Zoo Digital Regulatory News (ZOO)

21 Jul 2005 07:00

Zoo Digital Group PLC21 July 2005 21 July 2005 ZOO DIGITAL GROUP PLC ("ZOO" or "the Group") AGREEMENT TO PRODUCE WALLACE & GROMIT DVD GAME - Partnership With Aardman Animations And Universal Pictures - - Seven Year Exclusive Deal For All Territories Worldwide - ZOO Digital Publishing Ltd ("ZDPL"), the games publishing division of ZOODigital Group plc, today announces that, in partnership with Aardman Animationsand Universal Pictures, it will release ZOO's first non-quiz DVD game based onthe forthcoming film Wallace & Gromit "Curse of the Were-Rabbit". The film willbe in cinemas in the autumn and the game will be released in time for theChristmas 2005 market. The deal extends the Group's dominant position in theproduction and publication of interactive DVD's ("I-DVD"). In the seven-year exclusive deal, ZDPL has options over all territoriesworldwide and has acquired rights for a follow-on release within the term.Territories confirmed by Universal include the UK, France, Germany, Italy,Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Australia and Japan with further territoriescurrently under review. Ian Stewart, Chief Executive of ZOO, said: "We are delighted to continue building our relationship with Universal and tosign our first deal with Aardman Animations, both of whom share and support ourvision of the future of interactive DVDs. With this opportunity to produce theworld's first non-quiz DVD game, we can demonstrate the capability of ourDVD-EXTRA technology beyond quiz formats. These are exciting times for ZOO andwe hope to agreeing further licensing deals to release quality titles, such asAardman's "Wallace and Gromit" into the market." Enquiries: Ian Stewart, CEOZOO Digital Group plc 0114 241 3700 James Chandler/Helen ThomasWeber Shandwick Square Mile020 7067 0747 John Llewellyn-LloydNoble & Company Limited020 7763 2200 Notes to Editors: About ZOO Digital Group PLCZOO is divided into two separate divisions; ZOOtech Ltd ("ZOOtech") and ZOODigital Publishing Ltd ("ZDPL"). ZOOtech Ltd ("ZOOtech")ZOOtech focuses on R&D and licensing of DVD-EXTRA, the Group's highly originaldevelopment software capable of creating complex interactive content forstandard DVD players. The strategy for ZOOtech is simple; to create the industrystandard tool for the production of interactive DVD content and drive revenuesthrough licensing worldwide in a combination of up front fees and royalties. ZOO Digital Publishing Ltd ("ZDPL")ZDP focuses on the publishing and distribution of interactive entertainmentproducts across multiple platforms such as interactive DVD, PS2, Xbox, GBA andPC. About Aardman AnimationsAardman Animations produces films, television series and television commercialsfor both the domestic and international market, their debut feature film,Chicken Run, grossed over $225m worldwide ($104m in the US) and the series ofWallace and Gromit short films have won countless awards including 2 Oscars. In the UK Aardman(1)s output can be seen on television 365 days a year, whetherit is a tv commercial, a station ident, a tv series or one of their many shortfilms, the studio(1)s work is constantly in demand. The studio has beennominated for an Academy Award seven times, and has won three. About Universal PicturesUniversal Pictures International is part of NBC Universal - one of the world'sleading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, andmarketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formedin May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment,NBC Universal owns and operates the No. 1 television network, thefastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news andentertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant televisionproduction operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renownedtheme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlledby Vivendi Universal. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange