Telia focuses on gaming on digital TV

- new cooperation broadens the market for computer games

Telia has concluded a cooperation agreement with the Gaming Media Group (GMG) for developing computer games for the TV and web format. The first result of the collaboration is the Virtual Grand Prix – a championship in virtual motor sport that will close in the autumn. The finalists will compete in TV4 Plus for a prize of SEK 100 000.

The GMG concept is based on established computer and TV games that are being developed further for a number of media platforms such as web communities, TV and events.

“We already have one of Europe’s best networks for games and will now be taking a further step into the gaming world. We firmly believe in the idea of adapting popular computer games to digital TV, for instance,” says Erik Hallberg, who is in charge of broadband services at TeliaSonera in Sweden. “So the cooperation with GMG is incredibly exciting. It will affect the whole of the gaming industry.”

The first concept within the framework of the GMG cooperation is the Virtual Grand Prix at VGP.se – a championship in virtual motor sport which is being launched during the summer and in which the finalists will be battling in the autumn for the prize of SEK 100 000 in TV4 Plus. The game is matched to the TV medium of GMG and Telia, and the partners have also produced the website that has recently been launched – http://www.vgp.se

“We are looking forward to launching together with Telia the new, innovative gaming concept. Right from our first joint project, we have taken a huge step towards increased convergence between today’s main media,” says Jon Levin, Commercial Director at GMG.

GMG is backed by the Amox Studios TV and web production company and the United Media Group communication agency.