MIRA.L Regulatory News (MIRA)

21 Oct 2005 07:00

Yoomedia PLC21 October 2005 YooMedia plc / Ticker: YOO / Market: AIM / Sector: Media 21 October 2005 YooMedia plc ('YooMedia' or 'the Group') Electra Partners with YooMedia for Richer Interactivity on Freeview YooMedia plc, the AIM traded interactive media and games group, has signed apartnership agreement with Electra Entertainment Limited ("Electra"), a providerof next-generation interactive entertainment services for Freeview set topboxes, to supply a collection of free and premium interactive services onFreeview. The new interactive services accessible from any channel will feature richerfunctionality, graphics and sound than that currently available on Freeviewinteractive content. The new content will be supplied to households nationallyusing YooMedia's newly-launched datacasting service as announced in its interimresults on 26 September 2005. The technology required to receive the Electraservice will be licensed to consumer electronics manufacturers for incorporationin devices such as digital set top boxes, integrated digital televisions andpersonal video recorders. Additionally, YooMedia and Electra will collaborate to develop advanced fixedodds gaming and dating services for inclusion in the Electra Freeview serviceplatform. YooMedia's Group Managing Director, Neil MacDonald, said: "We are delighted toannounce our first datacasting service on Freeview, working in partnership withElectra. We developed the datacasting service to provide a sophisticated andstate of the art interactive delivery mechanism for the rapidly expandingdigital market. Freeview is the fastest growing digital TV platform in the UKwith over five million households. Many industry commentators believe thatFreeview will emerge as the largest single platform over the coming years and webelieve that the time is right for high quality interactive services to be madeavailable on it." Electra's Chairman, Jasper Smith, said: "The Freeview world is evolving fastwith new channel launches, enhanced boxes and rapid take up. We believeElectra's technology and services are the next stage in transforming theFreeview entertainment experience. As the UK's largest independent interactiveprovider, YooMedia is an ideal partner for our business." * * ENDS * * Contacts: Neil MacDonald YooMedia PLC Tel: 020 7462 0870Isabel Crossley St Brides Media & Finance Ltd Tel: 020 7242 4477 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 Avago and Channel 425. It also manages YooPlay, the only interactive games channel found on all four Digital TV platforms in the UK. • 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. Notes on Electra Entertainment Electra has developed interactive technology that transforms what is currentlyavailable with digital terrestrial television worldwide. Its service givesinstant access from any channel to interactive content that is richer infunctionality, graphics and sound. This is achieved without a significantincrease in set top box cost and by consuming orders of magnitude less bandwidthcompared to other interactive services. Electra was founded in 2003 and is led by a team of interactive TV veteransincluding: Jasper Smith, co-founder of leading interactive games provider,Playjam, and AIM listed Optimistic Entertainment; David Caswell, ex TelewestBroadband interactive head; and Jonathan Drazin, ex European CTO for Gemstar TVGuide. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange