GONG
GONG is an IPTV channel (Internet Protocol Television), accessible throughout Europe and North America, entirely dedicated to anime (Japanese animation).
GONG sets out to show, via "new technologies" (Web, mobile telephony, Video On Demand, streaming, linear) productions from Japanese studios. With a wide audience (and not only diehard fans of manga and Anime), Gong's aim is to be at the cutting-edge of Web technologies, means of communication and television, while prioritizing the quality of its offer.
Summary
• 1 Brief History of GONG
• 2 A new Way of Watching/Making TV
o 2.1 VoD
o 2.2 Mobile telephony
o 2.3 Internet
o 2.4 Broadcast platforms
• 3 Contents
• 4 External link
BRIEF HISTORY OF GONG
GONG was Founded in November 2006 by two childhood friends: André de Semlyen (one of the pioneers of TPS (France) and its kids' channel Teletoon, and also behind the French launch of Warner's US cartoon channel Cartoon Network) and Benoît Runel (another key player in Youth TV with the launch of Fox Kids/ Jetix). GONG immediately enjoyed solid shareholding and now has offices in London and Paris.
"Anywhere, Anytime, Anime": the brand motto resumes GONG’s proposal towards TV world. Its specificities: to broadcast Anime for 15- to 24-year-olds (though the product, in fact, attracts 10- to 35-year-olds) on various mobile media for a TV consumption on the move.
A NEW WAY OF WATCHING:MAKING TV
Through VoD
GONG's offer is presently available on platforms of TF1 (in France) or British Telecom, in U.K).
Through Mobile telephony
At a time of widespread 3G usage, GONG is a partner of Orange (in the UK and in Poland), of T-Mobile and much more. Not only programs, but also sounds, images (video clips and wallpapers, etc.) elaborated with constant attention to get the best of current and future technological potentials.
Through Internet
GONG's website displays a willingness to make the most of the world of animation (videos, games, downloads). A Version 2 is on the drawing board and should enable GONG to broadcast from its own internet website.
Through Broadcast platforms
GONG is positioned in the main broadcast platforms that have emerged on internet over the past months, some of which, after several years of tests, are preparing their general public launch. Thus the founders of Joost (Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, also founders of KaZaA and Skype) and inventors of Peer to Peer, have given GONG the ability to broadcast programs to 36 countries from a single IPTV platform, something made possible by internet and totally inconceivable on traditional satellite or cable TV. Joost launch is planned for summer 2007. For now, a million beta testers can already watch GONGtv and select the GONG programs they wish to see. Joost technology allows getting in one click a plethora of information on the different contents and the manga they originate from. A new form of interactivity for both viewers and broadcasters.
GONG is also present on the beta version of Babelgum, a direct competitor of Joost and on You-Tube which now makes it possible for channels to make videos available to visitors and thus complete episodes of series.
Contents
GONG is in partnership with Japanese producers, and international publishers and distributors including Kaze (France), Dybex (Belgium), Enoki (United States).
External Link
Official site www.gonganime.com
Also see www.joost.com