LADYDRAGON.COM - Visionik Delivers First Interactive TV Game to MTV

Wednesday April 23, 2003

Visionik Delivers First Interactive TV Game to MTV

Highlights:

-- Mugshot Mania an action packed platform interactive game, launched on April 7th

-- Visionik enhances the MTV brand with interactive TV games

-- Free of charge games accessible through the MTV Core service menu

-- New version of 24/7 interactive service menu, developed by NDS, launched at the same time

Visionik, an NDS company, and a leading developer of interactive TV services, announces the launch of MTV's first interactive game; Mugshot Mania. Mugshot Mania brings more interactive fun to MTV. Viewers are enticed to explore celebrities backstage at concerts through an action filled platform game. Free to play, the game, consisting of 25 levels, brings the experience of being at a music concert through gameplay involving taking pictures, escaping bouncers and trying to sneak backstage. This is the first of a package of games being delivered to MTV by Visionik.

Peter Schroder, Commercial Director, Games, Visionik, commented, "With the delivery of Mugshot Mania, Visionik has again proved itself as a leader in enabling major brands to reap the benefits of interactive TV games. We are extremely happy to be working with the world's leading music channel and we are looking forward to introducing more interactive TV games to the MTV community. This work with MTV extends the successful relationship already in existence between MTV and NDS."

By introducing interactive games, MTV expects to enhance viewer loyalty and increase viewing figures. Offering games associated with a major TV brand like MTV increases brand exposure and enhances the content value of the channel. Compelling content is key to make the viewer stay loyal to the TV brand and games have proven to be the single most popular interactive TV application in the world.

Matthew Kershaw, Head of Interactive MTV Networks UK & Ireland commented, "Games create a really engaging entertainment environment that enhances the viewing experience. In our experience games also boost viewer loyalty and increase channel ratings, especially if the game is free like Mugshot Mania. Ultimately, interactivity should be about giving the viewers what they want and, combined with our existing interactive service and peep MTV, that's what we're giving them with Mugshot Mania."

The interactive games are accessible to viewers by pressing the red button on the remote control when watching any MTV channel. The viewer is then taken to the MTV Core service menu. By selecting "play", the viewer enters the interactive TV games zone where all games can be enjoyed free of charge. A new version of the MTV 24/7 interactive service developed by NDS, which allows applications to be plugged and played, is being launched at the same time as Mugshot Mania.

About Mugshot Mania

Mugshot Mania is the first MTV flavored iTV game to be launched in the world and will be followed by additional games in the near future. In the game, the player is an unauthorized fan that sneaks backstage to take pictures of celebrities to be kept in the player's photo book. The pictures are taken with a mobile phone, which has double functionalities: it opens the door to the celebrities lounge and takes pictures, which triggers the alarm and as the player heads for the exit, the mobile phone is used to stun opponents allowing for more time to escape. Mugshot Mania features 25 levels of action.

About NDS

NDS Group plc (NASDAQ/NASDAQ Europe:NNDS) is a leading supplier of open end-to-end digital pay-TV solutions for the secure delivery of entertainment and information to television set-top boxes and IP devices. See www.nds.com for more information about NDS.

About Visionik

Visionik is a leading expert in developing digital interactive TV services. See www.visionik.com for more information about Visionik.

About MTV

MTV Networks UK's portfolio is comprised of eight music channels - MTV, MTV Hits, MTV Base, MTV Dance, MTV2, VH1, VH1 Classic and TMF* (The Music Factory). MTV Networks' music services are now reaching larger audiences than at any time in UK history, averaging over 15 million viewers each month according to BARB research. Collectively, they have the #1 ratings position in the market for multichannel households, with around 60% of all music TV viewing. MTV targets 16-34 year-olds and can be found online at mtv.co.uk, while MTV2 can be found online at mtv2europe.com. VH1 targets 25-45 year-olds and can be found online at vh1.co.uk, and TMF targets members of the entire family.