FUNimation Ent. has finalized a distribution agreement with Optical Ent. Network (OEN), the leading provider of IPTV and broadband services optimized for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). FUNimation Channel becomes part of the FISION service, OEN's lineup of 400 IPTV channels available in the Houston area. The FUNimation Channel is a 24-hour digital channel featuring programming from top anime brands in the U.S. and will be added to OEN's FISION lineup in fall 2006.
OEN created FISION, the first and only integrated service for IPTV, Internet, Voice, Video-On-Demand (VOD) and other broadband applications, specifically to deliver on the superior video quality and virtually unlimited bandwidth of FTTH technology and the only service to make all of its content available for license to other communities in the U.S. and abroad. OEN has acquired programming agreements for IPTV distribution from top television networks and will deliver 400 television channels, including more than 50 channels of High Definition Television (HDTV) to subscribers, the most channels deployed anywhere to date.
"We are excited with the progress that the FUNimation Channel has made in the last few months," said Gen Fukunaga, president/ceo of FUNimation Ent. "Optical Ent. has designed an offering that will provide the Houston area with a great lineup of alternative programming. Houston area residents will now be able to get top-rated anime programming through our 24-hour digital channel."
"FUNimation's top rated anime programming will be a great addition to our existing lineup of channels and we are thrilled by their belief in our offerings," said Jo-lynn Foo, vp of programming at OEN. "Offering high quality programming is critical and we believe that the top-quality anime product will be very successful for us."
FUNimation is working with OlympuSAT, a leading distributor of independent digital programming networks, for the distribution of the FUNimation Channel. OlympuSAT is the exclusive distributor of the FUNimation Channel, available to video service providers across the U.S.
Fort Worth, Texas-based FUNimation Ent. (www.funimation.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corp., is a brand management company and one of the nation's leading independent home video entertainment companies. The company manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, Internet and home video sales and distribution.
Houston-based Optical Ent Network (www.fision.net) providing the first major market deployment of Video, Internet and Voice to residential and commercial customers over a system specifically designed to optimize fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology. The company is a platinum member of the FTTH Council.
