INC.L Regulatory News (INC)

24 Jun 2005 07:30

Avanti Screenmedia Group PLC24 June 2005 For Release 7.30am 24 June 2005 AVANTI SCREENMEDIA GROUP PLC: CONTRACT GAIN THE MALL AND AVANTI CREATE UK'S SINGLE BIGGEST SCREENMEDIA NETWORK Avanti Screenmedia Group Plc ("Avanti"), the UK's leading provider ofscreenmedia and The Mall Limited Partnership ("The Mall"), Britain's leadingowner and operator of community shopping centers, have today signed an exclusivethree-year agreement valued at £3 million for the provision of a total solutionscreenmedia service to The Mall's nationwide shopping centers, from Aberdeen toBristol. It is the largest single contract secured by Avanti to date and breaks newground. Mall TV, will have an audience of circa 5 million visitors per weekmaking it the largest fully-commercial, single-client screenmedia network in theUK. The channel's content strategy also represents an important innovation. Avantiwill create heavily branded content for Mall TV based on The Mall's existingbrand heritage and will supply predominantly localised community news,information and promotions. Avanti will deploy a combination of 3 meter displaysand smaller plasma screens in each mall. Commenting, Jacquelyn White, The Mall's Commercial Development Manager, said:"We are delighted to be working with Avanti. The Mall has been at the forefrontof brand development and revenue generation in this market for several years andMall TV is a logical extension of this strategy. As part of our integrated MallMedia platform, Mall TV will deliver major benefits to our customers in terms ofconsumer loyalty and awareness of promotions. In addition, it will offer ourretailers an unparalleled opportunity to influence consumers close to the pointof sale across the spectrum of brands. Avanti is the only service provider wefound capable of delivering a genuine in-house total solution, which is uniquein the marketplace." Avanti Chief Executive David Williams said: "It is always rewarding to work withpioneers, and The Mall's fully-branded content strategy is very original. Thesize and quality of their estate and the representation of blue chip retailersand those retailers' brand suppliers gives me confidence about the commercialsuccess of this project." ENDS Editor's Notes: About Avanti Screenmedia Avanti was established in 1996 and is the leading supplier of screenmediaservices to shopping mall, high street retail and bar market clients. Thismarket is rapidly expanding as companies recognise the advantages of adoptingtheir own TV channels to promote their brands and products, entertain customersand generate advertising revenue. Avanti offers mall operators a one-stop shop screenmedia service, which includeschannel strategy, content production, media distribution, network maintenance,advertising sales and research. Avanti's channel strategy in malls is about providing unique and tailoredservices to cater for each client's needs. Not all malls are the same, which iswhy the company offers a modular approach to its channel design. This allowsoperators to choose the right mix of content to suit the environment, day of theweek and time of day. Business credentials • Avanti floated on the London Stock Exchange in July 2004 • The company is profitable, cash rich and debt free • Current market capitalization: £27 million • Combined retail, leisure, and shopping mall audiences exceed 12m per week. • Based in London, 99 employees www.avanti-screenmedia.com About The Mall The Mall is the leading owner and operator of community shopping centres in theUK. The Mall now has assets of more than £2.3 billion in 22 shopping centres andhas plans to grow assets to 30 centres, establishing The Mall as the UK'scommunity shopping centre brand. The Mall's locations are at Aberdeen, Barnsley, Bexleyheath, Birmingham,Blackburn, Bristol, Camberley, Chester, Edgware, Epsom, Falkirk, Gloucester,Ilford, Maidstone, Middlesborough, Norwich, Preston, Romford, Southampton,Sutton Coldfield, Walthamstow and Wood Green. Capital & Regional and Morley Fund Management set up The Mall Fund in 2002 andother investors include the F&C, Prudential, Hermes, and Scottish Widows. www.themall.co.uk For further information: Avanti Screenmedia Financial:Binns & Co PR LtdPeter Binns Tel: 020 7786 9600 Trade:Propeller PRMartin Loat / Neil Beston Tel: 020 7440 1734 The MallLiz D' Oliveira and Paul HainesRedwood Consultancy Tel: 020 7224 4300 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange