AMC, History Launch New Mobile Applications

AMC and Historyare calling up new mobile phone applications to support it is popular on-air content.

Rainbow Media-owned AMC is offering iPhone and iPod users exclusive content from its top series Mad Men and Breaking Bad, as well as its upcoming miniseries The Prisoner through the Apple App Store, according to network officials.

As part of the offering, AMC is providing exclusive, behind-the-scenes video from its currently running series Breaking Bad, featuring Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman), for a limited time. The app also gives users access to amctv.com's popular movie and series blogs, as well as movie news and a quick link to the AMC broadcast schedule.

"We are pleased to be among the first cable networks to launch an app on the App Store," said Mac McKean, AMC vice president of digital media. "This launch allows our fans to engage with our originals through a high quality mobile viewing experience on their iPhone or iPod touch, adding another layer to our original storytelling."

History also made a pitch to iPhone and iPod Touch users with the launch of a new application based on its series Life After People.

The free application, Life After People Photo Ager, allows users to "age" images which can be saved or shared with friends. Consumers can import pictures from their own photo library, or users can take their own new photos to "age" by sliding a finger along a scroll bar to visually progress the picture's aging process in order to see what it would look like after people disappear.

"This iPhone application is a great way for existing fans to connect and interact with the program, as well as an engaging tool that we can use to promote the show and attract new viewers," said Nancy Dubuc, executive vice president and general manager of History, in a statement.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.