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Cartoon Network & VIZ Media Announce Broadband Joint Venture

Cartoon Network and VIZ Media announced a joint venture called Toonami Jetstream, a new broadband service that will provide on-demand, full-length streaming episodes of a number of hit anime and action series, including NARUTO and SAMURAI JACK. In addition, users will also be able to watch full-length episodes of series like HIKARU NO GO, MÄR and THE PRINCE OF TENNIS that are not offered on U.S. broadcast or basic cable television. In this joint venture, Cartoon Network and VIZ Media will jointly manage and administer acquisitions and programming.

Toonami Jetstream (available at ToonamiJetstream.com) will launch on July 17, 2006. Each week, new episodes will be added to the site while previous episodes will also be available through the Toonami Jetstream archive. Toonami Jetstream, an online extension of Cartoon Networks long-running and successful Toonami action-adventure television franchise, is a free service, supported by advertising that includes both banners and streaming video ads.

Cartoon Network has long been the dominant TV provider of the best anime and action, said Paul Condolora, svp/gm of Cartoon Network New Media. And we were the first to stream, in 2001, full-length anime series online. Now, with this joint venture with VIZ Media, we will give our fans the chance to view our top shows on-demand and follow new series that cannot be seen anywhere else. We also believe this will bring new fans to the action/anime genre, create interest in new shows and build the overall popularity of Toonami on Cartoon Network.

Toonami Jetstream will provide our current fans and new fans alike with unlimited opportunities to view our popular hit shows such as NARUTO, explained John Easum, evp of VIZ Media. It will also give us the opportunity to share with our fans an unprecedented variety of Japans newest and most exciting animated series. We are thrilled to be expanding our strong relationship with Cartoon Network. VIZ Media is one of the industrys leading licensors of Japanese animation and Cartoon Network is the preeminent broadcaster of Japanese animation and we believe that our collective forces will make Toonami Jetstream the online destination of choice for action-adventure animation fans.

Other titles scheduled to be released on Toonami Jetstream include IGPX and VIZ Medias MEGAMAN NT WARRIOR series and the all-new ZOIDS GENESIS. Additional series will be announced in subsequent months.

Toonami is Cartoon Networks action-adventure television programming block, airing Saturdays from 7:00 11:00 pm (ET, PT). It features the Cartoon Networks top original action programming, like JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED and TEEN TITANS, as well as movies and popular anime series INCLUDING ZATCH BELL!, NARUTO and DRAGONBALL Z. Since its launch in March 1997, Toonami has introduced many successful action and anime series to U.S. audiences and become known as TVs leading destination for action-adventure programming.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), seen in more than 89 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System Inc.s ad-supported cable service offering original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11:00 pm-6:00 am (ET, PT) Sunday-Thursday, Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

Headquartered in San Francisco, VIZ Media Llc. (VIZ Media) is a leader in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japans largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Prod. Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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