NATIONAL LAMPOON LAUNCHES TOGA! BROADBAND INTERNET CHANNEL TAPPING PREMIER NATIONAL LAMPOON PROGRAMMING
Service to feature Best of National Lampoon College network, NationalLampoon.com and exclusive features and content from National Lampoon films, TV and DVD properties
LOS ANGELES, February 21, 2006 - In the words of John Belushi: Toga! Toga! Toga! National Lampoon (AMEX: NLN), the world's most-widely recognized brand in comedy, has taken the first step to dramatically increase its online initiatives, announcing today the launch of its first full broadband, IPTV programming service, National Lampoon Toga!.
Located on the internet at www.togatv.com, Toga! Is a 24-hour on-demand video service that will feature elements of National Lampoon College, the nation's largest and fastest growing independent college television network, features from the award-winning www.NationalLampoon.com website and materials from National Lampoon's current and rich history of motion pictures, DVD titles and television programming.
"The name National Lampoon TOGA! was chosen because it evokes images associated with our brand, our classic films and the consummate college experience," said Douglas S. Bennett, President of National Lampoon. "TOGA! will serve as a launch pad for non-traditional, irreverent, rebellious and trendsetting voices."
"With new programs from the minds of college students and fresh content from the guys that brought you National Lampoon's Animal House, TOGA! is ideally positioned to fill the broadband void for content geared towards college students," said Nick DeNinno, National Lampoon College GM. "Our intention is to tap into our audience from all sides and provide them with content 24/7 and on their schedules.
National Lampoon's Toga will use Brightcove for video distribution, ad delivery and asset management. Brightcove is an Internet TV service that provides content owners ranging from national cable networks to one-man video production companies a cost-effective way to distribute video through the Internet and to build broadband businesses. Currently, the commercial preview of the Brightcove service is in use by an exclusive group of video publishers including Reuters and Oxygen Network along with National Lampoon and other innovative content creators.
Our charter advertisers for TOGA! include soft-drink giant, Pepsi (NYSE: PEP); media powerhouse Warner Bros.(NYSE: TWX); telecommunications leader AT&T (NYSE:T); Rohto eye drops, and ZOGO a mobile dating service.
Select popular series currently running on the National Lampoon College Network that will be available on TOGA! include Comedy Academy, A/V Squad, Gamers, CollegeTown USA, Master Class and Gumby.
Appearing on over 650 campuses nationwide, including 85 percent of the top fifty largest schools, the National Lampoon College is the nation's largest and fastest growing independent college television network. The network currently reaches nearly 5 million 18-24 year olds on-air, on-line and on-campus.
About National Lampoon
National Lampoon, Inc. is active in a broad array of entertainment segments, including feature films, television programming, interactive entertainment, home video, audio CDs and book publishing. The Company also owns interests in all major National Lampoon properties, including National Lampoon's Animal House, the National Lampoon Vacation series and National Lampoon's van Wilder. The National Lampoon Network serves over 600 colleges and universities throughout the United States. The network reaches as many as 4.8 million students, or nearly one in four of all 18 to 24 year old college students. In addition, the Company operates a humor website, www.nationallampoon.com, on the Internet. The Company has four operating divisions: National Lampoon Network, Entertainment Division, Publishing Division and Licensing Division.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on the Company's current expectations, forecasts and assumptions. In some cases forward-looking statements may be identified by forward-looking words like "would," "intend," "hope," "will," "may," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "continue," or similar words. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the Company's expectations, forecasts and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include risks and uncertainties not in the control of the Company, including, without limitation, the current economic climate in the United States and other risks and uncertainties, including those enumerated and described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, whose filings are available on the SEC's website at Sec.com. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
