TVPlayer content agreement:major broadcasters

RNS Number : 3696J

YOLO Leisure & Technology PLC

09 September 2016

 

YOLO Leisure and Technology plc

("YOLO" or the "Company")

TVPlayer signs content agreement with ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5

YOLO Leisure and Technology plc, the AIM-quoted company focusing on opportunities in the technology and leisure sectors, announces that TVPlayer Limited, in which YOLO has an interest by virtue of its investment into TVPlayer's parent company Simplestream Limited, has signed formal licensing multi year content agreements with ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to simulcast the broadcasters' free to air channels on TVPlayer.

The agreements see TVPlayer licensing the Public Service Broadcasters' free to air channels for the first time, with the channels ITV 1, ITV 2, ITV 3, ITV 4, ITV Be, CITV, Channel 4, More4, 4Seven, Channel 5, 5STAR and Spik. All of these channels are available to existing TVPlayer customers across a full range of devices - including desktops, mobiles, tablets, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV and various other set-top boxes.

In addition to live streaming over wired internet and WiFi, TVPlayer has also licensed 3G and 4G rights for all channels.

TVPlayer, with over one million viewers per month, is a popular online TV platform which streams live TV across multiple devices from some of the UK's most notable free-to-air broadcasters and Pay-TV channels. Following this deal, TVPlayer will offer over 100 channels spanning Entertainment, Sport, Kids, News, Music and Lifestyle.

Adam Smith, Founder of TVPlayer, said:

"This is a significant move for the growth of our platform. Adding the UK's key commercial broadcasters to our growing portfolio is a major benefit to our viewers as TVPlayer provides some of the UK's best channels in one app. 

"Through our growing platform, broadcasters not only enjoy direct access to a younger demographic, they are also able to reach even wider audiences"

Simon Robinson, CEO of YOLO Leisure & Technology plc, commented:

"This is, once again, great news for TVPlayer to sign licensing agreements with some of the UK's key commercial broadcasters and quickly follows on from the recent multi-year agreement with Viacom, one of the world's largest media companies."

TVPlayer generates revenue through two business models; firstly an ad-supported free-to-air TVPlayer service with 100+ channels and secondly a paid subscription service with TVPlayer Plus, which is the first service of its kind to offer premium channels in the UK without a contract, providing 30 additional premium channels for a monthly fee of £4.99.  TVPlayer is on target to upgrade 5% of homes using its free service to the subscription service by the end of the year.

For further information please contact:

YOLO Leisure and Technology plc	www.yoloplc.com
Simon Robinson	[e-mail]
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP
Sandy Jamieson, Emma Earl	Tel: [phone]
Peterhouse Corporate Finance Limited Sole broker
Eran Zucker / Lucy Williams	Tel: + 44 20 7469 0930
Walbrook PR Ltd	Tel: [phone] or [e-mail]
Paul McManus/Sam Allen	Mob: [phone]

Notes to editors

YOLO Leisure and Technology plc

YOLO Leisure and Technology plc aims to focus on opportunities in the travel, technology and leisure sectors. The Company's Investing Policy is that the Company will invest in businesses which have some or all of the following characteristics.

·     strong management with a proven track record;

·     ready for investment without the need for material re-structuring by the Company;

·     generating positive cash flows or imminently likely to do so;

·     via an injection of new finances or specialist management, the Company can enhance the prospects and therefore the future value of the investment;

·     able to benefit from the Directors existing network of contacts; and

·     the potential to deliver significant returns for the Company.

Simplestream Limited

Simplestream, a leading B2B provider of live streaming and live-to-Video on Demand ("VoD") services was founded in 2010 and has grown to become a leading provider of multi-platform live streaming and CatchupTV services for the broadcast and media industry. The company is profitable and employs 30+ staff in central London. Its clients include A+E Networks, SONY, Universal Music, News Corp, Box Television, QVC, MP & Silva and At The Races amongst others.

TVPlayer, currently a 100% subsidiary of Simplestream, is a freemium over the top (OTT) television service targeted at non-payTV households in the UK. The TVPlayer app, which is available across mobile, tablet and connected TV, offers over 30 premium channels from UKTV, Fox, A+E, Discovery, Eurosport, Sony, Viacom and Turner for just £4.99 per month without a contract.

•              TVPlayer has also licensed E4 and Film 4 from Channel 4 to launch on TVPlayer at a later date

•              Some programme content may be unavailable due to rights restrictions

TVPlayer is an online TV platform that streams live TV across multiple devices from the UK's most popular free-to-air and pay broadcasters. TVPlayer is one of the fastest growing platforms in the UK with over 3m downloads, offering over 100 channels to over 1m unique users per month.

TVPlayer Plus is an award winning, low cost pay TV service offering top channels from Discovery Networks, UKTV, A+E Networks UK, Viacom, Turner Broadcasting, National Geographic Channel Europe & Sony Pictures Television Networks for only £4.99 per month, without a contract.

TVPlayer is backed by a group of investors including Beringea, a venture and growth capital investor in high growth businesses, with £450m ($600m) under management and YOLO Leisure & Technology plc, an AIM listed investment company focussing on digital media and tech investments.

 

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