RealNetworks to Acquire Trymedia From Macrovision

Digital entertainment services company RealNetworks(R) (Nasdaq: RNWK) today announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Trymedia, a pioneer in Casual Games syndication, from Santa Clara, Calif.-based Macrovision (Nasdaq: MVSN). This acquisition is part of Real's strategy to build reach through syndicated distribution partnerships, and follows its acquisition of New York-based Game Trust last year and a strategic partnership with Amsterdam-based The Spill Group announced earlier this month.

With more than 250 partners including AOL and Yahoo!, Telstra, IGN and T-Online, Trymedia provides innovative syndication and commerce solutions that enable portals, online retailers and game developers to securely distribute PC games through physical and digital channels and maximize revenue throughout a game's lifetime.

"This acquisition doubles the scale of our syndication business and we are incredibly excited to welcome the Trymedia team," said Harold Zeitz, senior vice president of RealGames. "Trymedia has been a leader in the digital distribution space, so together we have a full portfolio of syndication services that we can offer partners."

RealGames is focused on growing reach not only to expand its circle of fans, but also to continue to attract the very best game developers to its publishing group and to grow its base of advertisers. With increased reach, developers will continue to favor RealGames to publish their games.

Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close later this quarter, are not being disclosed at this time.

RealNetworks(R), Inc. delivers digital entertainment services to consumers via PC, portable music player, home entertainment system or mobile phone. Real created the streaming media category in 1995 and has continued to lead the market with pioneering products and services, including: RealPlayer(R), the first mainstream media player to enable one-click downloading and recording of Internet video; the award-winning Rhapsody(R) digital music service, which delivers more than 1 billion songs per year; RealArcade(R), one of the largest casual games destinations on the Web; and a variety of mobile entertainment services, such as ringback tones, offered to consumers through leading wireless carriers around the world.

SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.