7DIG.L Regulatory News (7DIG)

28 September 2015

7digital Group plc

("7digital" or "the Company")

Integration of Google CastTM and contract wins

7digital (AIM:7DIG), the digital music and radio services company, today announces that it has launched an integration of Google CastTM on its platform and is the first provider to offer hi-res audio playback of FLAC format files in Google Cast.

With support for Google Cast, which was launched earlier this year and has already been adopted by most hardware manufacturers, consumers are able to send music to any Google Cast-enabled speaker, or to any Chromecast-connected TV or streaming device. The technology will be available to 7digital's B2B customers who wish to add this as an additional feature on their web service or apps.

The company is announcing this integration alongside a major upgrade to 7digital's own Music Store and Android app which, as well as adding support for Google Cast, launches a new catalogue of hi-res music and support for Android Auto, with a fresh look and much improved experience. There have now been over 22 million installs of 7digital music apps.

7digital is the first provider to offer hi-res playback of FLAC format files with Google Cast both to customers licensing its platform and direct consumers.  This allows consumers to access a catalogue of almost 40 million tracks, with millions of 16-bit FLACs (44.1kHz, CD-quality) and hundreds of thousands of 24-bit FLACs (up to 192kHz, studio quality).

The company is also pleased to announce a number of contract wins, partnerships and service launches:

ROK Mobile, powered by 7digital, has launched the first ever phone and music streaming package in the UK. ROK Mobile is a SIM-only service and will offer UK consumers music streaming, unlimited phone calls, unlimited texts and 4GB of data each month. As with ROK Mobile in the US, the service uses 7digital's secure infrastructure to handle all music file management, streaming to end users and rights-holder reporting.

7digital have also signed a contract with Brazilian start-up, OurSound to power their interactive music service for public spaces. The OurSound application lets users access playlists linked to location and choose the music they want to hear. This adds to the Company's South American business, which also includes the contract now signed with Mariposa Holdings Group, Inc. who are launching new music services in the region with Algar Telecom.

Adding to our comprehensive set of tools for customers wishing to create streamed radio services, the Company has further agreed a partnership with Imagination Technologies ("IMG") to sell its FlowRadio Internet radio aggregation service internationally.

FlowRadio incorporates a full directory of global Internet radio services with instant access to over 25,000 stations worldwide, in addition to 'listen again' programmes and around 270,000 podcast episodes. It includes state-of-the-art APIs to interact with devices and back-end management tools including full support for account management and portal hosting. 7digital and Imagination will jointly enhance and develop the FlowRadio platform, while maintaining long-term support to third parties already using the service.

Simon Cole, CEO of 7digital commented:

"These contract wins show our market and customer base developing as our strategy envisaged. The implementation of Google Cast keeps us one step ahead in providing a platform from which hardware manufacturers can develop new in-home and in car connected music services. In mobile, ROK's "comes with music" strategy and the deals with Mariposa and OurSound in South America all represent examples of the emerging "Third Age" of digital music where streaming services become an integrated part of product offerings. In this market, device manufacturers and networks are looking for a company that can build streamed music and radio services for them cost effectively, quickly and efficiently."

ENDS

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About 7digital

7digital aims to simplify access to the world's music and radio. Their robust, scalable digital music platform and flexible APIs are used to power comprehensive music and radio services for leading consumer brands, mobile carriers, broadcasters, automotive systems, retailers, record labels, artists and agencies. Alongside proven technology, they offer global music rights, award-winning radio production services, and content management expertise, making them a leading global partner in this space.

7digital has powered streaming and download services for global brands like Samsung, T-Mobile, HMV and BlackBerry, has partnered with media giants such as Yahoo and Sirius XM, and is the largest independent producer of radio programming for the BBC. 7digital Group is ideally placed to lead innovation at the intersection of digital music and next generation radio services.

About FLAC

FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. This is an audio format which is created through lossless compression of digital audio, meaning that audio is compressed in FLAC without any reduction in quality. FLAC music files are among those commonly referred to as 'hi-res', or 'high resolution'.

About Google Cast

Google Cast is a technology that allows Android and iOS mobile apps and Chrome web apps to 'cast' (or stream) content - like video, audio, and screen sharing - to Cast-ready devices like Google Cast-enabled speakers, or to any Chromecast-connected TV or streaming device. Google Cast and the Google Cast badge are trademarks of Google Inc.