MIRA.L Regulatory News (MIRA)

26 Jan 2006 07:01

Yoomedia PLC26 January 2006 YooMedia plc / Ticker: YOO / Index: AIM / Sector: Media 26 January 2006 YooMedia plc ("YooMedia") tvtv to collaborate with YooMedia for EPG and interactive digital television services YooMedia, the AIM-traded interactive content and services provider, has signedan agreement with tvtv, a branch of Sony United Kingdom Ltd, to providebandwidth for transmission of rich EPG data through Digital TerrestrialTelevision (DTT) in the UK. tvtv is aggregating and transmitting TV metadata through Internet, analog anddigital broadcast in Europe. The service enables advanced EPG functionality onTV sets, digital set-top-boxes, personal video recorders, DVD recorders,personal computers and mobile phones. Device manufacturers, using the tvtv EPGdata service, can design their own user interface and offer consumers easy touse, state of the art devices with inter-connectivity within mobile, internetand broadcast platforms. In addition, YooMedia and tvtv will collaborate to research and developadditional interactive digital television services via or in conjunction withthe EPG, such as enhanced on-screen TV magazines and interactive televisionadvertising. YooMedia's Group Managing Director, Neil MacDonald, said: "We are delighted toannounce this new datacasting services agreement with tvtv, a company withexperience in EPG services. We believe the collaboration will further enhancethe services provided by both YooMedia and tvtv, solidifying our position as thepartner of choice in this sector." Dimitris Kourepis, General Manager tvtv, said: "I am very pleased to cooperatewith YooMedia, a company with strong presence in interactive television. Itsupports our plans to provide rich EPG data and new exciting services to ourcustomers in UK and other European countries." YooMedia's datacasting service is unique in the market as a means of deliveringdynamic next-generation interactivity on Freeview in the UK. The Directorsexpect to deliver annualised incremental earnings in excess of £500,000 by theend of 2006 from a range of datacasting services and customers, following theintroduction of the service in September of 2005. * * ENDS * * Contacts: Neil MacDonald YooMedia PLC Tel: 020 7462 0870Isabel Crossley St Brides Media & Finance Ltd Tel: 020 7242 4477Mark Percy Seymour Pierce Limited Tel: 020 7107 8000 Notes on YooMedia plc YooMedia is one of the fastest growing interactive entertainment companies inthe UK. Essentially, it develops and delivers premium interactive content andservices to households and individuals via TV, the web, telephony and mobilephones. It has four main divisions: • YooMedia Dating - manages dating brands including Dateline and Avenues from over 20 locations throughout the UK. Operates across traditional media, digital TV, internet and mobile phones. • YooMedia Gambling & Games - interactive fixed odds, play for fun casino and poker related games services for digital TV, the web and mobile phones. Brands include Channel 425, while it also manages YooPlay, the only interactive games channel found on all four Digital TV platforms in the UK and Avago, which was established by YooMedia and is now managed on behalf of Gala Group. • YooMedia Enhanced Solutions (YES) - delivers interactive content that enhances consumer and audience experiences. Customers include the BBC, Nestle, Celador, William Hill, Channel 4, ZipTV, The Cartoon Network and HR Owen. • YooMedia Public Sector - provides digital solutions/media services to leading public sector organisations including the NHS Direct Interactive TV service for the Department of Health, the Learning and Skills Council TV Kickstart service and a range of local authority TV services. The Group's experienced management team includes: Chairman, Dr. MichaelSinclair, who holds a number of directorships in both the UK and the USA havingpreviously founded Lifetime Corporation; and Managing Director, Neil MacDonald,whose career spans 11 years in multimedia and interactive sectors plus a further19 years in the retail industry. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange