DVD EXTRA, the technology that should see this company through to profits and a very bright future.
DVD-Extra

During the year the Group accelerated its development of a revolutionary
authoring software for producing interactive DVD-Video discs that will play on
any standard consumer DVD player. We applied for and received a SMART grant
award of 188,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry to assist with the
research and development. DVD-Extra unlocks the hidden interactive capabilities
that exist in every player, and allows developers to produce titles that exhibit
many of the properties of multimedia CD-ROM on a standard, unmodified, DVD
player.

ZOO's principal offering is a product for authoring interactive DVD-Video discs
called DVD-Extra Studio. This tool operates in a similar way to multimedia
authoring products that are designed for creating CD-ROM applications for PC and
Macintosh, but produces DVD-Video disc images as its output. It performs a
similar function to so-called DVD authoring products that are designed
specifically for creating DVD-Video discs, but due to the patent-pending
authoring method it employs, it offers substantial cost savings for companies
that are involved in the production of DVDs and also enables more sophisticated
functionality to be developed.

ZOO will license DVD-Extra Studio to multimedia developers and Compression and
Authoring facilities. Charges will be levied on a pay-per-use basis, such that
customers will pay a fee to ZOO for each project that uses DVD-Extra Studio.

The Group has applied for patents to protect the core DVD-Extra technology and
is continuing to further develop and protect its intellectual property
worldwide.

Outlook

Following the successful fundraising of 1.5m gross through the share placing
which was completed on 2nd June 2003 the Group looks forward to positive
progression. The portfolio of products is expanding, with a focus on the
development of our own intellectual properties. The board believes that the
combination of publishing low risk licensed product and in-house own brands
together with the huge potential of DVD-Extra Studio places the Group in an
excellent position for a move to profitability and significant future growth.

The Group plans to exploit the DVD-Extra technology internationally and has
established an Early Adopter Programme consisting of around twenty companies
including Technicolor, Warner and Comchoice, leading to the first commercial
release of the product within twelve months. We believe that the uniqueness of
DVD-Extra and the filing of international patents will allow ZOO to build and
maintain significant differentiation over other authoring tool providers.

John Barnes, Chairman

Ian Stewart, Chief Executive Officer.G

a bit more news retail-wise for those who haven't twigged yet:

http://www.dvd-intelligence.com/

DVD-Extra powers new iDVD titles

The latest iDVD interactive DVD (iDVD) title produced using ZOOtech's DVD-Extra technology, Now Thats What I Call A Music Quiz, is already proving to be a popular gift this Christmas.

Launched on 5 December, the games creator Circle is reporting that despite 150,000 units being shipped into stores on day one of release, re-orders are already being taken. It is currently at number 4 on Amazons Hot 100 UK DVD chart beating Star Wars Episode III and only just behind Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Now Thats What I Call a Music Quiz is Circles first foray into the creation of interactive DVD games and features a wealth of original musical assets from the vast catalogue of Virgin/EMI/Universal who have marketed and distributed the title.

The title is the biggest compilation label in the UK/US music business, having sold over 50 million copies worldwide. CiRCLEs collaboration with the label is an exclusive profit-sharing agreement with the two NOW partners: EMI and Universal Music.

The game itself features advanced interactive technology, single and multi-player modes and three different game-types: Top 20, Top 40 and I-Spy. Over 1500 questions are selected from five different musical decades and three difficulty levels. Tutorial commentary is provided by veteran DJ Mark Goodier and all content originates from Virgin, EMI and Universals vast catalogue of musical assets.

Circles CEO Jeremy Heath-Smith comments: We are committed to driving the interactive DVD genre forward through a combination of great properties, high quality and innovative gameplay. Utilising DVD-Extra ensures that we will achieve our goals.

DVD-Extra technology allows developers to deliver a consumer experience that is akin to interactive TV, the Internet and CD-ROM. An automated, template-driven approach means that Circle has not only been able to develop the product in a significantly reduced timescale, but also deliver an engaging consumer experience that is key to the ongoing success of the iDVD genre.

Jonathan Beardsworth, MD at ZOOtech adds: The format of the game is a great success. Circle has delivered the content in a way that means the game will be enjoyed time and time again.

Randomised questions and entertaining gameplay are inherent in the truly interactive titles produced using ZOOtech software features which Circle will be sure to capitalise on when creating their next iDVD releases, which include titles from The Discovery Channel, Discovery Kids, Europsort, NBA and FIFA/FIFA World Cup.

Interactive DVD titles produced using DVD-Extra are dominating category sales, which is cementing ZOOtechs position as leaders in the technology that is driving this new retail genre. Leading titles include Who Wants to be a Millionaire Family Picture edition, Telly Addicts, Bulls Eye, Gary Linekers Interactive Football Challenge and Beat the Intro 2.

Story filed 18 December 2005

I dont have a clue if this one will be taken over.

cheers GF.

u still involved in this dud gf.

i looked at it more than 2 years ago and thought it was crap then

Well feel free to pop back again in 2 years scotinvestor. Here's hoping those future comments will be as balanced & incisive as today's.

What's your current reading, gf and Queen? Pleased to see the dead wood cleared and with a payment which should cover redundancies at least.
Eric

Obviously tough times recently Eric but I think the detail contained in the announcement is a positive move. Patience may be required and for those of us who originally bought in above 10p it will be a bit of a slog but we're going in the right direction.

Contract

RNS Number:7687J
Zoo Digital Group PLC
02 October 2006


2 October 2006

ZOO Digital Group plc
("ZOO" or the "Company")

ZOO AGREES TEMPLATED AUTHORING CONTRACT WITH WALT DISNEY

ZOOtech Ltd ("ZOOtech"), the DVD technology division of ZOO Digital Group plc,
today announces that it has signed a contract with Walt Disney Pictures and
Television ("WDPT") to license its unique Templated Authoring System for the
automated production of DVD-Video discs for new and existing film titles. In
addition, WDPT has renewed its licence to use ZOOtech's Menu Regionalization
Tool for a further year.

For further information please contact:

Up 27% today - is ZOO on the recovery trail?

ZOO Bid: 70p Offer: 75p Change: 20.5

Thanks Bosley for mentioning it on your XMAS thread.

Just dived in for 1000 shares at 77p anyway. Anyone else joining me?

Bought some at 64p earlier today...........been watching for a while as I have some at a higher price than this!

Thanks ST-looking into this one.