WALT DISNEY INTERNET GROUP SIGNS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH MACROVISION
Disney-Branded Casual Games Now Available Through Macrovision's European and Australian Games Network
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LONDON and SANTA CLARA, CALIF. - February 27, 2007 - The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) and Macrovision Corporation (NASDAQ: MVSN) today announced that WDIG has signed an agreement with Macrovision to digitally distribute Disney-branded casual games in Europe and Australia via Macrovision's games network. The agreement extends WDIG's reach in the downloadable casual games market and gives families a convenient, user-friendly network through which to download their favorite games.
The first set of Disney games currently are available on Macrovision's games network and include Pirates of the Caribbean Pinball, The Little Mermaid Pinball, The Lion King Grubalicious, Aladdin Pinball and Stitch's Blazing Lasers. The games are available in multiple languages, including English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. The Disney games are being distributed by the leading portals, retailers and peer-to-peer groups that are part of Macrovision's game network.
"The casual gaming market in Europe is projected to reach approximately $400 million by 2009*, with usage extending beyond serious game enthusiasts to include more mainstream, casual gaming audiences," said Myles MacBean, vice president technology and operations at Walt Disney Internet Group, Europe. "Disney Game Downloads is a good example of our continued success in leveraging new technologies such as broadband to deliver unique interactive entertainment experiences for kids and families around the world. Through Macrovision and its game network, we are able to expand our European and Australian distribution and reach an even larger audience."
Each Disney game can be previewed on a trial basis and then purchased via download through Macrovision's games network distribution partners. Once purchased, games can be shared as trials on an unlimited basis.
"Digital distribution is a key focus at Macrovision and we enjoy working with our customers when they enter the online distribution market, seek to reach greater audiences, and move into new and different digital distribution areas," said Fred Amoroso, CEO of Macrovision. "We are very pleased to have WDIG Europe distribute their casual games on our European and Australian games network and are committed to providing their customers with a proven, reliable games network through which they can view and purchase their favorite Disney games."
About Walt Disney Internet Group Europe
Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) provides strategic leadership, business execution support and a world-class technology platform for all The Walt Disney Company's Internet properties, including 14 country-specific Disney websites across Europe, reaching five million unique visitors each month. WDIG is a market leader in developing and distributing entertainment and informational content to new platforms. The company creates and delivers products for broadband distribution including Disney Connection and Toontown Online, the world's first massive multi-player online game for kids and families. Through relationships with some of Europe's largest mobile operators, WDIG distributes content and services to wireless users under the Disney brand.
About Macrovision
Macrovision provides distribution, commerce and consumption solutions for software, entertainment and information content to the home video, PC games, music, cable/satellite, consumer software, enterprise software and information publishing industries. Macrovision holds approximately 250 issued or pending United States patents and more than 1,200 issued or pending international patents, and continues to increase its patent portfolio with new and innovative technologies in related fields. Macrovision is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, U.S.A. with other offices across the United States and around the world. More information about Macrovision can be found at www.macrovision.com.
® Macrovision 2007. Macrovision is a registered trademark of Macrovision Corporation. All other brands and product names and trademarks are the registered property of their respective companies.
This press release may contain "forward-looking" statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A number of factors could cause Macrovision's actual results to differ from anticipated results expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors are addressed in Macrovision's latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006, as amended, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (available at www.sec.gov). Macrovision assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
*Source: Screen Digest
Media Contacts:
Sandra van Vreedendaal
The Walt Disney Company
Phone: +44 208 222 1407
Email: sandra.van.vreedendaal@disney.com
Linda Quach
Macrovision Corporation
Phone: 408-562-8504
Email: lquach@macrovision.com