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VH1 debuts app for on-the-go video watching

VH1 has debuted an Android application that lets viewers watch videos and browse photos from current shows, music events and past programming.

Viewers can also watch sneak peeks of upcoming episodes and new series. VH1 partnered with Rhythm NewMedia to develop the application.

?Developing this video app first for Android devices we believe gives us a chance to really stand out on a hot new mobile platform,? said Noah Vadnai, senior director of VH1 Mobile, New York.

?Creating a video-centric app is a great way to promote VH1 programming and create new ad inventory and sponsorship opportunities,? he said. ?Working with Rhythm NewMedia makes sense for us as they have a lot of experience deploying video apps and close relationships with the mobile advertising community.? 

Mobile television
Users can watch video clips of current VH1 programming, including series such as ?Basketball Wives,? ?Tough Love Couples.?

In addition, users can watch music programming such as ?VH1 Storytellers? and new episodes of ?Behind the Music.?

There will also be select archived programming available for viewing.

?VH1?s target audience is adults 18-49, with an emphasis on those between 25 and 34,? Mr. Vadnai said.

Viewers can also browse photos and catch sneak peeks of episodes that have not aired yet.

An iPhone version of the VH1 to Go application is slated to launch this summer.

Former conquests
This is not VH1?s first foray into mobile. The network has several other applications, including a Watch and Discuss Live Chat application.

Users can visit real-time chat rooms, see a schedule of current on-air shows, visit hosted chats with VH1 personalities and artists and alert their friends via SMS from within the application to join the chat.

Additionally, VH1 took part in a mobile campaign to promote its new reality show.

The company teamed up with Operation Smile to promote its ?Jessica Simpson?s The Price of Beauty? reality show and encourage consumers to raise money for the organization.

Consumers were encouraging to text the keyword SMILE to the short code 90999 to donate $5 (see story).

?VH1 will continue to be aggressive in the mobile space,? Mr. Vadnai said. ?We are relaunching our mobile Web sites on a new platform, which will support high-end touch screen devices and provide enhanced video capabilities. 

?We also have a couple exciting app-based games in development, as well as a very deep, comprehensive app destination for VH1 superfans,? he said.