Bermuda-based Global Crossing Ltd. and VDI Multimedia yesterday announced they had teamed up to market next generation broadband services to the media and entertainment industries.

And together they claim they will create a fully digital Hollywood, the company's said.

Global Crossing's fibre-optic network spans 101,000 miles, connecting five continents and 200 cites.

This network will provide the infrastructure for VDI MultiMedia's digital video and film asset management solutions for major entertainment studios, advertising agencies and corporations.

In partnership, the companies said they will provide customers with the bandwidth and services to seamlessly create, collaborate and connect in a fully secure, digital environment.

VDI MultiMedia provides a full range of digitised video and film asset management services to the entertainment, media and advertising industries as well as corporate customers.

The company offers all of the services necessary to edit, master, reformat, digitise, archive, and distribute its clients' film and video content, including commercials, feature films, movie trailers electronic press kits, infomercials, and syndicated programmes.

VDI provides services to all major film studios, including Disney, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Fox, Universal, Warner Bros. and Mirimax, as well as to top advertising agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Foote Cone & Belding and Young & Rubicam.

"Global Crossing is delivering on the promise of supporting the creation of a truly digital Hollywood by partnering with companies such as VDI MultiMedia to service clients over our digital network.

"By creating a secure community that will facilitate the exchange of ideas and information, Global Crossing is helping to accelerate the distribution of content and services for the entertainment industry into the digital age,'' said Donna Reeves, President of Global Crossing Media and Entertainment Markets.