Creating
‘Network Live,’ The First Multi-Platform Digital Entertainment
Company For Live Programming
(12 July 2005) In a
groundbreaking joint venture that capitalises on the huge potential of
multi-platform live entertainment programming, AEG, a world-leading sports and
entertainment presenter; America Online, the world’s leading interactive
services company; and XM Satellite Radio, the nation’s leading provider of
satellite radio have joined with entertainment and technology veteran Kevin
Wall to create Network Live, an AEG, AOL, XM company.
Network Live is the first multi-platform digital entertainment company
committed to delivering live entertainment programming through the Internet,
satellite and other third party global media platforms such as VOD, wireless
and HDTV. Wall, who most recently served as Executive Producer of Live 8, is
the Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed joint venture.
On the
heels of the record-setting broadcasts of Live 8 by AOL and XM, and building on
the success of the popular AOL Music LIVE! series, Network Live will produce a
rich slate of live programming focusing on music and comedy performances - many
originating from AEG owned or operated venues world-wide, such as Staples
Center. The programming will be promoted to AOL’s web audience of more
than 100 million and to more than 4.4 million XM Satellite Radio subscribers.
The company will also leverage the expertise of AEG’s live entertainment
division, AEG Live, one of the world’s leading concert promoters. Network
Live programming will add to AOL and XM’s own popular original franchises,
such as AOL Music Sessions, which has featured many top recording artists, and
XM‘s Artist Confidential and Then...Again...Live!
“This is a
network of the future, delivering digital programming to consumers who are
hungry for live programming,” said Kevin Wall, Co-Founder and CEO of
Network Live. “We’re thrilled to enter this market with the unique
opportunity to immediately tap into AOL’s vast audience, AEG’s
relationships with the most popular performers in the music industry, and
XM’s growing subscriber base. This will enable us to quickly establish the
brand as the place where people can access and interact with live entertainment
over digital platforms, guaranteeing the same excitement, energy and immediacy
traditionally found when experiencing the event in person.”
“This joint venture will produce an enormous variety of live, original
entertainment programs,” said Hugh Panero, President and CEO of XM
Satellite Radio. “Live music has always been an essential part of the XM
listening experience, and we look forward to producing more live content for
XM, as well as an even broader audience working with AOL and AEG.”
“Clearly, content has become a high priority for our company,”
said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG. “As one of the largest
content providers of live sports and entertainment, we are constantly exploring
new modes of distribution as well as the technology and partnerships to help
create the model. AOL and XM not only give us the right platform for
distribution and future growth, like us, they understand the importance of
managing content and its delivery – which ultimately most benefits the
consumer.”
Leiweke added, “Our goal and ambition, and the
goal and ambition of this new partnership is focused on the creation of a
24-hour platform for live entertainment 7 days a week/365 days a year. An
ambitious vision but clearly a doable and realistic one due to the resources
and expertise that each of the three organisations possess.”
"As
Live 8 proved, this is a new era for live entertainment on the web," said Jon
Miller, Chairman & CEO of America Online, Inc. “This venture taps into
the immediacy of the Internet for live shows and live shows on demand. Network
Live will enhance the standout video programming line-up that we are now
providing free on the web through the AOL.com portal."
With a career
spanning four decades, Kevin Wall, formerly Vice Chairman of iXL Enterprises,
has been named to the post of Chief Executive Officer of Network Live. Mr.
Wall’s extensive experience in music promotion and production, live
television, the Internet, and venture capital investments in convergence
technologies have established him as a visionary who has consistently led the
way in discovering new niches in entertainment. Mr. Wall has produced and/or
distributed over 400 live events including Live 8, and has worked with such
entertainment powerhouses as Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and the Three Tenors, among
many others.
About AEG
AEG is one of the leading sports and
entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The
Anschutz Corporation, owns or controls a collection of companies including
facilities such as Staples Center, The Home Depot Center, The Manchester
Evening News Arena and Nokia Live at Grand Prairie; sports franchises including
the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), five Major League Soccer franchises, two hockey
franchises operated in Europe and management of shares of the Los Angeles
Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) owned by Philip Anschutz; AEG
Marketing, a sponsorship, sales, naming rights and consulting company; AEG
Merchandising, a multi-faceted merchandising company; and AEG Creative, a
full-service marketing and advertising agency.
AEG Live, the
organisation’s live entertainment division and a leading concert promotion
company, brings together a collection of companies devoted to all aspects of
live entertainment including: AEG TV, creators of live events for pay-per-view
and other electronic media; AEG Live Events, creators and producers of special
events of all sizes; AEG Tours & Special Events, Goldenvoice and AEG
Exhibitions, live entertainment promotion and touring companies that have
promoted recent national and regional concert tours for artists such as Prince,
Usher, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, Dixie Chicks, Kenny Chesney, Justin
Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.
The company is currently developing
new facilities in London, Berlin, Kansas City, Chicago, New York and downtown
Los Angeles.
About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc.
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia,
America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands,
Internet technologies and e-commerce services.
About XM Satellite
Radio
XM Satellite Radio is America's number one satellite radio
service with 4.4 million subscribers. XM offers more than 150 digital radio
channels of choice from coast to coast: 67 commercial-free music channels,
featuring hip hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues; 64
channels of premier sports, news, talk, comedy, children's and entertainment
programming; and 21 channels of the most advanced traffic and weather
information for major metropolitan areas nation-wide. XM Satellite Radio is the
satellite radio leader in sports programming, offering thousands of live
sporting events every year, including Major League Baseball games for every
league. XM is the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services
for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda,
Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen/Audi. XM is available in more than 120
different vehicle models for 2005. XM also is available in Avis, National, and
Alamo rental cars. XM is the exclusive in-flight entertainment service for
AirTran Airways, and will soon be available on JetBlue flights.
(source: AOL)