Yoomedia PLC
31 March 2004
Embargoed until 7.00 a.m.
31 March 2004
YooMedia acquires leading gaming channel Fancy a Flutter
Fancy a Flutter acquisition extends YooMedia's position on Sky for interactive
TV gaming and prepares the grounds for an early launch on cable
YooMedia PLC ('YooMedia'), the interactive TV and mobile entertainment company,
today announces that it has acquired the entire issued share capital of Fancy a
Flutter Limited ('Fancy a Flutter') from NDS, a News Corporation company and
leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, and gaming and
entertainment company Rank Group plc.
Fancy a Flutter is a popular fixed-odds gaming channel which occupies a
prominent position on the second page of Sky Digital's interactive menu and also
within Sky Active and the Betting Zone. The channel features at least five
fixed-odds betting games at any time.
The acquisition accelerates YooMedia's entry into the fixed-odds gaming market
on digital interactive television. The move follows YooMedia's acquisition of
gaming channel Go-Play TV in December 2003 from Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The acquisition of Fancy a Flutter by YooMedia qualifies as a substantial
transaction pursuant to Rule 11 of the AIM Rules. Fancy a Flutter commenced
trading in May 2003 and recorded pro-forma, unaudited gross bets of £9.9 million
and net revenues, after paying out winnings, of £0.7 million for the ten months
to February 2004. The company was loss making but included substantial one-off
development and set-up fees. In consideration for the acquisition of Fancy a
Flutter, YooMedia is issuing 2,500,000 new ordinary shares in YooMedia to the
vendors which, at the closing mid-market price of 40.75 pence per YooMedia
ordinary share on 30 March 2004, represents approximately £1.02 million.
Commenting on the acquisition, David Docherty, YooMedia's CEO, said: 'Our
acquisition of Fancy a Flutter consolidates YooMedia's position on the biggest
interactive TV platform in the UK. As part of YooMedia's stable of gaming
products, Fancy a Flutter will benefit from significant cross-promotion from
Go-PlayTV and Sky Active which will increase its audiences and revenues.'
Editorial Notes
About YooMedia
YooMedia plc is a digital TV and wireless entertainment company that provides
services including chat, games and dating products. YooMedia has:
• Acquired GoPlay TV Limited. an interactive-games channel currently
operated by Sony Pictures Digital Inc. GoPlay owns and operates an
interactive games channel available on the first page of the interactive
main menu on Sky Digital.
• The exclusive license for Tetris across UK digital cable and Freeview.
• Signed an exclusive partnership with Dateline to develop and launch all of
its interactive dating services on digital television.
• An agreement with ntl: Home to distribute all its products on its digital
interactive cable platform.
• Pioneered (and successfully trialed in partnership with Turner
Broadcasting) the use of mobile phones to interact in real time with a TV
programme. The Trigger TV technology is exclusive to YooMedia and
protected by a worldwide patent.
• Been selected by the government as the only dedicated interactive TV
company for the E-voting Framework.
YooMedia plc is quoted on the Alternative Investment Market.
www.yoomedia.com
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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