Studios to promote programming with Itibiti’s voice powered social networking
TORONTO, CANADA, May 14, 2008- Intertainment Media Inc. (“Intertainment” or the “Company”) (TSXV:INT) is pleased to announce that the Company will be supplying its voice powered social networking program, Itibiti, to major US and Canadian Television networks to promote their online and broadcast programming. Full details will be available mid summer 2008, with full rollout for the fall television programming schedule.
Revenues will be generated through online advertising, sponsorship, promotions and permission based marketing programs. Itibiti will receive operational fees, with the balance of the revenues split among the partners.
This deal is the first of its kind in the industry, as it combines conventional broadcasting, social networking, Internet voice and telephony in a desktop application that is surrounded by video, audio, exclusive offers and revenue generating programs. The Itibiti platform requires only an Internet connection and starts up when the computer is turned on. The private labeled Itibiti program is free to consumers. The networks will be making Itibiti available by promoting it through television broadcasting, local stations, web sites and other marketing initiatives.
“The television industry is migrating its content to the Internet and Itibiti gives consumers the ability to continue their broadcast experience in a robust social networking environment. Users can chat by voice and text to each other while watching exclusive content and engaging offers. This provides the ideal platform for online revenue generation,” said Mr. David Lucatch, CEO of Intertainment Media Inc.
According to Accenture's 2008 Broadcast Consumer Study, consumers are growing disenchanted with their television experience but are nonetheless loyal to their favorite programs, showing a marked preference for content over its delivery method. According to the survey, the younger the viewers, the greater their propensity to enjoy watching TV on a PC and mobile device.
About Intertainment’s Itibiti Softphone Platform
Intertainment’s Itibiti Softphone platform is a proprietary, social networking, multimedia and communications environment that can be installed directly on a user’s computer desktop. This provides clients with custom branding, loyalty and revenue opportunities prior to the user launching their Internet services. Key features of the Softphone platform include IP Telephony, video/multimedia on demand, instant messaging, SMS, integrated in a feature rich interface that includes a mini web browser, desktop telephone and chat system which can be utilized to create active links to the affinity partners web pages, providing information and outside services and a complete advertising and marketing platform for revenue generation.
About Intertainment
Intertainment Media Inc. (www.intertainmentmedia.com) is a conventional and new media company with an experienced and innovative team of professionals focused on delivering leading edge technology and marketing solutions. Intertainment develops and invests in strategic programs that enable clients to increase their branding and loyalty relationships with their consumers while focusing on increased revenue generation. Intertainment owns, operates and invests in high value content, traffic management, advertising and social networking solutions including, Eye Rock Digital (www.eyerockdigital.com) No Good TV (www.ngtv.com), Trooker Inc. (www.trooker.com), and Itibiti Inc. Intertainment Media Inc. is headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The company is listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange (symbol: INT).
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements.
Corporate Inquiries:
David Lucatch, CEO
905-763-3510
Investor Communications:
Buchalter Consulting
1-866-631-6537
Stan.Buchalter@BuchalterConsulting.ca
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INT@Agoracom.com
www.agoracom.com/IR/intertainment
