Towers Productions and 21e Sign Agreement for Acquisition, Development and Distribution of Broadband Content

Towers Productions and 21e Sign Agreement for Acquisition, Development and Distribution of Broadband Content

CANNES, France, April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Towers Productions, Inc., Chicago-based producer of factual and entertainment programming, announced today that it has signed an agreement with 21e, a leader in Internet and television technology based in Nashville, to create a partnership for acquiring, developing and distributing video programming to broadband users worldwide. Atlanta-based broadcast and telecommunications service provider Crawford Communications will provide operational support for the new venture.

Towers Productions will produce and source programming for global broadband distribution using 21e's Web-based television platform. As part of the agreement, 21e will create a broadband performing arts portal which will include films from the Broadway Archive Primetime Specials, the most extensive library of Broadway plays and great works of dramatic literature produced for television over the last five decades. The 21e platform generates revenues from advertising, e-commerce and merchandising, subscription and transactional downloads of video files.

"Broadband provides a unique opportunity for content owners to build a direct relationship with viewers," said Jonathan Towers, President and Executive Producer of Towers Productions. "We want to enable them to get their programming in front of the widest possible audience and to monetize it. Together with 21e, we will help them to optimize the value of their programming assets by providing editorial and technical services, repurposing content for the Web, and creating the greatest possible scope for exploiting content across all distribution platforms."

"21e was created to provide the best-in-class television experience for broadband users," said 21e Founder and CEO Rick Davis. "Enhancing the quality of the Web video experience drives revenues from multiple sources. Our goal is to provide users of 21e's broadband network with great programming, the highest quality of service on the Web, and instant access to merchandise and services within an integrated programming experience. At the same time, we ensure our programming partners of robust security and rights management within the broadband environment."

Among the categories of programming and virtual on-demand networks that Towers Productions and 21e will offer are: documentary; international and ethnic; faith and values, music, news and current affairs; performing and fine arts, sporting news and events.

About Towers Productions Inc. (TPI)

Founded in 1989, TPI is a full-service production company based in Chicago, IL. The Company has produced over 400 hours of factual and entertainment programming for networks including A&E, CNN, The History Channel, Discovery Networks, National Geographic Channel, PBS and The Weather Channel.

About 21e

21e was founded in 1998 by Rick Davis as a converged media company combining expertise in creative and network design, broadband operations and distribution, advertising and e-commerce, on-line provisioning and capital funding. Company's investors include US Senator Lamar Alexander, Dr. Robert Frist, Jr., Chairman of the Frist Family Internet Partnership, and John Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Book Group and Vice Chairman of Ingram Industries.

Contact:

Rick Davis, CEO of 21e:
615/313-8118 or rdavis@21e.net

William Fisher, Collegia Capital, LLC, for TPI:
305/728-7072 or wfisher@collegiacapital.com

Source: Towers Productions, Inc.

CONTACT: Rick Davis, CEO of 21e, +1-615-313-8118, or rdavis@21e.net ; or
William Fisher, Collegia Capital, LLC, for TPI, +1-305-728-7072, or
wfisher@collegiacapital.com

Web site: http://www.towersproductions.com/

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