Company Profile

YooMedia plc is one of the fastest growing interactive entertainment companies in the UK.
Since 1997 we have been developing and launching leading B2C consumer brands in the gaming and community sectors. We also work in a B2B capacity with leading brand owners, agencies, content developers and broadcasters to design and develop their interactive content strategies.

Led by Executive Chairman Dr. Michael Sinclair and Group Managing Director Neil MacDonald, YooMedia has assembled a highly experienced management team that possesses a unique blend of skills and experience in the areas of Digital TV, Internet and mobile phone services and technology.

With main office locations in London, Exeter and Maidstone, YooMedia manages core assets including:

Over 30 office locations throughout the UK alone

State-of-the-art studio, production and post-production facilities at our Wapping location.

UK broadcast return path & bandwidth owner

Fully fledged UK Bookmaker License

Database with over 350K UK singles

SMS Engine access with international reach

Fully staffed 50 seat Customer Contact Centre in Maidstone, Kent

YooMedia Dating & Chat - Our dating subsidiary company manages the oldest and largest UK-owned dating brands including Dateline, Club Sirius and Avenues. YooMedia Dating has over 20 office locations throughout the UK and also manages YooChat, our world-leading interactive chat service found on UK digital cable on the Telewest platform (platform extensions planned for 2005).

YooMedia Gambling & Games - Combining the brands of Avago and Channel 425 (in partnership with William Hill) YooMedia is on the leading-edge of interactive fixed odds, casino and poker gambling services for digital TV, the web and 3G mobile phones. Our gaming business also manages YooPlay, the only interactive just for fun games channel found on all four Digital TV platforms in the United Kingdom.

YooMedia Enhanced Solutions (YES) - YES works with brand owners, agencies, content owners and broadcasters to clarify the options, define the strategies and deliver the interactive content that enhances consumer and audience experiences. YES customers include the BBC, Nestle, Celador, William Hill, Channel 4, ZipTV, The Cartoon Network and HR Owen.

Courtesy of Warren G from over the road...

from today's itvt newsletter - interview with CEO of ICTV ('scuse the long post)

ICTV-YooMedia Joint Venture to Begin Interactive TV Trials on ntl
--ICTV CEO, Jeff Miller, Discusses the Development with [itvt]

BroadbandTV Group, a joint venture between UK-based YooMedia and US-based ICTV that was set up last fall (see [itvt] Issue 5.68 Part 1), recently announced that, following successful lab tests, UK cable operator, ntl, will begin live trials of Internet-based interactive TV programming using ICTV's HeadendWare platform. (Note: earlier this week, ntl announced that it has acquired rival Telewest, in a #3.4 billion cash-and-shares deal.) The trials will take place in a select group of ntl digital cable households in a number of geographical locations in the fourth quarter. The HeadendWare platform is designed to overcome the limitations of the low-resource set-top boxes which have been widely deployed by cable operators in the US and elsewhere and which are unlikely to be replaced anytime soon. It pushes complex, IP-based ITV applications--encoded in cable environments as MPEG-2 streams--from the headend to thin-client set-top boxes, and allows those apps to utilize a variety of Internet technologies, including HTML, java script, Java, Windows Media Player, Flash, RealPlayer and Quicktime. The trial deployment with ntl will see HeadendWare enabling the delivery of Internet-based interactive programming on ntl's existing set-tops. ntl currently offers a number of relatively simple ITV applications over Liberate middleware.

