FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, Calif., June 2, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. (SCEA) announced today major enhancements to PlayStation®Network, expanding on SCEA’s commitment to give users a comprehensive entertainment experience. The video delivery service for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system launches today in coordination with a new line-up of premier Hollywood, Anime and Sports partners. In addition, Media Go, a free application that makes it easier to manage digital content including games, photos, videos and music for the PSP system through a PC will also become available. These enhancements give new entertainment possibilities for PSP system owners, providing direct downloadable access to games, demos and trailers, as well as movies and television shows via the PlayStation®Store on PlayStation Network. New game content will also be added to an existing library of more than 200 downloadable games on the PlayStation Store today, including much anticipated titles Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake,Gravity Crash™, Hustle Kings™ and more than 60 PS one® Classics hitting the PlayStation Store by the end of the year.

“PlayStation Network has experienced a high growth year and today we’re excited to add new content partners such as Showtime, G4 & E!, Magnolia Films, and TNA to our family. In addition to extending our content offerings and expanding with new features like Media Go, we continue to bring relevant and compelling content via original games and programming to our users,” said Peter Dille, senior vice president marketing and PlayStation Network, SCEA. “Gamers will be pleased to find new games for all genres and interests with original titles Fat Princess andGravity Crash, in addition to many PS one Classics such as Final Fantasy VII coming to PlayStation Network this year.”

Video Delivery Service

PSP system users now have direct access to PlayStation Network’s video delivery service, where they can download their favorite movie and television programs and take with them on-the-go. In addition, the video delivery service is announcing content from 16 new premier partners in Hollywood, anime and sports. Hollywood content partners include Showtime Networks Inc., Starz Media, – for Film, TV and Manga Anime, G4 and E!, Summit Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, HDnet and Magnolia Pictures. Anime partners include, Anime Network, Media Blasters, Right Stuf’s Nozomi Entertainment, Starz Media’s Manga Entertainment, Toei Animation, Viz Media and WEP. FUNimation Entertainment will also be a part of a new anime category on the video delivery service. Sports partners include HDNet Fights, UFC, Wrestling from TNA and Video Action Sports.

Premier Hollywood content will include hit films such as Overture Films “Righteous Kill,” Summit Entertainment “Twilight” and The Weinstein Company “Zack & Miri Make a Porno.” PlayStation Store will also feature TV shows such as Showtime Networks Inc.’s “Dexter,” E!’s “The Soup,” G4’s “X-Play” and Starz Media’s “Painkiller Jane.” A new anime channel will also launch in both the TV and film sections of the video store and will feature the best in anime content, including Anime Network’s “Appleseed,” Starz Media Manga Entertainment’s “Dead Space.” Toei Animation’s “Fist of the North Star,” Viz Media’s “Naruto” and WEP’s “Voltron.” Some of the new sports content will include bouts from HDNet Fight’s “Inside MMA,” wrestling from TNA’s “iMPACT!,” UFC PPV events and Video Action Sports’ “That’s It, That’s All.”

With the addition of these new partners, the video delivery service will have nearly 1900 movies and 9400 TV episodes, covering reality, mixed martial arts, sports, anime, manga and animation genres. For one price, PlayStation users can watch standard definition (SD) video content from the comfort of their home television on the PS3 system or at their convenience on-the-go with the PSP system. PlayStation Store offers a combined total of nearly 9,000 hours of video content, with more than 35 % percent of the movies in High Definition. Through the PS3 and PSP systems users can access a unique three-in-one entertainment package unlike any other – the ability to enjoy high-definition Blu-ray movies, groundbreaking games, and downloadable video content from one platform and one service.

With the launch of the video delivery service for the PSP system, Media Manager for PC is being replaced with Media Go. Media Go is a free application that makes it easier and more convenient for consumers to manage their PSP games, photos, videos and music on their PC and provides access to PlayStation Store.

Games

Several PlayStation Network titles for both the PS3 and PSP systems were announced at E3, adding to the robust lineup of over 200 downloadable games available for PlayStation Store. For the PS3 system, Gravity Crash from developer Just Add Water melds a vintage gravity based arcade shooter with High Definition (HD) graphics, and Hustle Kings, from VooFoo Studios, is the PS3 system’s first photorealistic billiards simulator. For the PSP system, Fat Princess: Fistful of Cakebrings a fun and strategic medieval battle royale unlike anything seen before on the portable system. In addition, the PlayStation Store will deliver more than 60 PS one Classics by the end of the year and will launch Final Fantasy VII and Medal of Honor on PlayStation Store today.

