For immediate release 25,
January 2002
Einstein
Reveals Game Plan
Einstein Group plc, the
international multi media group is now expanding into the chess
world, having today, 25 January 2002, purchased Intellectual
Leisure Ltd, which owns some of the assets previously held by BGN
plc.
The deal gives Einstein Group
a five-year contract with World Chess Champion, Vladimir Kramnik;
all contracts/arrangements relating to the proposed 'Brains in
Bahrain' (Man v Machine) match; all contracts relating to the
Dortmund qualifying rounds of the Chess World Championships and
all contracts/arrangements relating to the proposed Chess World
Championship in 2003. Intellectual Leisure Ltd will now be a
subsidiary of Einstein Group plc.
Steve Timmins, CEO, Einstein
Group, says: " There are two major areas of synergy between
Einstein Group's digital science and technology TV channel,
einstein.tv and Intellectual Leisure Ltd, which are of enormous
benefit to both: einstein.tv provides a television platform for
World Championship chess matches, enhancing the potential for
sponsorship funding. Intellectual Leisure Ltd provides Einstein
with intellectual property, sports rights, high profile content
and an intellectual gaming feature. Indeed there is an almost
exact demographic, intellectual and editorial fit between
einstein.tv and the world of chess, offering a very attractive
proposition to sponsors and advertisers. In addition, news of this
relationship has met with much enthusiasm in countries around the
world who are already in negotiations to take einstein.tv's
science and technology programming." Timmins adds, " We
are already working hard on providing chess programming and
competitions for both our tv channel and website, over and above
live coverage of the world championships."
Vladimir Kramnik, World Chess
Champion, says of the deal: " We have never seen such a
combination between World Chess and a multi media company. This
could lift chess into another dimension. As the World Champion I
am sure that Einstein Group was very clever in making this move.
The company discovered a real niche in the market and hopefully
this deal will bring the wonderful and intellectual game of chess
to everyone, in particular, kids."
Notes for Editors
For further information
please contact: Einstein Group Press Office Zena Howard:
07989-441293/ 0207 074 3900 zena_howard@einstein.tv
Einstein Group plc, founded
in 1999, is an international multi-media group. It floated on the
Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange
in March 2000. It includes Einstein Consulting which offers
external clients a wide range of strategic and 'hands on'
consultancy services in the areas of channel management,
production technology, marketing & PR, and new media business
development. Einstein Entertainment Ltd, the programme division of
Einstein Group plc, produces output for the UK and overseas.
By early 2002, einstein.tv, (the
digital science and technology tv channel owned by Einstein Group)
is expected to have rolled out across 15 European territories in
three languages, including the Benelux countries, Scandinavia and
Central & Eastern Europe. einstein.tv is on Sky Digital,
channel 576 in the UK and is available across both Germany and
Switzerland. The web site is at : www.einstein.tv On a global
scale, discussions are underway for a roll out into North and
South America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
einstein.tv's corporate identity has won several design awards and
the brand was chosen to represent the best of British design and
innovation at the Great Expectations Exhibition in New York
organised by The Design Council.
World Chess Championships:
The next World Chess Championship will be held in 2003. The venue
has yet to be confirmed. Eight of the world's best players have
been invited to participate in the Candidates' Tournament in
Dortmund (Germany), in July 2002. The winner of this tournament
will be the Challenger in the World Chess Championship final in
2003, playing Vladimir Kramnik. Some $500,000 of sponsorship has
already been secured for this event.
Man vs Machine Competition:
For the first time since Garry Kasparov spectacularly lost to
IBM's Deep Blue in 1997 the World Champion Vladimir Kramnik will
play the world's best chess program Deep Fritz, for a $1m prize
fund. The "Brains in Bahrain" tournament will take place
in October 2002, in the Meridien Hotel, Bahrain, under the
patronage of the Emir of Bahrain and Bahrain Government Youth and
Sports Organisation.
For further information
please contact: Einstein Group Press Office Zena Howard:
zena_howard@einstein.tv Tel: 07989 441293/ 020 7074 3900