BroadbandTV Group has developed and aggregated a range of interactive programming for the trials, including news, entertainment, games and lifestyle programming. In order to do so, it has built up a partner program that will allow it to offer ntl customers content--much of it adapted from existing Web sites--from ITN, MTV Networks, Emap, Turner Broadcasting, Sesame Workshop, UKTV and other high-profile programmers. [itvt] asked ICTV CEO, Jeff Miller, to describe some of the interactive content that has been developed for the ntl trial under the auspices of the content partner program: "ITN, for example, is producing an interactive news channel that allows viewers to select and view stories and video clips," he explained. "Some of the clips will be national in orientation, and others will be localized to the area where the content is being viewed. MTV is offering music videos in an Internet style--meaning that you can click on a clip and view it, or click on information that surrounds the clip. So it's a more granular, interactive experience. If you look at MTV Overdrive online and see the way that operates, that's similar to what we're offering in the ntl trial. Sesame Workshop," he continued, "will primarily be providing children's games, including TvHead games--as you know, we have deployed those games in several Time Warner Cable and Grande Communications systems in the US. Turner Broadcasting is offering Cartoon Network games and content, again presented in a Web style, where players can click on the games they would like to play or the content they'd like to view. Emap is providing a streaming radio service--a replay-radio service, if you will. You can click on it and hear both live and canned radio-play content from their radio stations. UKTV, meanwhile, has produced a food channel that provides on-demand cooking information: recipes, cooking videos, that kind of thing, that you click through with your remote control." Miller added that some of the content will be offered free-of-charge and some on a subscription basis: "The goal is to evaluate not only how the technology operates on ntl's live network, but how well the content sells," he said. [itvt] asked Miller what kinds of challenges BroadbandTV Group faced in preparing its offering for ntl: "The challenges were fairly minor," he said. "Most of them were related to resolution adjustments--to the process of making content that was designed for PC resolution look good on television. The rest of the year between signing our deal and launching the service was spent developing various tests within ntl's network, and verifying that our technology integrates properly with their VOD platform, their middleware and their EPG."

One of BroadbandTV's primary goals with the ntl deployment, according to Miller, has been to ensure that its interactive services are seamlessly integrated with the traditional television-viewing experience: "ICTV is a strong proponent of the idea that interactive content should not be presented on television as a separate service," he said. "It shouldn't be that you either watch TV or you watch interactive. The proper way to do this is by creating additional channels of content--so that some channels happen to be linear channels and some channels happen to give you the ability to interact. So this is how our service is being presented to ntl customers: it will be embedded in the EPG, and it will be possible from the EPG to select these new interactive channels. The content has to be TV-friendly and integrated in such a way that it becomes a natural part of the viewing experience. So what will happen is that you'll go to the guide, and within it you'll see a listing for The Cartoon Network's linear channel, and then right next to it you'll see "Cartoon Network Interactive"--or however it will be branded--and that will be the interactive version of the channel. We're hoping to create more and more of these channels that will live in the EPG and blur the distinction between what is interactive and what is television. Our belief is that content that shows up on television needs to look like television."

Another goal for ICTV with the ntl trial, Miller said, is to validate its belief that one of the important advantages of its technology is its ability to repurpose as a natural, "televisual" end-user experience the increasing amount of video-rich multimedia content that is currently being developed for the Web: "What we're seeing in the industry is the creation of more and more content for Web distribution that looks like television, with more video and less text, but still with the kind of sophisticated control you have on a Web site," he said. "So, while we certainly do other things--HeadendWare is great for playing games, for example--where we think that HeadendWare will have its strongest impact is in bringing all this content that is being created for the Web to cable and IPTV. Because what that does is give consumers the wide array of content choices and the kind of fine-grained control you get on the Web, without their having to go to their home office and sit at their computer to do it--and it gives it to them in a way that integrates seamlessly with the rest of their TV viewing."


According to Miller, ntl is interested in deploying ICTV's technology not least because it believes it will allow it to leapfrog BSkyB's interactive services: "One of the main reasons they like this offering is because it's extremely competitive with what's offered on Sky," he said. "In fact, a lot of what we're doing with them, you just can't do on Sky. Until now, their interactive offering has been based on Liberate middleware, and it's essentially limited to--at best--doing nothing more than Sky. In contrast, our headend-based solution offers more capabilities and more content possibilities than you can do either on Sky's platform or on Liberate middleware." [itvt] asked Miller if he believes that HeadendWare will supersede use of Liberate's middleware on ntl if the trial proves successful. "No, I don't believe that's their intention," he said. "At any rate, we've always believed at ICTV that, while there are many functions that belong in the network, there are still some functions that belong in the set-top box. We don't seek to replace functions that belong in the set-top box, we seek to enhance them. The guide, we think, has a place in the set-top box; enhanced overlays and those kinds of things also belong in the set-top. However, we believe that there are kinds of interactive content--exemplified by the personalized channels we've created for this trial--that can't be done by technology in a set-top box. It should be embedded in the programming and should be offered from the network. So we're basically extending what Liberate's middleware can do in a set-top box by offering additional interactive programming that comes from the network."

