VITA.L Regulatory News (VITA)

15 Jan 2008 07:01

Cellcast plc15 January 2008 SUMO.tv Secures Major Distribution Deals On Orange Networks in France, Israel Mobile is key to SUMO's multiplatform strategy Cellcast plc is pleased to make the following announcement regarding its wholly-owned subsidiary SUMO.tv Highlights •SUMO.tv has entered into new mobile distribution agreements for the Orange networks in France and Israel •Agreements secured through Mobibase and Tapuz Mobile •Discussions progressing on mobile distribution agreements in other markets including Australia, Malaysia and South Africa •Mobile distribution a lynchpin of SUMO.tv's multiplatform strategy Cellcast plc (AIM: CLTV), the global interactive digital broadcaster, todayannounced that its subsidiary, SUMO.tv, the UK's leading video sharingcommunity, has extended its overseas network by signing important new mobiledistribution agreements with Mobibase in France and Tapuz Mobile in Israel onthe Orange networks in those countries. Orange is one of the world's leadingtelecommunications operators with more than 100 million customers on fivecontinents. The mobile distribution agreement with Mobibase in France means that SUMO.tv isnow part of the One TV bouquet of Mobile channels on the Orange Gallery. Orangehas over 3.5 million high-speed users (3G, 3G+ and EDGE) and the agreement withMobibase is a significant opportunity for SUMO.tv to grow its community ofEuropean users. In Israel, SUMO.tv will be available via the Orange Network portal through anexclusive agreement for mobile distribution with Tapuz Mobile. Since itsestablishment in 2001, TAPUZ MOBILE has gained vast experience in development,deployment, production and adaptation of mobile content specific for 3G, GSM,CDMA and TDMA cellular networks. Discussions are progressing on further mobile distribution deals in a number ofmarkets including Australia, Malaysia and South Africa, where SUMO.tvparticipated in a three-month DVB-H Mobile TV trial in partnership with MTN. SUMO.tv is the world's first media network to seamlessly integrateuser-generated content (UGC) into television programming, internet and mobileservices, using its proprietary technical services architecture. Commenting on the agreements, Andrew Wilson, CEO of SUMO.tv, said: ""Mobile isone of the lynchpins of our multiplatform strategy. We want people to be able toconsume and share Sumo content anytime, anywhere, and the short-form nature ofthat content makes it highly suitable for mobile distribution, meeting bothconsumers' expectations and behaviour. Mobile access enables the SUMO communityto submit 'breaking' content anytime, from anywhere. And with mobile as the'third screen' in today's consumer world, our mobile distribution strategyextends the opportunity for people to participate in our live TV output in realtime." James Brown, Group Creative and Editorial Director of SUMO.tv, added: "Ourcontent and multiplatform strategy continues to build an international communityof users. These new distribution deals include 24/7 mobile TV channels in bothFrance and Israel, with video-on-demand for streamed minisodes of 3 to 5minutes, and downloadable video "snacks" of about 90 seconds, available inFrance. The business models are operator dependent revenue sharing agreementswith the distributors, and based on a monthly fee for unlimited access or on apay per view basis." SUMO.tv's mobile content offering is a fast-paced compilation of the mostpopular, strangest and funniest user-generated videos circulating on theInternet. These viral videos have been carefully selected and edited so thatthey are not language-dependent, have broad appeal to mass audiences, and areoptimised for display on mobile devices. Over the next few months, SUMO.tv willalso begin production and distribution of thematic and niche interest mobilechannels to appeal different audiences. Video services are becoming one of the key drivers of mobile entertainmentrevenues. David Sidebottom, Consultant, of research firm Understanding &Solutions forecasts that between 2006 and 2010 mobile television and VODrevenues will have increased by 550 percent to US$13 billion. Of that, mobile TVrevenues are expected to exceed mobile VOD by a margin of nearly four to one,generating revenues of approximately US$10.4 billion and US$2.6 billionrespectively. SUMO.tv is accessible online at www.sumo.tv and in the UK distributes its own TVchannel, SKY channel 144. Its global Alexa web ranking, at 3,702, nowconsiderably exceeds that of national UK broadcasters ITV (ranked at 6,263) andFive (19,078). - Ends -For further information: SUMO.tvAndrew Wilson, CEO Tel: +44 (0) 20 7190 0300 andrew@cellcast.tv www.cellcast.tv Media enquiries:Threadneedle Communications Tel: +44 (0) 20 7936 9605 Graham Herring / Josh Royston Taylor Herring PRDebra Johnson Tel: +44 (0) 20 8206 5151 debra.johnson@taylorherring.com www.taylorherring.com HB CorporateEdward Hutton / Rachel Kane Tel: +44 (0) 20 7510 8600 About Cellcast plc Cellcast plc (AIM: CLTV) is a leading international provider of participationtelevision applications and interactive mobile content in the fast-growingmulti-platform digital entertainment sector. Headquartered in London, withassociated operations in Paris, Beirut, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Sao Paolo,Cellcast's applications and programming are distributed on the Sky Digital andFreeview platforms in the UK, and the company is partnered with broadcasters andtelecom networks in Europe, the Middle East, India, South-East Asia, China, andSouth America. Cellcast plc joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchangein 2005. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange