TVPlayer signs content agreement with Viacom

YOLO Leisure and Technology plc, the AIM-quoted company focusing on opportunities in the travel, technology and leisure sectors, announces that, TVPlayer Limited, in which YOLO has an interest by virtue of its investment into TVPlayer's parent company Simplestream Limited, has signed a multi-year agreement with Viacom International Media Networks ("Viacom") to simulcast a selection of its pay-TV channels on TVPlayer Plus, TVPlayer's low cost subscription TV service.

Viacom's channel portfolio comprises music channel MTV, Comedy Central, Comedy Central Extra, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. Too, all of which will be available to existing TVPlayer Plus subscribers across a full range of devices - including desktops, mobiles, tablets, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV and various other set-top boxes.

In addition to live streaming over wired Internet and WiFi, TVPlayer has also licensed 3G and 4G rights for all channels.

Simplestream launched TVPlayer, a live TV service that lets you watch live TV for free in 2014. It is a next generation B2C Over-the-Top ("OTT") TV platform which is now in regular use by over 700,000 homes, reaching over 1.2m homes in June.

TVPlayer uses its in-house technology platform to reach the next generation of TV viewer who are intent on watching their media content online, whether at home or on the go. TVPlayer is fully-licensed, having entered into multi-year content licensing agreements with a wide range of both free-to-air and subscription television broadcasters.

TVPlayer generates revenue through two business models; firstly an ad-supported free-to-air TVPlayer service with 100+ channels and secondly a paid subscription service with TVPlayer Plus, which is the first service of its kind to offer premium channels in the UK without a contract, providing 30 additional premium channels for a monthly fee of £4.99.  TVPlayer is on target to upgrade 5% of homes using its free service to the subscription service by the end of the year.

Adam Smith, Founder of TVPlayer, said: "Tweens and teenagers are spending increasingly more time every week watching their favourite programming, so it is paramount we routinely extend our subscription content offering to appeal to these younger, hungry audiences anytime, anywhere and on any device. With real-time visibility of viewing habits from the one million UK households that actively use TVPlayer, we've gained valuable insight to know that Viacom is the perfect content partner to join our platform."

Simon Robinson, CEO of YOLO Leisure & Technology plc, commented: 

"This is great news for TVPlayer to have secured this multi-year agreement with Viacom, one of the world's largest media companies. These are exciting times for the business with its impressive momentum and growth, strong user engagement and a highly innovative user experience.  YOLO is very proud to be an investor partner."

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Notes to editors

YOLO Leisure and Technology plc

YOLO Leisure and Technology plc aims to focus on opportunities in the travel, technology and leisure sectors. The Company's Investing Policy is that the Company will invest in businesses which have some or all of the following characteristics.

• strong management with a proven track record;
• ready for investment without the need for material re-structuring by the Company;
• generating positive cash flows or imminently likely to do so;
• via an injection of new finances or specialist management, the Company can enhance the prospects and therefore the future value of the investment;
• able to benefit from the Directors existing network of contacts; and
• the potential to deliver significant returns for the Company.

Simplestream Limited

Simplestream, a leading B2B provider of live streaming and live-to-Video on Demand ("VoD") services was founded in 2010 and has grown to become a leading provider of multi-platform live streaming and CatchupTV services for the broadcast and media industry. The company is profitable and employs 30+ staff in central London. Its clients include A+E Networks, SONY, Universal Music, News Corp, Box Television, QVC, MP & Silva and At The Races amongst others.

TVPlayer, currently a 100% subsidiary of Simplestream, is a freemium over the top (OTT) television service targeted at non-payTV households in the UK. The TVPlayer app, which is available across mobile, tablet and connected TV, offers over 30 premium channels from UKTV, Fox, A+E, Discovery, Eurosport, Sony, Viacom and Turner for just £4.99 per month without a contract.