Fox Interactive to act as primary multimedia publisher for HarperCollins Children's Books

Business Wire, Oct 29, 1996

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 1996--HarperCollins Children's Books and Fox Interactive have just completed an agreement to publish multimedia titles inspired by HarperCollins Children's Books. Fox Interactive and HarperCollins, both News Corp. companies, will work closely together to bring HarperCollins children's books titles to the home computer by creating innovative, interactive multimedia CD-ROM products.

The first titles licensed and under development are Frog and Toad Are Friends and Danny and the Dinosaur, two of HarperCollins' most popular titles from its I Can Read series, and Whatley's Quest, a current top seller.

Susan Katz, president and publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books, said, "As we looked at the interactive business going forward, it didn't make sense for two sister companies to be in the same business. Fox Interactive will now act as our primary multimedia publisher, bringing its great publishing, marketing and distribution expertise to our terrific titles, now and in the future. This relationship will be of great benefit to our authors and titles."

Jon Richmond, president of Fox Interactive, said, "HarperCollins has an impressive catalogue of best-loved children's titles and characters. We look forward to working with HarperCollins and its roster of talented authors to create exciting children's multimedia products."

HarperCollins Children's Books is one of the most prominent children's publishers in the world. Its leading titles this year include Shel Silverstein's bestseller Falling Up, Jamie Lee Curtis' Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born, and William Joyce's The Leaf Men. Its fabled backlist includes books by Maurice Sendak, Felicia Bond, Laura Numeroff, Patricia MacLachlan, Byron Barton, E.B. White, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Jean Craighead George.

Fox Interactive, an operating unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, is committed to developing bold and engaging interactive entertainment. Drawing from the hottest properties that Fox Filmed Entertainment, Fox Television, HarperCollins Children's Books and other News Corporation companies have to offer, Fox Interactive creates truly interactive products that capture the excitement of proven entertainment. For more information on Fox Interactive, check www.fox.interactive.com.

CONTACT: HarperCollins

Ginger Curwen, 212/207-7728

or

Fox Interactive

Steve Feldstein, 310/369-5369