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Gaming Channel Launched

UNITED KINGDOM – (Press Release) --The interactive gaming industry today sees a major new player with the launch of The Gaming Channel, a UK-based interactive gambling operator and service provider. The company, which will include established iTV games channel Avago as a subsidiary, is a privately-funded entity whose shareholders include Peter Wilkinson, business entrepreneur and Freeserve founder, and John Swingewood, formerly Director of New Media at BSkyB Plc.

The Gaming Channel is headed by Damian Cope, who has worked in the interactive gambling industry since its inception and co-founded the UK's first Internet betting service, Blue Square. He went on to work at Hilton Group where he was instrumental in developing Ladbrokes.com into a leading multi-lingual gambling portal. Cope joins The Gaming Channel from The Rank Group Plc where he set up its interactive gaming division. This included the launch of the UK's first fixed odds games site, Rank.com, the online casino HardRockCasino.com, and the interactive television joint venture with NDS Group Plc, Fancy a Flutter.

As its initial focus The Gaming Channel will take over the operations of Avago, the world's first interactive betting television channel. Since its launch in July 2002, award-winning Avago has attracted more than 100,000 registered Sky viewers and developed an annual turnover of over GBP30 million.

Future plans include extending the service to both the Internet and mobile applications, as well as developing further television channels.

In addition, The Gaming Channel will provide 'white label'gambling services to third parties, via iTV, the Internet and mobile. These will be offered to both existing gaming companies who require a genuine interactive television presence, as well as non-gaming brands that wish to generate additional revenues via this new medium. An announcement regarding the first of these agreements will be made in the near future.

Commenting on the new company and his appointment, Cope says: 'Joining this group of successful, dynamic entrepreneurs was simply too good a chance to miss. They have identified a major business opportunity and I am delighted to be chosen to lead The Gaming Channel. These are exciting times for interactive television that, in many ways, mirror the position of the Internet in the UK five years ago. I intend to combine my own experience with the technological and television expertise of the existing team to create a company that will lead the interactive gambling industry as a true pioneer.'

The Gaming Channel is an interactive gambling operator and service provider.

It is a privately funded company, with its offices and studios located in London, England. The company holds its own UK bookmaker's permit via its subsidiary, The Gaming Channel Bookmakers Limited.

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