(PR NEWSWIRE) DJ: MDI Entertainment Announces the Securing of 3 New Major
DJ: MDI Entertainment Announces the Securing of 3 New Major Exclusive Property
Licensing Agreements
HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1998--MDI Entertainment (OTC
BB:MDIH) is pleased to announce that it has secured the exclusive licensing
rights to three new properties. They include Louisville Slugger(R),
manufactured by the Hillerich and Bradsby company, Dick Clark Productions'
American Bandstand and Times Square 2000.
Louisville Slugger
Under the terms of the agreement, MDI Entertainment has retained exclusive
worldwide licensing rights to market the Louisville Slugger brand to the
lottery industry. MDI will offer Louisville Slugger promotions not only for
traditional instant ticket scratch-off games but also for baseball-themed
on-line games as well. Louisville Slugger represents MDI's first
sports-related license.
Hillerich & Bradsby has manufactured Louisville Slugger baseball bats since
1884. The Official Bat of Major League Baseball, Louisville Slugger bats
were used by over 90 % of hitters enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
"In what is arguably considered to be the greatest year in the history of
baseball, the Louisville Slugger baseball bat and its preeminent brand name
will make for a timely and very popular lottery game," commented MDI
President Steve Saferin. "No other name holds as revered a place in the
hearts of baseball fans as Louisville Slugger. Lotteries will now be able to
incorporate into their promotional calendar a brand that it universally
known and loved," Saferin continued.
Hillerich & Bradsby spokesperson Bill Williams commenting on the agreement
with MDI said, "MDI offers Hillerich & Bradsby a new and exciting
promotional avenue for the Louisville Slugger brand. We look forward to
working with the lotteries through MDI for our mutual success."
Dick Clark Productions'American Bandstand
In a separate agreement, Dick Clark Productions, the owner of American
Bandstand and other music and entertainment icons and MDI entertainment have
created a joint venture whereby a series of American Bandstand lottery
promotions will be created. The agreement allows MDI a unique opportunity to
create lottery promotions tied to Dick Clark, one of America's best known
and most loved entertainment personalities. While the details of the
promotions are still being developed, they will include the use of Dick
Clark's American Bandstand logo and other related images. American Bandstand
film clips will also be available for advertising and promotional purposes.
A variety of American Bandstand merchandise, including a specially created
American Bandstand music collection and VIP trips to the American Music
Awards will be available.
MDI President and CEO Steve Saferin stated, "Host Dick Clark and American
Bandstand are music and entertainment icons to baby boomers across North
America. We are honored to have this association with their organization."
Commenting on the agreement, Francis La Maina, Dick Clark Productions
President, stated, "We are very impressed by MDI's lottery promotions and
believe American Bandstand will furnish lottery players a unique, fun and
nostalgic experience that will help attract new players and add
entertainment value to the games."
Times Square 2000
Lastly, the organizers of the Official Times Square New Year's Eve Ball
Drop, in New York City, has named MDI Entertainment as its exclusive
worldwide licensing agent for the lottery system.
Times Square 2000 promotions will give lottery players the chance to win
prizes tied to the coming of the New Millennium, including the chance to win
dream trips to New York City for the last ball drop of the Millennium.
"These will be trips that money can't buy," MDI President Steve Saferin
said. "It's not only getting grand prize winners to Times Square for the
celebration, but the once-in-a-lifetime experience we will provide them with
once they are there. It will be an event that the winners will remember for
the rest of their lives."
MDI will develop both instant ticket scratch-off games and on-line
promotions around the brand, including promotional tie-ins wherever possible
with Times Square 2000 sponsors and participants. They include Discover
Card, Panasonic, Home Shopping Network and others.
The celebration on Times Square is the world's most watched New Years Eve
event, attracting 500,000 people in person and a worldwide television
audience of over 300 million each year. It is widely expected that as many
as 1 billion people around the globe will be watching when the Times Square
Millenium countdown begins on December 31, 1999.
In closing, MDI Entertainment President Steve Saferin said, "These 3 new
product licenses are a perfect addition to our existing product line. We
have said all along that our internal growth is largely dependent on our
ability to procure new product for our lottery clients. We continue to meet
this growth challenge through the fulfillment of the needs of the lotteries.
That is, providing the lotteries with exciting new product to satisfy the
ever-evolving entertainment interests of the lottery participants. We expect
to be announcing lottery contracts with these themes in the near future."
These three licenses bring MDI's total number of promotion licenses to ten.
The other six include Wheel of Fortune, Pepsi-Cola of Wisconsin, Jeopardy!,
Harley-Davidson, Twilight Zone, Star Trek and the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame.
MDI specializes in creating, marketing and implementing entertainment-based
promotions to the North American lottery industry. MDI's current lottery
promotions include scratch games featuring properties such as Dick Clark
Productions American Bandstand, Louisville Slugger, Times Square 2000,
Pepsi-Cola, Harley-Davidson, Star Trek, Wheel of Fortune, Twilight Zone and
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. A significant aspect of MDI's
promotion is the awarding of merchandise tied to the various properties as
prizes.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this
press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other
written statements made or to be made by MDI) contains statements that are
forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated
direction of the lottery industry, plans for future expansion, various
business development activities, planned capital expenditures, future
funding sources, anticipated sales and potential contracts. Such
forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that
could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and,
accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of MDI. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to development
and expansion activities, dependence on existing management, financing
activities, domestic and global economic conditions, changes in federal or
state tax laws and market competition factors.
CONTACT: MDI Entertainment
Alon Kutai, 401/848-7955
09:45 EST NOVEMBER 3, 1998
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