Channel Five and North One Television Launch UK's First Video Download Store Submitted By: Speed Communications Monday, 21 March 2005

Channel Five and North One Television Launch UK's First Video Download Store Submitted by: Speed Communications Monday, 21 March 2005

Channel Five and North One Television Launch UK’s First Video Download Store 7 Digital technology paves way for broadcasters to reap benefits from legal video downloads 21 March, 2005: Channel Five and North One Television, the production company behind Fifth Gear are making history today as the first broadcaster to launch a legal video download store, powered by 7 Digital’s digital media commerce engine. Fifth Gear, Channel Five’s flagship car show, will offer DVD-quality, legal video downloads of its most popular features directly from its web site. From today, there are four free videos available for download from www.five.tv/fifthgear/ including cars such as Lamborghini Gallardo racing the Ducati 999 and video of BMW 1 series. Automotive fanatics can download high-resolution videos of 12 supercar reviews, such as the Porsche 911, Ferrari F430 and Mercedes McLaren SLR for just £1.50 Younger fast cars enthusiasts with no access to a credit card will be able to pay for their purchase using their mobile phones. Car fans will also have access to a selection of Fifth Gear shoot-outs – one of the programmes most popular features, whereby two similarly priced or similarly powered vehicles race around a track to find out which one is fastest. This UK’s first legal video downloads store is possible thanks to a new system for fast, high quality video and music download developed by 7 Digital, the company behind download stores for a raft of leading music companies including Universal and EMI. 7 Digital’s Managing Director, Ben Drury said: “Broadcasters have seen the revenues attainable from music downloads and are eager to do the same with their own content. TV footage can work so much harder for broadcasters, with the internet now a commercially sound distribution channel.” Richard Pearson, Executive Producer Fifth Gear “Ever since Fifth Gear launched in 2002 viewers have regularly asked whether it’s possible to purchase content. It’s great that we can expand the Fifth Gear brand in this way and give people an affordable opportunity to acquire high quality downloads of their favourite moments from the archive.” 7 Digital are recognised as a leader in music downloading having developed over 50 music download stores for a range of artists, record labels and retailers, including Island Records, Homechoice and Associated Newspapers Metro. It is also now the first company to develop a download store that incorporates video as well as music. The new solution incorporates a full online store with complete management facilities, incorporating

Page 1 billing and real-time reporting, cataloguing and search capabilities. The videos are protected by Microsoft’s DRM technology to prevent piracy. - ends - About North One TV North One Television produces network programmes for all the major broadcasters and is part of the All3Media group - one of the UK’s largest independent television production companies. North One produces both Fifth Gear and The Gadget Show for ‘five’ from its regional production base in Birmingham. About 7 Digital 7 Digital specialises in secure distribution of digital media including music downloads and video. 7 Digital's clients include ITV, Universal, EMI, Warner Music, Sony BMG, V2, Independiente and O2. It also developed the official Band Aid 20 download site, and the world-record UK Radio Aid downloads. Since January 2004 has distributed more than 350,000 digital products via over 200 partners including AOL, MSN, Freeserve, MTV, The Guardian, Lycos, The Sun, Virgin Radio, BT, NTL and Tiscali. For more information visit www.7digital.com For further information or images please contact: Zuzanna Pasierbinska Rainier PR + 44 (0) 20 7494 6579 [email protected]

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