AOL And MaMaMedia Inc.Announce Three-year Strategic Alliance
August 12, 1999 08:29 AM
DULLES, Va. and NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 1999--
MaMaMedia.com Secures Anchor Tenant Positions in AOL's Kids Only Channel; Content Features the Playful-learning, Web-based Products of MaMaMedia on AOL Kids Only Channel, the Most Popular Kids Destination in Cyberspace
New Agreement to Include Select AOL International Services
America Online, the world's leading interactive service, and MaMaMedia Inc., creators of an Internet destination with unique activity-based learning products for kids ages 12 and under, today announced a new strategic alliance which will deliver MaMaMedia's award-winning educational programming to users of AOL's Kids Only Channel, the most popular site for kids online or on the Web according to Media Metrix research.
Under the terms of the new agreement, MaMaMedia will expand its presence in the AOL Kids Only Channel and obtain prominent anchor tenant status for a period of three years on AOL's Kids Only Homework Help, Art Studio and Games areas. MaMaMedia's award-winning learning activities will also be integrated throughout the Kids Only Channel, and its Web site (mamamedia.com) will be directly accessible to AOL members via Kids Only and America Online Keyword: MaMaMedia. Later this year, MaMaMedia's educational programming will also become available to members of AOL UK and AOL Australia. MaMaMedia has been a content partner in AOL's Kids Only Channel since 1997.
Bob Pittman, President and COO, America Online, Inc., said: "We are thrilled with this new alliance with MaMaMedia. They have built a brand that parents trust and kids love, and that offers superior interactive learning products providing the perfect complement to our Kids Only Channel programming."
Dr. Idit Harel, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MaMaMedia Inc.said, "We're very excited to be expanding our relationship with America Online given its tremendous commitment to providing quality online content for children. At MaMaMedia, we understand that today's kids, the 'Clickerati,' use technology in a whole new way and want online tools and activities that empower them to realize their potential. This new agreement with AOL will allow us to further advance playful learning among cyberspace's largest audience of kids. We believe this also positions MaMaMedia for strong future growth." Dr. Idit Harel holds a Ph.D. from the MIT Media Lab and Master's degrees from Harvard in Interactive Technologies & Education and Human Development.
MaMaMedia Inc. is devoted to nurturing kids' natural love of learning. Based on the ground-breaking research of Dr. Harel and Professor Seymour Papert of MIT's Media Lab, mamamedia.com empowers kids and their parents through the creative, constructive use of the Internet for learning. Visitors to the area can create web site collections, design their own multimedia characters and stories, enjoy computer clubs and safely engage in many other interactive activities. Earlier this year, mamamedia.com received the 1999 Computerworld Smithsonian Award for excellence in the innovative use of technology in education.
Building on what was already the #1 individual site for specialized kids programming online or on the Web, AOL recently launched its new Kids Only Channel to make kids' online experiences even more entertaining and educational. Driving the demand for compelling and age-appropriate content on AOL is the impressive number of families that subscribe to the AOL service. According to spring 1999 Simmons research, close to half (48%) of AOL's members have children. Additionally, 25% of 10,000 AOL parents polled said their kids are using the computer by age two and 90% are using the computer by age six.
The AOL/Roper Starch Cyberstudy 1998 reveals consumers' attitudes on the importance of online access on today's kids. The data indicates that: -- more than two-thirds of parents online feel that it is important
for children today to know how to go online and use the Internet;
-- almost one-half of all parents online today feel being online has
more of a positive influence on their kids than watching
television; and -- nearly three-fourths of consumers believe the greatest impact of
being online will be on education;
About MaMaMedia
Founded by Dr. Idit Harel in 1995, MaMaMedia Inc. is a privately held New York-based Internet company creating unique activity-based learning media for kids ages 12 and under, their families and educators. The company's mission is to promote playful learning and technological fluency. MaMaMedia Inc. prides itself on creating innovative, meaningful ways to marry the power of the computer with the potential of the child. Over the past three years, the Company has signed a series of partnerships with such online leaders as AOL, Netscape and RoadRunner, the broadband, cable modem service. Additionally, MaMaMedia has established successful alliances with Scholastic, General Mills and Intel. Usage of mamamedia.com has increased exponentially, from 10,000 registered users in October 1997 to over 400,000 in July 1999.
About AOL
Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 17 million members, and CompuServe, with approximately 2 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; AOL MovieFone, the nation's No. 1 movie listing guide and ticketing service; and Spinner Networks and NullSoft, Inc., leaders in Internet music. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the Company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.
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