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26th January 2005 - DIC Entertainment announced today
that it has signed an agreement with SmartVideo Technologies,
Inc. to create "DIC Kid's Network," the world's
first animation channel for cell phones.
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DIC has amassed one of the world's largest independent
libraries of animated programming, consisting
of over 3,200 half-hours and more than 100 different
programs - including such potent franchises as
Inspector Gadget, Madeline and Strawberry Shortcake
- that approximately 25 million children watch
each week in the U.S. alone. DIC is now making
its library available for viewing globally on
cell phones and wireless devices for the first
time, using SmartVideo's proprietary technology
that recreates the true television experience,
even over low bandwidth connections. This first
of its kind collaboration is a unique way of delivering
entertainment to tens of millions of children
and family's all over the world.
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"Partnering with SmartVideo allows us to use our
programming to introduce the next generation of entertainment
venues," said Andy Heyward, CEO of DIC Entertainment
Corporation (Booth No. 1006 at NATPE 2005). "With
today's mobile family relying more and more on cell
phones to provide everything from news and information
to entertainment, SmartVideo provides us with the ideal
tool to make our animation and family programming available
to millions of people around the world every day. Until
we discovered SmartVideo, no streaming media company
was able to meet the stringent quality standards we
demand for our programs."
Commenting on the partnership with DIC, Richard E.
Bennett, Jr., president and CEO of SmartVideo said,
"It is highly gratifying that companies like DIC
are capitalizing on the dynamic and powerful delivery
system we have developed. I am extremely pleased that
DIC has recognized our ability to provide a quality
viewing experience to all subscribers whether they are
watching on their cell phone or their home computer.
SmartVideo's mobile solutions put entertainment and
information right in the palm of your hand." (SmartVideo
is demonstrating its services at its stand at NATPE
Booth No. 1657.)
The deal with DIC is SmartVideo's latest content partnership.
Earlier this month, Mr. Bennett announced deals to stream
content from ABC News and ABC News Now, CNBC, MSNBC
and NBC Mobile and The Weather Channel. SmartVideo also
unveiled a Marketing and Cooperation agreement with
Microsoft Corp. in which Microsoft is distributing SmartVideo's
services through its WindowsMedia Mobile portal.
DIC's development activities range from creating original
characters, such as its flagship property, "Inspector
Gadget," to acquiring worldwide property rights
to renowned brands, including Trollz and Strawberry
Shortcake, as well as acquiring trend-setting properties
from other media, such as "Sonic the Hedgehog"
and "Super Mario Bros.," and then translating
them into successful television, video and consumer
product phenomena. DIC maintains a one-stop, full-service
organization with dedicated development, production,
marketing, merchandising, and home entertainment departments.
DIC's programs have consistently garnered critical
acclaim and distinguished honors, including the Emmy,
Cable Ace, Humanitas and Environmental Media Awards.
A prominent and early advocate of responsible and positive-value
children's programs, DIC was the first entertainment
company to self-regulate with the creation of the DIC
Code for Children's Programming. DIC has produced such
landmark programs as Emmy Award Winning "Where
on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?" and "Captain
Planet," becoming the first FCC-friendly program
for kids ages 6-11 to generate commercial success.
This unique agreement between DIC Entertainment and
SmartVideo was negotiated by Media Consulting Associates
(MCA), a leading entertainment consultancy firm consisting
of well-known television executives specializing in
content placement, distribution and production. MCA
members include Herman Rush (former CEO, Columbia Pictures
Television Group), Joe Indelli (former Vice President,
Orion Television Distribution), Jerry Katzman (former
President, William Morris Talent Agency), and Ave Butensky
(former President, Television Bureau of Advertising).
MCA is based in Los Angeles.
"We are proud to bring these two exceptional companies
together and enable SmartVideo's state-of-the-art technology
to deliver America's classic animation libraries to
people around the world. We are witnessing the first
step in changing the manner by which information and
entertainment will be distributed to today's mobile
society," said Herman Rush, CEO of Media Consulting
Associates.
About DIC Entertainment Corporation
DIC Entertainment, a leading children's entertainment
company, is a full-service studio dedicated to creating,
developing, producing, distributing, marketing and merchandising
family-based intellectual properties. DIC has distinguished
itself by building one of the largest libraries of U.S.
animation with more than 3,200 half-hours of renowned
programming, including Trollz(TM), Inspector Gadget(TM),
Strawberry Shortcake(TM), Sabrina(TM), Madeline(TM),
Liberty's Kids(TM), Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?(TM),
Sonic The Hedgehog(TM), Super Mario Bros(TM) and Care
Bears(TM). In September 2003, DIC launched the DIC Kid's
Network, a unique syndicated programming block designed
to meet core FCC requirements and the only network for
kids that reaches effectively 100% of U.S. households
on over 450 stations, airing in every Designated Market
Area across the country. As a pre-eminent supplier of
kid's programming worldwide, DIC has developed strategic
partnerships with key domestic and international broadcast
partners throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, Latin America,
Africa and Australia. DIC is headquartered in Burbank,
California with international offices in New York, Paris,
London and Cologne.
About SmartVideo
Based in Norcross, Georgia, SmartVideo Technologies,
Inc., a Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows Media(R) 9
Series Certified Hosting Provider, is a leading provider
of turnkey digital media solutions that allows for the
management and distribution of live, on-demand, or the
downloaded and play of high quality video to mobile
devices. SmartVideo now offers the world's first cross
platform/cross carrier service for aggregating live
content and download and play programming for consumers
around the globe. SmartVideo's robust library of content
includes news, weather, sports, children's programming
and many other content genres. SmartVideo's mobile video
solutions provide exceptional image quality on all existing
2.5g and Edge cellular networks, as well as future 3g
networks. SmartVideo clearly provides great value to
both consumers and carriers. The Company's stock is
traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol SMVD.OB.
Additional information on SmartVideo including sample
demos can be found on the Company's Website at www.smartvideo.com.
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