Ensequence and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Announce Strategic Partnership for Blu-ray Disc™ Authoring

Business Wire, Feb 20, 2008

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to Integrate the Ensequence on-Q([R] )Create Suite Into "Blu-print", Sony's Blu-ray Disc Authoring System, Enabling Blu-ray Disc Developers to Create and Distribute Dynamic Interactive Experiences to Blu-ray Disc Viewers Worldwide

CULVER CITY, Calif. & PORTLAND, Ore. -- Ensequence, the interactive television company, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced a strategic agreement, in which SPHE will license and resell the Ensequence on-Q Create suite for Blu-ray Java (BD-J) to major studios and independent Blu-ray development partners. Blu-ray Disc developers worldwide will use Ensequence on-Q Create for Blu-ray Java to develop advanced interactive features for Blu-ray Disc titles.

Java opens up new creative possibilities for Blu-ray Disc authors. However, for traditional DVD authors with varying skill sets, the Java component of BD-J authoring could prove challenging. The on-Q Create suite reduces the learning curve by enabling creative teams to design and develop interactivity for Blu-ray Discs without requiring advanced knowledge of Java and the BD-J specification. The software offers a drag and drop authoring environment, complete Photoshop integration and a Blu-ray Disc wizard that offers built-in Blu-ray Disc functionality out of the box.

"The Ensequence on-Q Create suite has drastically reduced the complexity of authoring Java content on Blu-ray Disc titles, enabling content developers to create compelling, rich and dynamic interactive experiences in a WYSIWYG environment - and in drastically reduced timeframes," said Don Eklund, SPHE's EVP of Advanced Technology.

Ensequence and SPHE have worked together to make substantial integration changes, enabling seamless workflow for Blu-ray authoring as well as the creation of complex user interfaces and animation for Blu-ray Discs. Another challenge for Blu-ray Disc authors is ensuring compatibility across various BD-J implementations and Blu-ray Disc players on the market. The Ensequence on-Q Create suite enables compatibility across various players, and supports current and next generation Blu-ray Disc features including:

* Advanced picture-in-picture functionality (e.g. director's commentaries overlaid on top of the video)

* Purchase functionality

* Bonus content, notification about sequels and more

"We were able to apply our expertise in the television set-top box market and create interactive television experiences for multiple platforms to address the complexity of Blu-ray authoring, which is just being recognized in the packaged media community," said Dalen Harrison, CEO, Ensequence. "With the on-Q Create suite for Blu-ray Java, our customers and resellers are able to take advantage of the advanced capabilities made available on the most cutting edge consumer devices today."

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. SPE is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

About Ensequence (www.ensequence.com)

Ensequence, the interactive television company, is helping to change the future of television. Ensequence partners with the world's most innovative programmers, advertisers and operators to create the most sophisticated interactive television experiences and deliver these experiences across the widest range of platforms -- including television, broadband and mobile devices. The combination of their award-winning on-Q software suites and professional services makes it possible to dynamically build and quickly deploy highly targeted interactive television content and easily measure results with near real-time, web-like performance metrics. Ensequence clients include: Spike TV, Bravo, Nike, Major League Baseball Advanced Media, MTV Networks UK & Ireland, Disney, Hewlett-Packard, QVC UK, UKTV, TV Guide, the BBC, BSkyB, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, and Sky Sports. To experience the future of television, visit www.ensequence.com.