ICTV is also currently conducting lab trials of HeadendWare with London-based Video Networks, the company that offers the VOD-enabled IPTV service, HomeChoice. While Miller said he was not at liberty to discuss those trials in any detail, he told us that they are proceeding very well, and that ICTV is also working with a number of other IPTV providers that it has yet to announce. "One of the real strengths of our solution is that it is platform-independent--it works just as well on IPTV as on cable," he said. "This, of course, is very attractive to content providers, as we can offer them the ability to produce one version of a channel, program or other piece of content and to have it reach a very wide audience. So we aren't just going to content providers with the proposition, 'Port to our platform and we'll get you on ntl,' but with the proposition, 'Simply repurpose the content that you already have in your Web properties, and we'll make it available to ntl, Grande, Time Warner, and anyone else we're working with.'"

"Neil McDonald, who did a fantastic job at Dixons (PCWorld was his brainchild)"

A little embelishment of facts there. Neil actually headed up the business centres concept in the old Dixons stores. He was the category marketing manager, not the brainchild of PC World. Neil worked in product marketing at Dixons back in the days of the Amstrad 1512 and helped form the business centre concept for Dixons stores. The hope was to create a seperate store but it never happened. PC World was bought from Vision technology for a few million in the early 90's and expanded under various stewards. Terry Duddy now CEO of Argos retail was one of the earlier managing directors. Neil left Dixons to join Fujitsu in an ultimately failed attempt to get their consumer channel runner. He then when into 'new media' companies.

Feel free question Neil on these points.

Bothered

Thanks to axe79.


Just had this E Mail from MS.......

I mentioned that at the AGM I was asked a question about cost savings on consolidating the DITG acquisition. I repled that we had originally budgeted for 2.7 mill of savings. By the AGM we had achieved 3.7. At present we are looking at c.4.0. Hope that helps. It was good to meet you all.
Regards
Mike

GP of 40% + was the answer given to my question of how profitable the group was now, and will of course be before exceptionals and write downs are stripped out.

As a group of Investors we were given the identical presentation as what they have been giving to Brokers and Institutions. I suspect we might have been more aware and probing in the questions put to them, but they were all answered without hesitation in a open manner by the management present.

They of course knew that we would be publishing our findings on the boards and were positive in helping there shareholders have a greater grasp of the business that they are investing in.

Thanks to Paul Smith.


Since our meeting in London, I have had a very hectic two days catching up, but having had a little more time to think straight, here are a few more points from the presentation worth a mention.

1) NHS Direct on BSKYB is the largest iTV database in the world - and Yoomedia are responsible for it - quite an acheivement, and something that will not go unoticed by many companies that coud benefit from such an interactive channel anywhere else in the world.

2) Currently - Yoomedia process over 5.5 million iTV transactions per month, purely from the UK, and at a time while the country only has 60% coverage of DTV - we therefore can take comfort that as this figure heads for 100% by year 2012, their is a lot of natural growth ahead as more and more people go digital, on a daily basis.

3) Yoomedia have identified four client groups that use its services, they are therefore able to identify their main growth areas.

4) Yoomedia operate their gambling services from the UK, and operate a UK gaming license, and as such are a licensed bookmaker in their own right, many of the online companies operate from outside of the UK to get around complicated gaming rules, when deregulation does happen, Yoomedia will not need to apply for the correct gaming licenese, they already have one, their is no guarantee that some of the other operators at present will be granted one,which means there will be no hold ups for Yoomedia.

5) Yoomedia are in the final stages of obtaining their patent for time stamped SMS services, both UK and Worldwide - this will open up lots of opportunity for thrd party license of the technology.

