23 Apr 2010 07:00
| Date: | 23 April 2010 |
| On behalf of: | NetPlayTV plc ('the Company' or 'NetPlayTV') |
| Embargoed for: | 0700hrs |
NetPlayTV plc
¡ NetPlayTV announced as a launch partner of ITV1's new teleshopping trial window 'The Zone'
¡ Exclusive deal to air a new regulated interactive Bingo TV gaming format on ITV1
¡ Agreement to broadcast Roulette Nation, a transactional interactive gameshow, on ITV1
¡ Guy Templer to join the plc board as Chief Operating Officer
NetPlayTV plc (AIM: NPT), the interactive gaming company, today announced a significant airtime deal for the new ITV1 night time teleshopping trial window, 'The Zone'. This deal marks another milestone in the Company's goal of becoming the UK's leading broadcaster of gaming experiences across a broad range of platforms.
NetPlayTV has entered into a six month "teleshopping" airtime trial agreement with ITV Broadcasting Limited to broadcast fully interactive transactional TV gaming formats on ITV1 starting during May 2010. ITV is able to broadcast transactional formats in a night time teleshopping window under the revised Ofcom rules of 2009. NetPlayTV's formats will sit alongside other retail partners within the two hour window.
NetPlayTV have entered into a broadcast agreement for a new transactional interactive bingo TV show for broadcast on ITV1 within 'The Zone'. The show will feature quick fire keno and bingo rounds.
The new bingo based show will be broadcast for approximately 30 minutes up to six nights per week on ITV1 starting after midnight. The new format will be backed by a TV advertising campaign, as well as online, and press marketing.
In addition NetPlayTV will also broadcast its existing Roulette Nation interactive gameshow in an additional 30 minute segment. Roulette Nation is currently broadcast on Virgin 1 and STV.
Roulette Nation is part of the ChallengeJackpot.com family which currently generates over £14 million in bets each month. Players will be able to interact via their PC, or phone with the "live" TV roulette wheel, playing for either fun, or real cash from as little as £1 per spin. NetPlayTV currently pays out over £400,000 a day in winnings to its Roulette Nation players.
In addition to the TV games web users will also be able to play a variety of slots and other games with jackpots totalling over £1m at www.challengejackpot.com.
Guy Templer (aged 41), currently the Company's Business Development Director is to join the plc board with immediate effect taking up the role of Chief Operating Officer. Guy has been challenged with taking the Company's brands to the next stage of their evolution. Guy is currently a director of Two Way Gaming and has held directorships at Two Way Media Limited and Two Way Media Holdings Ltd within the past 5 years.
With broadcast deals with the majority of UK commercial terrestrial broadcasters, including Five, STV and now ITV1, the Company needs to develop new interactive TV formats. Formats that appeal to wider audiences, driving more players to a converged Internet, Mobile and TV gaming offering.
With Guy's broad TV experience he will help us drive the Company to these new goals.
Commenting, Martin Higginson, Group Chief Executive of NetPlayTV plc, said:
"When we established NetPlayTV it was with the dream of creating our own interactive game formats and getting them broadcast on a terrestrial TV channel. The agreement with ITV1 allows us to bring together a number of disciplines, from mobile to gaming in the delivery of this exciting new transactional TV bingo show for a trial period. A fully approved and regulated product allowing people to safely get involved in transactional TV games.
"Viewers will be able to play along with the show from the comfort of their own home, all they will need is a TV and phone. Every participant will have the opportunity to play a live bingo game playing for huge prizes ranging from cars to cash, holidays to dream villas! We have also decided to create lots of winners paying out cash prizes to anyone matching just two numbers on their bingo game card.
"It is our aim to create the World's biggest game of bingo, more players and more winners than any game ever!
"This agreement is a huge breakthrough for the Company, and whilst the new format has been costly to develop and, is as yet unproven, we believe the potential upside to be significant. We believe transactional TV is here to stay, and we have the ability to deliver a format that works.
"I am pleased to welcome Guy to the plc Board, he has worked incredibly hard over the past few months bringing this deal to a conclusion. He brings with him a wealth of TV experience which will allow us, with his assistance to take our brands to the next stage of their evolution."
William van Rest, Controller of TV Shopping and Gaming at ITV said:
"ITV's 'The Zone' is a six month trial of teleshopping material following the Ofcom rule change last year. Soft gaming products such as Bingo are extremely popular amongst our audience and we look forward to introducing NetPlayTV's range of innovative formats to our audience as part of this trial."
There are no further disclosures to be made in accordance with Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules.
- Ends -
Enquiries:
| NetPlayTV plc | www.NetPlayTV.plc.uk |
| Martin Higginson, Chief Executive Officer | Via Redleaf |
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| Redleaf Communications | Tel: 020 7566 6700 |
| Emma Kane / Mike Ward | NetPlayTV@redleafpr.com |
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| Panmure Gordon | |
| Dominic Morley / Stuart Gledhill | Tel: 020 7459 3600 |
Notes to Editors:
§ Publication photographs are available from Redleaf Communications or www.redleafpr.com
About NetPlayTV plc
NetPlayTV TV plc is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (NPT). NetPlayTV TV operates a number of interactive gaming services under UK, Malta and Alderney gaming licenses, including SuperCasino.com, ChallengeJackpot.com and Bingos.com. These services can also be viewed 24 hours a day live on Sky Channel 866 and 867, every evening on the terrestrial channels, Five, and STV, plus Freeview on Virgin 1, 1am - 4am and Bravo 2 and 24/7 on Virgin Media channel 141.
The Company is focused on the delivery of a converged interactive gaming experience allowing its customers to interact with its games on a variety of platforms, TV, Internet and mobile from a common integrated wallet.