Turner will retain the GameTap brand for a little longer, but then Metaboli will take over management of the GameTap business in 2009.
by James Brightman on Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Over the summer, Turner Broadcasting parent Time Warner revealed that the GameTap online game service was up for sale. Rather than being sold off immediately, however, the company has retained the brand and partnered with Metaboli, S.A., a leading games-on-demand service, to create a global online gaming service under the GameTap brand in the U.S. and Metaboli brand in Europe.
The GameTap business will continue as usual by offering its users arcade, console and PC games from a library of several hundred titles. Now, however, its presence will also be felt on a global basis as Metaboli handles the European side. By early 2009 though, Metaboli will essentially be in complete control of the entire business. The agreement specifies that "Turner Broadcasting will continue to manage GameTap operations and provide technical and migration support through a transition period to conclude in early 2009, at which time Metaboli will assume direct management of the GameTap business and brand. GameTap will continue to be based in Atlanta and Turner will become an equity investor in the combined entity going forward."
"GameTap is a significant strategic addition to our portfolio of established online gaming services in Europe," said Pierre Gaudet, CEO of Paris-based Metaboli. "The addition of GameTap provides us a foothold in the U.S. market; valuable content and an established brand that integrate well with our existing operations; and a partner with whom we are honored to be in business."
"Our priority for all of our networks and businesses is growth," said Stuart Snyder, who as president and chief operating officer of Turner Broadcasting's Animation, Young Adult & Kids Media group has overseen GameTap. "Partnering with Metaboli significantly enhances GameTap's growth prospects by leveraging our respective strengths. Metaboli's recognized white label expertise, combined with GameTap's vast game library, publishing agreements and brand equity will now offer turn key solutions to ISPs, Portals, Retailers and Publishers in the United States. There's upside here for everyone, but especially for gaming enthusiasts around the world."
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