6) The Yoomedia/ICTV partneship, could end up being an all important marriage for the company, with ICTV being USA based, IMHO, this will give Yoomedia a head start in future USA growth opportunities, for ICTV having spent several millons over seven years, to then pick Yoomedia as it's partner for Broadband TV tells me how respected Yoomedia are- why did they not pick the more established BSKYB ???? - as foo ninja said, this gives people the opportunity to receive the equivalent of The Microsoft Home Media Entertainment suite, for no further outlay - this will not go unoticed by the likes of Microsoft, especially when you look at the current content partners taking part in the trial - ITN, MTV, Turner - amazing wel respected companies, that will all benefit from the direct access they will have to the most popular worldwide entertainment medium - TV

I like the look of Yoomedia for another reason - look at eBay - they perfected their online auction in the USA, and when the world was ready for it - they took the world by storm - likewise, Yoomedia have now had a three year head start on the rest of the world in the next largest growth area since the internet DTV and the iTV services that come with it - the rest of the world is now catching up - and I see Yoomedia well placed to take advantage when the time is right.

Do not judge this company on the SP alone, which many have done, take the time out, visit the company if necessary, I know any interested investor will be made welcome, make your decision on fact, not on uninformed comments from the type of short term investors who take a chance on short term positions, and who wll never benefit from the long term growth potential of Yoomedia.

Research is key to your comfort in investing with Yoomedia - understand exactly what the company does, and realise that it is the only serious threat to BSKYB in the UK at present, as far as DTV iTV services go.

Regards

Paul Smith

youve certaily done your research Mac T!
good to see you still posting good info having got back in
Regards...

Never ask the barber for a hair cut.

Too cryptic for me Scrip.
WT.

Don't you just love these "we know the real inside story" threads , laugh a minute.

Didn't anyone bother to ask when the cash would run out or do you not think its relevant ?

Dil,

that cash question was raised over 4 weeks ago. And some said there wouldn't be enough money to last a month.... YOO is still here!

If people want to believe what they read here without qualifying it themselves, then more fool them.

I'm still in YOO, and yes it is a gamble, but that is the AIM.

skids

Raised with who ?

share price is still way too high for this company.. share price is 7-1.. rather rediculous

well kat i have not seen your name since you were ramping tfc. but i did make 8000.

tanker, be ready to make another 8k on TFC then... theres a rumour directors are buying, and norwich has just signed a huge contract with them

Mums the word ;-)

yes idid know looking.thanks.buying prty. easy money i retire in may 56 YEARS old i am allready 20k up.

by the way i have hell of a lot of these

oh bad luck mate... hope you dont lose too much on Yoo

Dil

Yes, investors at the presentation DID ask if there would be another cash call and the answer was NO! There is NO need.

12 retail investors took the time to have a three hour meeting with the management last week.

The feedback is as a result of this meeting.

Mipcom mobile TV nominees unveiled

Fox, SFR and CHUM Television are among the nominees in line to pick up the first ever Mipcom award for best made-for-mobile TV content at next week's event in Cannes, France.

The category is just one among four the from the event's first awards ceremony dedicated to mobile in recognition of the growing impact the medium is having on the television industry.

Some 11 projects, including Fox's 24: Conspiracy 'mobisode' spin-off of the company's hit television series, are in the running for the content/format award. France's SFR, Canada's CHUM, the UK's YooMedia and Singapore's Mediacorp are also in the running.

Desperate Housewives episode recaps from Buena Vista International Television feature in the category for best repurposed video, film or animation content for a mobile phone. Other contenders include Disney, Sony and Norway's NRK.

The nominees will be showcased during the made-for-mobile screenings on 19 October and the prizes will be awarded the next day. See C21's upcoming edition of FutureMedia, available at Mipcom, for an in-depth look at how the mobile TV market is developing.

Jonathan Webdale
11 Oct 2005
C21 Media 2005

ipublic , well if this is / was the case then this is the point you should be shouting from the roof top.

Which director said no ?

I've a day off tomorrow and will ring to confirm , funny they didn't make a big play of this fact at the last set of (crap) results but in fairness I do think they managed to agree a bigger overdraft.

Name him and I will try to confirm your statement.