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October 21, 2003
Warner Bros. Online Establishes Wireless Group
(October 21, 2003 - Glendale, CA and Las Vegas, NV) – On the heels of Warner Bros. Studios largest wireless promotion to date, Warner Bros. Online is officially launching its wireless initiative with the appointment of industry veteran Doug Dyer to Vice President, Wireless, Warner Bros. Online, it was announced today by Jim Noonan, SVP and General Manager, Warner Bros. Online. Reporting directly to Noonan, Dyer will lead the company’s growing domestic and international wireless business.
Under Dyer’s direction, Warner Bros. Online will expand its wireless business beyond licensing to take a more active role in developing, producing, publishing and marketing its own content to mobile operators and handset manufacturers. He will lead a newly formed team that includes UK-based Justin Richardson, who is spearheading efforts throughout all of Europe, and Tokyo-based Tomomasa Iwanade, who is forging relationships and building applications in Asia.
Leading up to this, the company has been focused on leveraging its vast library of entertainment properties. In fact, the news comes shortly after Warner Bros. Studios announced its most extensive integrated wireless deal to date, a cross promotion between leading U.S. carrier Sprint and the upcoming theatrical release of “Looney Tunes: Back In Action.” As part of the deal, Warner Bros. Online marked its first significant foray into wireless content production, creating everything from original screensavers to custom games.
“We are only just beginning to realize our potential in the wireless space,” said Noonan. “Our extraordinary library and current content have allowed us to establish a strong presence in the space by licensing and now producing original wireless content for promotional purposes and for partners to sell to consumers. With Doug’s expertise and vision, we have the opportunity to more fully capitalize on this burgeoning market.”
With more than 12 years in the business, Dyer’s experience in wireless entertainment is extensive. He most recently founded and ran THQ Wireless, a division of THQ dedicated to publishing and distributing wireless games. While there he built the company into one of the leading wireless entertainment publishers in the world, launching interactive mobile games and services for such popular brands at The Simpsons, WWE Wrestling and Major League Baseball.
He also has served in business development for Infogrames (Atari), one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. He began his career at Microsoft, building product portfolios for the company during its early years in the games business.
“In addition to having access to one of today’s richest libraries of existing content, Warner Bros. Online has the creative vision, skills and expertise to build truly innovative and compelling wireless applications,” said Dyer. “I’m looking forward to working with them to take the company to the next level.”
About Warner Bros. Online
Warner Bros. Online (WBOL) (www.warnerbros.com) provides full-service interactive solutions for Warner Bros. Entertainment subsidiaries and external clients alike. WBOL offers its clients strategic digital planning, and employs proprietary, next generation technologies in its suite of high quality, highly creative interactive solutions that include: web site creation and hosting, end-to-end design, animation, game creation, CRM, wireless development and original content. WBOL also serves as the entry point into, and aggregator of all things Warner Bros. Entertainment, including such megabrands as The Matrix, Looney Tunes and Harry Potter. Country specific websites in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy have expanded the studios international online presence.# # #