Starting this fall, many PSP titles that will be launched on UMD will also be offered digitally on PlayStation Store in North America. This will add nearly 300 games from the PSP system’s library available for download through PlayStation Network.

PlayStation Network is built on a legacy of gaming and continues to expand into a premier entertainment platform with innovative and compelling content options for people to enjoy on multiple devices.

About PlayStation®Network

PlayStation®Network is an entertainment network that unites people and innovative entertainment to deliver captivating experiences worldwide. In addition to offering new and original forms of entertainment, PlayStation Network supports free and community-centric online gameplay, communication tools, and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PLAYSTATION®3 systems connectivity. As of the end of May 2009, PlayStation Network has more than 24 million registered accounts worldwide.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its digital services PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 and the PSP systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

# # #

PlayStation, PLAYSTATION, PSP and PS one are registered trademarks and PS3 is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Contacts: Abigail Murphy – 650.655.5510

Abigail_Murphy@playstation.sony.com

Ron Eagle – 858.824.5585

Ron_Eagle@playstation.sony.com

BLACKTREE TV RANKS AMONG YOUTUBE’S TOP 25 MOST-VIEWED CHANNELS

Urban Entertainment Content Provider Reaches Major Milestone with 175 Million Video Views Worldwide and Launches Content on Sprint TV

LOS ANGELES (May 28, 2009) – BlackTree TV, an online urban entertainment content provider and subsidiary of BlackTree Media, is quickly emerging as a bona fide player on the digital media scene.  The Los Angeles-based entertainment website is now ranked among the top 25 most-viewed channels found on YouTube, with more than 175 million video views of BlackTree TV content (www.youtube.com/blacktreemedia). YouTube is the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos.

After several years of working to build the brand and develop the site’s offerings, the executive team at BlackTree couldn’t be more thrilled to reach this important milestone. 

“We’re delighted that online viewers are really connecting with our content.  The company has come a long way in a relatively short time and it’s just the beginning of our growth strategy,” said Jamaal Finkley, President of BlackTree Media.  “2009 is a breakout year for BlackTree Media.  In addition to business relationships with companies such as Google and YouTube, our content is available on mobile phones.   Now, we’re working on forging new partnerships that will extend our reach online and across more new media platforms.”

One such example is the site’s new partnership with technology company Vidiator to create the “Urban Stylez” channel on Sprint TV.  Sprint customers looking for exclusive urban entertainment news and original programming can access this channel on select video-enabled Sprint cellular devices by clicking on the Sprint TV icon and finding BlackTree TV in the entertainment folder.

“BlackTree Media is quickly becoming an emerging player in the new media landscape,” said Connie Wong, Vidiator CEO.  “Their unique and highly-targeted urban content combines with the Vidiator platform to enable high quality broadcasts to mobile phones. Vidiator is very happy to be the technology enabler for BlackTree and we look forward to their continued success,” added Wong.

BlackTree TV content ranges from coverage of celebrity parties, fashion events, award shows and red carpet events such as movie premieres, the BET Awards, MTV VMAs, American Music Awards, Academy Awards®, Grammy Awards, Fashion Week and others, to original programming such as popular series “Hobbies and Hustles,” which covers successful business ventures and careers that began as sidelines; “Monday Night Conversation,” featuring one-on-one interviews with today’s hottest celebrities discussing current events, their latest projects and all things pop culture; “Test Drive,” which takes a spin in the latest cars from high-end luxury to eco-friendly, giving a behind-the-wheel perspective on cool gadgets and features; and “Pure Logic,” a politically-charged, humorous take on the issues and topics of the day hosted by former news anchor Anthony McLemore.

BlackTree TV’s engaging, skillfully produced content and desirable traffic metrics have also generated attention from the advertising community.   Marketers looking to gain visibility for their brands with Blacktree’s trendsetting, multicultural viewership have included companies such as Universal, General Motors, Land Rover, Sprint and The Weinstein Company.

