Walt Disney Internet Group and NTT DoCoMo Team to Provide Entertainment Content Via Wireless Appliances in Japan

Business Wire, August 22, 2000

Business Editors

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2000

The Walt Disney Internet Group has launched a Disney-branded content service on NTT DoCoMo's successful i-Mode wireless platform in Japan, it was announced today by Michael O. Johnson, president, Walt Disney International, and Mark Handler, executive vice president and managing director, International, the Walt Disney Internet Group.

The Walt Disney Internet Group's relationship with NTT DoCoMo is a significant component of a larger business strategy to distribute Disney Internet content to consumers globally.

The new "Disney-i" service is available this month to Japanese consumers who subscribe. Disney content provided includes "Character Town," a daily Disney character screen saver, "Melody Palace," a daily Disney song that plays on portable phones, "Game World," the search for Disney characters in a virtual Disneyland, and "Disney Fan Magazine-i," updated Disney news and information.

Starting this fall, Disney-i will launch four additional entertainment options on i-Mode. Next year, i-Mode will offer new 3G wireless phone capabilities that will enable subscribers to receive full video streaming.

"This is an important business opportunity for Disney particularly when you consider that the Japanese public has a strong association with Disney characters and with Tokyo Disneyland, all of which makes our distribution alliance with NTT DoCoMo, the industry leader in this field, particularly valuable to Japanese consumers," said Johnson.

Added Handler, "We are very pleased to launch this capability with NTT DoCoMo and their customers -- it is a great way to reach Japanese consumers with the rich Internet content of Disney in a variety of mobile environments."

Said Takeshi Natsuno, executive director for Gateway Business Development at NTT DoCoMo: "I am a big fan of Disney entertainment as are many Japanese nationals. We are pleased to have such quality, family-friendly entertainment on i-Mode. Many of Disney's offerings will be very unique, especially as technology becomes more advanced. The partnership with Disney is a testament that DoCoMo will continue to provide top quality content for its subscribers."

Launched in February 1999, i-Mode Internet-enabled cell phones have gained popularity in Japan with more than 10 million subscribers, making i-Mode the largest ISP in the country. NTT DoCoMo has 30 million subscribers and its site is now available in both Japanese and English.

The Walt Disney Company's Asia-Pacific regional headquarters are in Tokyo. Walt Disney International and Disney-i are part of The Walt Disney Company, based in Burbank, Calif.

The Walt Disney Internet Group (NYSE:DIG) is the Internet business of The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Internet Group manages some of the Internet's most popular Web sites, including ABC.com, ABCNEWS.com, ABCSports.com, Disney.com, DisneyStore.com, DisneyTravel.com, ESPN.com, Family.com, GO.com, Movies.com, Mr.Showbiz, NASCAR Online, NBA.com, NFL.com, and Soccernet. The Internet Group also includes The Walt Disney Company's direct marketing business.

Steve Bornstein is chairman of the Walt Disney Internet Group, which has headquarters in North Hollywood, Calif.; with operations in Sunnyvale, Calif.; Seattle; New York; Bristol, Conn.; and London. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.dig.com.