the internet, and check personal and corporate email.
  • Sprint leads the industry in adoption of advanced wireless data services, with 3.2 million Sprint PCS Vision customers through the end of 2003.
  • THE SOPRANOS is a critically acclaimed series that stars Emmy(R)-winners James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano and Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano, among others.
  • David Chase's drama series tells the story of Tony Soprano, a modern-day mob boss and his family.

Statistics:

  • 3.2 million Sprint PCS Vision customers through the end of 2003 (Source: Sprint)
  • 39 million subscribers for HBO and Cinemax in the United States via cable and satellite delivery (Source: HBO)
  • 50 countries around the globe with HBO branded services through international joint ventures (Source: HBO)
  • Over 26 million customers for Sprint in more than 100 countries (Source: Sprint)
  • $26 billion in annual revenues for Sprint in 2003 (Source: Sprint)

Sources:

  • "CTIA Wireless 2004" PR Newswire, March 22 (no publication date specified)
  • Sprint press release (no publication date specified)
  • HBO press release (no publication date specified)
  • Sprint website (no publication date specified)
  • HBO website (no publication date specified)