WWEBNET Licenses Entertainment Operating System to Universal Music

WWEBNET Licenses Entertainment Operating System to Universal Music

Universal to Introduce On-Line Broadcast Channels Utilizing WWEBNET Technology as Their Entertainment Operating System

NEW YORK, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- WWEBNET (acronym for "World Wide Electronic Broadcast Network") announced today their partnership with Universal Music UK. Universal Music UK will implement WWEBNET's technology and distribution model to reach their artists' fan bases directly via Universal Music-branded broadcast channels on the World Wide Web.

WWEBNET technology provides an interactive content distribution channel that delivers up to DVD-quality video and audio directly to users' desktops, without having to visit a web site.

"WWEBNET's state-of-the-art technology provides Universal Music with an entertainment operating system that allows our artists to communicate directly and immediately with their fans, and creates a direct-to-consumer broadcast network which is completely under Universal Music's control," stated Rob Wells, Senior Vice President, Digital, for Universal Music Group International.

The broadcast channel, which is branded and controlled by Universal Music, provides music fans access to song and music video streams and downloads, as well as never-seen before artist features, including early reviews of new releases, backstage interviews, concert footage, vault materials and more, offering fans immediate access to Universal Music's rich heritage of music and music videos. Additionally, it automatically delivers information about new content availability directly to the customer's PC or hardware device, in accordance with their music preferences.

"This relationship allows Universal Music to have better control over the availability and distribution of its content, as well as how it is delivered to consumers," stated Robert Kelly, CEO of WWEBNET. "With WWEBNET's Operating System, entertainment companies and content owners can now have an independently owned and operated Internet broadcast channel which can reach and interact directly with their customer base, regardless of a consumer's line speed. This broadcast channel ensures premier artist placement and promotion to a huge fan base and properly puts the ball back in the content owner's court."

The broadcast channel with streaming music videos launched on October 18, 2006 with Universal Music UK. The complete interactive broadcast channel, including the feature of immediate delivery of content right to a consumer's desktop, will begin broadcast operations in December 2006. The channel will be broadcasted through Universal's "Musividz" located at www.umusic.co.uk.

WWEBNET is a powerful operating system, available for licensing on a worldwide basis, which works over the Internet, PCs and standard media players. Installation of the broadcast channel involves a brief, one-time download of the application by the user. Users can then select their desired music channels and receive high-quality video and audio instantaneously and at multiple bandwidths. The application can be integrated into mobile devices such as PDAs and cell phones that have built in media players. A desktop icon alerts users when new content has been downloaded, or when new artist content is available to view.

PHOTO: To receive images of the Universal branded broadcast channel, please e-mail photo request and requirements to alana@cayane.com.

About Universal Music UK

Universal Music UK is a division of Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 75 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.

Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Music Group, Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Geffen Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division, and Universal Music Mobile.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

About WWEBNET

WWEBNET ("World Wide Electronic Broadcast Network"), Inc. provides powerful solutions to content owners and entertainment companies worldwide for direct-to-consumer delivery of licensed music, video and proprietary content. Headquartered in New York City, WWEBNET is a broadcasting technology and network which delivers high-quality video and audio directly to consumers' PCs and portable devices, via the World Wide Web, regardless of line speed. It is an intelligent, two-way communication network which interactively and automatically allows consumers to retrieve and receive desired content in up to DVD quality. The WWEBNET Operating System provides companies with the ability to create and brand their own worldwide broadcast channels, providing complete turnkey ecommerce, content management and advertising systems, along with a comprehensive database management component, empowering content companies with a robust targeted marketing capability.

Source: WWEBNET

CONTACT: U.S., Alana Schofield of Cayane Communications, Inc.,
+1-702-564-1034, cell +1-702-466-4111, Alana@cayane.com, for WWEBNET; or U.K.,
Selina Webb, Communications Director of Universal Music UK, 020 7471 5385,
Selina.Webb@umusic.com

Web site: http://www.umusic.co.uk/

Web site: http://wwebnet.com/

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