About BlackTree Media
BlackTree Media is a leading distributor of online urban entertainment content and lifestyle information.  In partnership with Google and YouTube, the BlackTree Broadcast Network (B2N) has branded BlackTree TV (www.blacktreetv.com).  It is ranked among YouTube’s top 25 content channels and is featured on over 3,000 websites, including popular urban sites AllHipHop.com and XXLmag.com.  BlackTree TV can also be found on the ‘Urban Stylez’ channel on the Sprint TV mobile phone network.  BlackTree TV supplies advertisers with the ideal avenue for reaching multicultural consumers with an affinity for urban-oriented lifestyle, music, entertainment, products and information. 

About Sprint TV
Sprint TV is included at no additional charge in Sprint’s Everything plans starting at $69.99, including Simply EverythingSM, which combines unlimited voice, messaging and extensive data services – such as Sprint TV – for just $99.99 per month.  With other Sprint plans, customers can get Sprint TV by adding a Data Pack, starting at $15 per month and it can also be accessed with casual data charges on a per data byte basis. Sprint TV can only be accessed on Sprint video-enabled phones and is available on most Sprint handsets.

About Vidiator
Vidiator is changing the way people use mobile with technology that helps carriers and content providers deliver live and on-demand TV, music and 3G multimedia services and content to mobile devices.  Vidiator is deployed in 20+ countries on four continents, with customers like AT&T, Sprint, NTT DoCoMo, “3,” Vodafone, PCCW and Alltel. Vidiator is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, USA, with offices in England, China, Korea, Spain and Italy. For more information please visit www.vidiator.com.

About YouTube
YouTube is the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. YouTube allows people to easily upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, blogs, and e-mail.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            Media Contact:  Tosha Whitten Griggs
FrontPage Communications
213/351-0042
twhittengriggs@sbcglobal.net

Not that long ago, online video was sort of a toy, a somewhat geeky, somewhat mainstream add-on to the real business of the Internet: reading information.

Then came YouTube. And now here come the pros.

According to MAGNA Global, a research division of the Interpublic Group, online video ad spending in the US will pass the $1 billion mark in 2011.

MAGNA estimates that the market for online video ads will reach $699 million this year, a 32% increase over the $530 million spent on online video in 2008.

A MAGNA spokesperson asserted that interest in the online video ad space was being driven not merely by the increase of broadband connectivity, but also by the growth of professionally produced video content.

A migration of viewership is occurring online from the user-generated content that “accounted for a significant volume of potential advertising inventory in the past,” to professionally produced online video, which grew in terms of time spent by 24% in 2008, after a 50% increase in 2007.

“Over the next few years, we expect traditional TV content, and traditional TV suppliers, to account for the bulk of online video budgets,” Brian Wieser of MAGNA told Dow Jones Newswires.

It should be noted, however, that while the new MAGNA forecast calls for a 32% gain in online video ad spending in 2009—to roughly $700 million—in July 2008 the firm forecast 45% growth this year to $800 million. But, as reported by Adweek, “As with many projections made last summer, the subsequent escalation of the recession has put a damper on budgets.”

Growth in the category is still robust—and taking some surprising turns.

According to tracking figures from comScore, in March 2009, Google sites once again ranked as the top US video property with 5.9 billion videos viewed and a 40.9% online video market share. YouTube.com accounted for the bulk of that viewing, with more than 99% of all videos viewed at the property.

comScore reported that Hulu’s total video streams grew 14.3% in March, and the number of unique viewers was up 19.7% in the same period. But, in an odd jiggle of the figures, the amount of time users spent on Hulu dropped—about 10% from February.

Nevertheless, Hulu still accounted for 4.9% of all minutes spent watching online video in March, and the average viewing time per user was almost an hour: 57.9 minutes.

Overall, the average US online video viewer watched 327 minutes of video in March, nearly 5.5 hours.

Update: More Shaking Late last week, The Walt Disney Co. announced it had reached a deal to buy nearly a 30% stake in Hulu. Disney plans to run full episodes of ABC TV shows on the site, joining the lineup of NBC and FOX television shows currently available.

*THIS ARTICLE IS FROM EMARKETER AND CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007070