Five Goes Live with GameAccount

UK TV channel chooses leading Skill Games network

London, UK – GameAccount, the #1 online skill gaming provider (www.gameaccount.com), and Five, the UK’s fifth terrestrial television and media channel, have joined forces to launch a dedicated skill gaming portal called Five Play and Win. The live portal can be found at playandwin.five.tv and will also be accessible via www.five.tv

The unique partnership marks the first time a leading commercial terrestrial television channel has chosen to expand its platform by integrating with a full product network of person-to-person (P2P) skill-based games. Five can now offer their viewers a rewarding user experience by allowing them to register and play for fun or real money on the site.

Launched in 1997, Five currently boasts around 50 million UK viewers across all platforms watching some of the nations’ favourite programs, with a share of total viewing across the commercial networks of over 67.3%. Five are leaders in their field pertaining to commercial airtime, including sponsorship, interactive and advertiser-funded programming.

Online skill games are proving to be a significant growth area and GameAccount’s status as the leading industry provider offered Five a one-stop opportunity to enter the market. By leveraging their commercial reach to a wide audience, Five aim to generate significant player revenues as well as building a vibrant online gaming community.

GameAccount will power the skill gaming area on the Five portal, offering a full suite of non-download classic multiplayer and ‘heads-up’ games such as Gin Rummy, unique P2P variants of other games such as Mah Jong, 8-ball Pool and an impressive variety of popular Solitaire formats. The network also supports bespoke tournaments on demand – including the world’s largest knockout tournament with over 16,000 entrants.

“Skill Gaming is a new frontier for Five. We want to offer innovative and engaging online experiences for our viewers. We are aiming to tie in our broadcast capacity with our skill games offering in order to open up new revenue channels and further narrow the gap between online and TV.” said Laura Bowes, Commercial Development Manager at Five.

Kevin Dale, Chief Executive at GameAccount, sees significant cross-over opportunities for media companies looking to expand their platforms.

”Television is proving to be a winner for GameAccount. Skill Games provide a low barrier to entry into cross-media advertising channels and appeals strongly to audiences who like to play recognisable games for real money, comparable to the Bingo or Poker phenomena. We’re seeing very healthy player conversion rates and revenues from this type of deal.”

GameAccount is now emerging as a strong player in the television arena, having implemented services for Skybet, a division of British Sky Broadcasting Limited (BSkyB), as well as an advertising agreement and dedicated site with Mintplay.com. The company aims to acquire further customers through effectively marketed branded portals associated with the world’s leading media companies.


ENDS



For more information on GameAccount or Skill Gaming contact:

Meir Moses
Marketing Manager, GameAccount
+44 (0) 207 659 2519
mmoses@GameAccount.com

For more information on Five contact:

Laura Bowes
Commercial Development Manager, Channel 5 Broadcasting,
020 7550 5542
Laura.bowes@five.tv
About GameAccount

GameAccount is the #1 skill gaming provider for content sites, sportsbook, casino and poker operators seeking a single-wallet Skill Gaming solution. The company’s proven portfolio of dynamic games attracts recreational gamers and is the perfect vehicle to build and sustain a broad user audience. GameAccount powers leading online partners such as Sportingbet, Paddypower.com, SkyBet, FHM.com and Wanadoo.

GameAccount’s Financial Services Platform supports full multilingual white-label solutions with seamless login and real-time exchange rates. Multiplayer games include Gin Rummy, Pool and Backgammon. Competitions include the world’s largest knockout tournament and progressive jackpots.

For more information please visit: www.gameaccount.com

About Commercial Development at Five

In response to an increasingly diversified broadcasting marketplace Five launched a specialist Commercial Development division in September 2004 to explore revenue opportunities outside of traditional spot advertising. Key commercial development areas include sponsorship, telephony, brand licensing, red button interactivity and web partnerships. www.five.tv is an engaging and content-rich site that gives the viewer the opportunity to interact with the channel, our programmes, presenters and commercial partners, delivering content across areas such as motoring, homes and properties, cricket and poker.

www.five.tv is an integral part of our commercial portfolio, highly valued by both viewers and advertisers and Five’s strategy is to fully exploit and develop this channel.