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CGTV Partners with Flextech TV

LOS ANGELES, California – (PRESS RELEASE) -- CGTV, the Casino and Gaming TV network targeted to the millions of enthusiasts who celebrate the gaming lifestyle, today announced a major partnership with Flextech Television, the programming division of the United Kingdom's Telewest. Together with Flextech-owned games entertainment channel, Challenge, the multi-million dollar deal consists of two key elements: co-production on 30 hours of new programming and an exclusive acquisitions deal on Challenge's entire poker library. Challenge will in-turn have first look on all CGTV productions.

CGTV will televise Challenge's library of games entertainment content in 2005. Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will co-produce casino-styled entertainment content for distribution in North America by CGTV, in the UK by Challenge, and worldwide by Minotaur International, the distribution arm of Flextech. This deal represents the first international sale for Challenge's most popular program, "Casino Casino," and the first U.S. sale of Challenge programming.

"Flextech Television and Challenge offer the most entertaining gaming oriented programming in Europe," said CGTV's President and CEO, Nickolas J. Rhodes. "This unique partnership will actually blend gaming styles from both sides of the Atlantic, providing fans with world class casino drama and action."

Jonathan Webb, Challenge Channel Controller adds, "This is a huge step for Challenge -- it means more commissions, bigger production budgets and the chance to move the poker phenomenon into reality and factual entertainment."

CGTV plans to incorporate broadband interactivity for the viewer so they can play along at home. In the UK, Challenge has enjoyed great success with its interactive "Play Along Casino Casino," in which audiences actually play cards and roulette with the show's contestants using their remote control. This type of interactivity actually doubled the program's average time watched by Challenge viewers. Based on these impressive results, CGTV expects to bring many of these same features to North American audiences.

The first co-production will be "Poker Hotel." This reality docu-soap will feature celebrities and pro poker players battling it out in a hip UK hotel for one week, trying to win a cash prize of $150,000. "Poker Hotel" will capture the drama, psychology and personality of all the players behind the poker.

Challenge has had more than 5.2 million poker viewers to date in 2004, as compared to all other UK channels combined which only have had 5.7 million poker viewers. CGTV anticipates the Challenge programming to prove as popular on this side of the Atlantic.

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