Agreement
Zoo Digital Group PLC
21 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 ZOO
Digital Group plc, today announces that, in partnership with Aardman Animations
and Universal Pictures, it will release ZOO's first non-quiz DVD game based on
the forthcoming film Wallace & Gromit 'Curse of the Were-Rabbit'. The film will
be in cinemas in the autumn and the game will be released in time for the
Christmas 2005 market. The deal extends the Group's dominant position in the
production and publication of interactive DVD's ('I-DVD').
In the seven-year exclusive deal, ZDPL has options over all territories
worldwide 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 territories
currently under review.
Ian Stewart, Chief Executive of ZOO, said:
'We are delighted to continue building our relationship with Universal and to
sign our first deal with Aardman Animations, both of whom share and support our
vision of the future of interactive DVDs. With this opportunity to produce the
world's first non-quiz DVD game, we can demonstrate the capability of our
DVD-EXTRA technology beyond quiz formats. These are exciting times for ZOO and
we hope to agreeing further licensing deals to release quality titles, such as
Aardman's 'Wallace and Gromit' into the market.'
Enquiries:
Ian Stewart, CEO
ZOO Digital Group plc
0114 241 3700
James Chandler/Helen Thomas
Weber Shandwick Square Mile
020 7067 0747
John Llewellyn-Lloyd
Noble & Company Limited
020 7763 2200
Notes to Editors:
About ZOO Digital Group PLC
ZOO is divided into two separate divisions; ZOOtech Ltd ('ZOOtech') and ZOO
Digital Publishing Ltd ('ZDPL').
ZOOtech Ltd ('ZOOtech')
ZOOtech focuses on R&D and licensing of DVD-EXTRA, the Group's highly original
development software capable of creating complex interactive content for
standard DVD players. The strategy for ZOOtech is simple; to create the industry
standard tool for the production of interactive DVD content and drive revenues
through 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 entertainment
products across multiple platforms such as interactive DVD, PS2, Xbox, GBA and
PC.
About Aardman Animations
Aardman Animations produces films, television series and television commercials
for both the domestic and international market, their debut feature film,
Chicken Run, grossed over $225m worldwide ($104m in the US) and the series of
Wallace 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, whether
it is a tv commercial, a station ident, a tv series or one of their many short
films, the studio(1)s work is constantly in demand. The studio has been
nominated for an Academy Award seven times, and has won three.
About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures International is part of NBC Universal - one of the world's
leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and
marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed
in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment,
NBC Universal owns and operates the No. 1 television network, the
fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and
entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television
production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned
theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled
by Vivendi Universal.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange