Re Alliance
Zoo Digital Group PLC
28 October 2004
7.00am 28th October 2004
Zoo Digital Group Plc
('ZOO' or 'the Group')
ZOOtech announces DVD-EXTRA Developer Alliance, a worldwide network of DVD
development studios skilled in DVD-EXTRA STUDIO(TM)
ZOO Digital Group plc, the DVD technology and games publishing company, today
announces the launch of the DVD-EXTRA Developer Alliance, a worldwide network of
development studios trained in using DVD-EXTRA STUDIO.
DVD-EXTRA STUDIO is an innovative DVD-Video development system that enables DVD
authors and multimedia developers to create DVDs with new levels of complexity
and interactivity easily and cost effectively. The 15 original members of the
DVD-EXTRA Developer Alliance have all mastered DVD-EXTRA STUDIO and will deliver
these development services globally from studios in the United Kingdom, United
States, Australia, France and Benelux.
Alliance members have already developed a wide range of highly interactive
products, from children's educational products to games, from marketing and
promotional material to enhanced Hollywood movie bonus features. Understanding
the particular capabilities of Alliance members will allow ZOOtech Ltd. to help
publishers identify the most suitable developers for their products.
DVD-EXTRA STUDIO removes the productivity obstacles previously associated with
developing rich interactive DVD entertainment. As members of the DVD-EXTRA
Developer Alliance, DVD authoring studios are introduced to revolutionary
technology and methods that permit the development of sophisticated DVD-Video
entertainment. DVD-EXTRA STUDIO allows developers to unleash their creativity to
generate engaging CD-ROM style interactivity in the DVD-Video format. No new
consumer hardware is required as this highly interactive DVD-EXTRA content is
designed to play on any set top DVD player.
DVD-EXTRA STUDIO dramatically reduces development costs and accelerates time to
market for new interactive entertainment. Furthermore, DVD-EXTRA STUDIO provides
the opportunity for companies to maximize returns on previous investments by
permitting the easy republishing of existing titles and projects on DVD-Video
with the added value of enhanced interactivity.
Commenting on the Group's progress, Ian Stewart, the CEO of ZOO, said 'The
official launch of DVD -EXTRA STUDIO in Las Vegas in April went extremely well
and we are delighted with the progress of DVD-EXTRA STUDIO. We are working with
some of the leading authoring houses in Hollywood and Europe and the list of
alliance members is continually growing making our target of 100 products in the
marketplace in 2005 very achievable enabling us to drive strong revenue growth
in this rapidly expanding sector of the market'.
'Our DVD Developers are an essential part of our strategy to transform the
DVD-Video format from a passive playback medium into an interactive multimedia
platform,' says Cees Zwaard, Managing Director of ZOOtech Ltd., 'We are in
current discussions with over 200 companies regarding product creation and as
the demand for increasingly sophisticated DVD-Video based content grows around
the world, our global network of Developers is essential in bringing the
interactive DVD experience to TVs in every consumer's living room.'
'Comchoice was very motivated to become a member of ZOOtech's DVD-EXTRA
Developer Alliance,' says Duncan Wain, Vice President Production/CTO of
Comchoice, 'We have seen an acceleration of interest from our clients in the
development of interactive games on DVD-Video, and the complexity of these
applications demands use of the ZOOtech product. We anticipate a very busy 2005
and a long, successful future using DVD-EXTRA STUDIO.'
The DVD-EXTRA Developer Alliance membership
At the time of release, the Developer Alliance consists of the following
members:
Comchoice Ascent Media Deluxe
Freestyle New Media Fernhart New Media Screen Life
Quba Imagitech Somethin' Else
Element Interactive Two-way TV Spike Ltd
OUAT Entertainment Digital Pictures Oasis
For further information please contact:
Ian Stewart, CEO, Zoo Digital Group plc
Cees Zwaard, Managing Director, ZOO tech Ltd.
ZOO Digital Group plc
0114 241 3700
Grace Marriner
Beattie Financial
020 7398 3300
Notes to Editors
ZOO Digital Group Plc (www.zoodigitalgroup.com)
ZOO Digital Group, the DVD technology and games publishing company, was founded
in 1999 by Ian Stewart (founder of Gremlin Interactive plc). In April 2001 it
reversed into AIM listed technology company Kazoo3D. ZOO has strong expertise in
two areas - DVD authoring software and games publishing.
About ZOOtech Ltd (www.zoo-tech.com)
ZOOtech has developed a revolutionary software authoring system (content
management) called DVD-EXTRA for producing highly interactive DVD-Video discs
that will play on any standard set-top consumer DVD player. DVD-Extra unlocks
the hidden interactive capabilities that exist in every player, and allows
developers to produce titles that exhibit many of the properties of multimedia
CD-ROM on a standard, unmodified, set-top device. ZOO is making its technology
available in the form of an authoring system called DVD-EXTRA STUDIO on a
license basis. This will allow content owners not only to substantially reduce
the cost of developing features on a DVD disc but will also allow the creative
community - from Hollywood to corporate and educational institutions - to add
features and produce new products currently not possible for economic or
technical reasons.
About ZOO Digital Publishing Ltd
ZOO Digital Publishing Ltd is a leading publisher of interactive entertainment
software. ZDPL develops, licenses and publishes a wide range of quality titles
predominantly on GBA, PS1, PS2, PC and DVD platforms including Medal of Honor
Underground, , Premier Manager, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (using the
DVD-EXTRA technology for the multi territory DVD products) and Sim City 2000.
Further information about ZDPL and its products can be found at: http://
www.zoodigitalpublishing.com/
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange