AOL UK and RealNetworks Announce Exclusive Content and Advertising Partnership on RealPlayer in the UK

LONDON, September 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

AOL (UK) Limited, a premier global media company and RealNetworks Ltd, the digital entertainment services company, today announced an agreement in which AOL UK will provide its content to users of RealNetworks flagship Media Player RealPlayer in the UK Market.

The agreement has come as a result of RealNetworks taking the decision to partner with the world's leading content owners to enhance the RealPlayer experience with a broader array of high quality content. Users will have access to the latest news, entertainment and lifestyle content from AOL UK's network of websites.

The new offering with AOL UK will allow RealNetworks to invest further in its suite of digital products, as well as continuing to innovate and create applications and services that enable audiences to connect with and enjoy media in a simplified way.

Consumers can now access AOL's content via the browser integrated within the RealPlayer. AOL UK will manage advertising sales and delivery around the AOL content, giving advertisers on the cross platform media player access to the wide range of inventory and ad solutions offered by AOL Advertising.  This includes the award-winning Project Devil format offering advertisers 100% share of voice and branded video campaigns through goviral.

"RealNetworks has a long legacy of giving its users entertaining experiences through cutting edge products and technology," said Amir Nazemi, Commercial Director, AOL Europe. "The partnership further reinforces AOL's ongoing commitment to deliver engaging digital content, innovative advertising formats, and to connect advertisers with engaged audiences at scale."

"We are entering an exciting new era at RealNetworks and this partnership with AOL UK really demonstrates how the company is moving in a dynamic new direction," said Ken Murphy, General Manager, RealNetworks Europe. "Not only are we working with one of the best providers of high quality content in the world to deliver a vast library of media to RealPlayer users in the UK, but with AOL UK focusing on delivering its content and advertising formats, we are able to focus on the innovation and development of best of breed applications for media consumption and utilization."

The partnership will launch in the fourth quarter of 2011.

About AOL

AOL (UK) Limited is a subsidiary of AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL), a premier global media company with a suite of brands and products serving consumers, advertisers and publishers worldwide.   AOL Media is a leading source of news, opinion, entertainment, community and digital information comprised of a wide range of destination websites, including AOL.co.uk, MyDaily http://www.mydaily.co.uk, AOL Music http://www.music.aol.co.uk, Parentdish http://www.parentdish.co.uk, Eleven http://www.celebrity.aol.co.uk, TechCrunch http://techcrunch.com/, and Engadget http://www.engadget.com/

The AOL Advertising.com Group includes Advertising.com http://www.advertising.com/, ADTECH http://www.adtech.com/Home/, goviral http://goviral.com/, Pictela http://www.pictela.com/, Video, inclusive of AOL Video http://advertising.aol.com/video, and Content Solutions and serves a combined content and advertising market at scale through video, brand advertising, content and ad serving.

AOL is focused on engaging consumers and providing online advertising services and solutions on both AOL Media destination websites and third party websites, in addition to serving consumer platforms including AOL Mail http://www.mail.aol.co.uk, AIM http://www.aim.com, about.me https://about.me/, and mobile experiences.   AOL also operates one of the largest Internet subscription access services in the United States that serves as another distribution channel for its consumer offerings.

About Real Networks Ltd

RealNetworks creates innovative applications and services that make it easy to connect with and enjoy digital media. RealNetworks invented the streaming media category in 1995 and continues to connect consumers with their digital media both directly and through partners, aiming to support every network, device, media type and social network. RealNetworks corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com/about-us.