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MEDIA RELEASE - 27 April, 2001
Itv|world, Urban CineFile Merge
By Siobhan Chapman
Internet movie magazine Urban Cinefile has been acquired by interactive
television developer itv|world in a deal that will allow it to leverage
its content on to interactive TV.
Under the merger agreement, Urban Cinefile will operate as a unit
of itv|world.
Itv|world, which recently secured a grant of $1.4 million from
AusIndustry to develop a multi-platform content and service management
system, sees the acquisition of Urban Cinefile as enhancing its
ability to offer technical and creative services, tools and products
for the deployment of iTV. The company claims that Urban Cinefile
content will add strength to itv|world's broadband online TV and
movie guides.
"This merger is a perfect fit," said Jason Romney, itv|world's
CEO. "Urban Cinefile brings experienced content creators and a culture
that embraces innovation. Itv|world can bring that together with
new technologies for distribution and interactivity, with continued
growth in profits and market share. Our combined strengths and deep
customer relationships will fuel the development of new interactive
services and enable tools that speed up the rollout of interactive
TV in Australia.
"The provider of cross-platform technology and engineering services
for the interactive television market is confident that the digital
TV and datacasting industries in Australia are set to take off.
At the moment, itv|world is looking to partner with network operators,
infrastructure suppliers and content providers.
According to Andrew Urban, the editor and founder of Urban Cinefile:
"It is more important than ever to continue to innovate and offer
new and exciting services and applications to the marketplace.
"Itv|world's content-management technology and broadband content
offerings are the means to retain and build on Urban Cinefile's
position as Australia's premier internet movie site. Working together
we can create better managed content solutions for our existing
and new media and corporate clients," Urban said.
The merger will enable Urban Cinefile to utilise the technological
support afforded by itv|world's advanced iTV and streaming digital
broadband platform.
Andrew Urban will become itv|world's creative director and Louise
Keller will assume the position of editorial operations director.
The merged entity will offer multi-voiced film reviews, broadband
interviews with film and TV personalities, film and TV news, and
online community-enhancing content.
For further information contact:
Charlotte Faunce, itv|world
charlotte@itvworld.com
Phone: (02) 9288 4704
Mobile: 0407 009217
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