Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Press Releases

Digital Bridges Ltd, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Multimedia and Orange today announced a deal which will bring 'The Weakest Link' to mobile phone users across Europe.

The top rated TV show gives contestants the chance to work together to build up a central pool of money. However, at the end of each round, the contestants vote for the team member they consider the worst player - the weakest link. As team members are whittled down, the stakes grow higher until the final contestant wins the accumulated cash.

The Weakest Link is one of the most successful games shows ever created by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ. In fact, in terms of the international export of the format, it's the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's most successful format worldwide. Hosted in the UK and USA by the fearsome Anne Robinson, the programme has gained a worldwide reputation amongst TV audiences for the unforgiving nature of the hostess and the now famous catchphrase, "You are the weakest link. Goodbye."

The mobile version of The Weakest Link will be available for both WAP and SMS phones. The WAP version offers an enhanced graphical experience and dynamic banking, while the SMS version offers a simplified, text only version of the game.

Orange has secured the rights to the SMS version of The Weakest Link in the UK for an exclusive period, enhancing the portfolio of games already available to Orange customers across SMS and WAP. Orange continues to expand as both a developer and publisher with access to a range of internal and external content. As mobile technologies continue to evolve towards 3G, the range and quality of games available to Orange customers is set to increase.

Gerry Clark, New Technology and Applications Director at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Multimedia, comments "Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide is committed to providing high quality interactive game experiences based on our key brands. I am delighted that through our agreement with Digital Bridges, individuals and groups will soon enjoy playing The Weakest Link on their mobile phones, and adult players will be able to win prizes. We already have a portfolio of award winning software titles for the PC and other games platforms and as our first "wireless" title, The Weakest Link heralds an exciting future."

Brian Greasley, the CEO of Digital Bridges, said, "Wireless entertainment is a unique new medium. It can reach an enormous, mass-market audience in a way that no other platform can do. To capitalise on this ability, a company must offer content which appeals to a very wide audience. The Weakest Link represents one of the first truly mass-market games to made available to wireless users. We are excited to be working with a partner of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide's reputation on a title as strong as The Weakest Link. Digital Bridges possesses both the experience and distribution capability to introduce this incredibly popular title to the widest audience of mobile phone owners throughout Europe."

Fergus Lynch, UK Games Manager for Orange comments "The addition of the SMS version of The Weakest Link to our portfolio will give Orange customers a thrilling interactive version of the hit game show in the palm of their hand."

Notes to editors
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Multimedia, part of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide, creates interactive products with an emphasis on fun, learning, creativity and the quality the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is renowned for. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Multimedia produces entertainment, children's and reference CD-ROMs, PlayStation and Game Boy titles for the whole family. You can find out more about its catalogue of titles on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Multimedia website - - visitors can also buy titles from the range at this website.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide, the commercial arm of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, generates income to support the UK licence fee by marketing programme-related products and services around the world. It is self-funding and exists to provide supplementary funding for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's public services. In 2000/01, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide provided cashflow to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ of Β£96 million. Its ambition is to quadruple cashflow to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ during the current Charter period. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide is financially separate from the rest of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and receives no public funding.

Digital Bridges is the world leader in the creation of entertainment channels for mobile devices. The company brings three major assets to the new medium of wireless entertainment: delivery technology, distribution and publishing capabilities and content design experience. Digital Bridges initial entertainment channel, Wirelessgames is currently carried live on approximately thirty mobile network operators around the world. The company supports all current and forthcoming technologies such as SMS, WAP, Java, video-streaming and colour handsets. For more information, please visit .

Β· Orange, wirefree and any other Orange product or service referred to in this release are trademarks of Orange.
Β· Orange provides a broad range of personal communications services, including Orange GSM 1800 services and other digital cellular telephone services.
Β· In August 2000 Orange plc was acquired by France Telecom, leading to the creation of Europe's second largest mobile operator. The new Orange has operations in 20 countries across Europe and beyond, and aims to have a presence in markets covering 1.5 billion people worldwide by 2005.
Β· As at the end of December 2001, Orange had over 12.4 million customers in the UK, 17.8 million in France and approximately 39.3 million controlled customers worldwide.
Β· In May 2001, for the fourth consecutive year, the J.D. Power and Associates study on the UK mobile market ranked Orange number one for customer satisfaction.
Β· Orange provides high quality coverage to 99% of the UK population and over 80% of the geographic area. Coverage is based on hand portable, unlike some other operators which choose to base their coverage on boosted car kits.
Β· Orange UK now offers roaming on 259 networks in 116 countries.
Β· Information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at and media information can be found at

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