Normandy International's Alexis Denny Pioneers New Model for Philanthropic Sponsorship of Live Video Streaming

Normandy International's Alexis Denny Pioneers New Model for Philanthropic Sponsorship of Live Video Streaming

An American in Paris Bridges International Waters to Unite Private Philanthropists and Aspen Music Festival with French Production Company for 10 Days of Live, Full-Screen, HD Video Streaming - Underwritten by a Seven-Figure Gift

PARIS, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Normandy International, Inc., a specialized marketing and media company, today announced that for the first time ever sponsors will underwrite the cost for worldwide HD video streaming of classical music based on a revenue model pioneered by the company and its president, Ms. Alexis Denny. This summer's Aspen Music Festival is the first event for which Normandy has executed this model by customizing the producers' music program and web content to appeal to the specific desires of underwriters. The live streaming will be solely funded by a generous seven-figure gift from private philanthropists. The live transmission starts on June 20 at http://www.medici.tv/ and will continue round the clock until June 30.

In developing its model of targeted feature content, Normandy called on some old media techniques, even drawing on Ms. Denny's experience producing and directing special features for worldwide Olympics coverage where feature content has long been used to build stars and develop audience. Starting with the state-of-the-art production plans of her client, her Normandy team created customized ideas for short segments tailored to the interests of each potential sponsor, as well as a variety of interactive links and branding features.

"Not everything in new media has to be new ... but you do have to figure out new ways to transform it!" says Ms. Denny. "With video streaming finally breaking through, I felt the time was right to be more imaginative and create fresh content of a uniquely high value to specific sponsors. Until now, we have been seeing mostly existing video ads thrown up on the web, much as the early days of television just offered radio programs with a camera. We felt that we could take it up another level."

Industry pioneer, Reese Schonfeld -- founding CEO of CNN and The Food Network -- has been advising Ms. Denny since she founded her first company in 1990. "When Alexis first told me about the project, I thought it was a real long shot on a very short schedule, but once again she has pulled it off!" said Mr. Schonfeld.

Alexis Denny began her mission to blend the medium and the message last fall, when she was chosen as the exclusive sponsorship consultant for the Aspen project by Ideale Audience, the French production company behind Medici.TV, a new classical music site featuring live streaming and VOD. With the high cost of HD production and round-the-clock coverage, the required budget of $1 million was ten times more than Ideale had ever previously earned from sponsorship of a live transmission.

Ms. Denny was therefore tasked with shaping Medici's desired content for the Aspen Music Festival in a way to secure the groundbreaking budget. The mission to generate seven-figure revenue by targeting the specific classical music audience -- with less than 4 months to do so in a weak global economy -- was particularly daunting.

However, 2008 marks the year that video streaming is finally coming into its own. Full-screen, high-definition video streaming is just beginning to realize its potential to compete with television content. Recognizing this, Ms. Denny was convinced that there was a global audience for premium quality classical music programming and a sponsor to match it.

After months of globetrotting efforts, and multiple pitches to private donors and potential corporate sponsors, it was two private philanthropists introduced to Normandy by the music festival itself who have now taken the initiative to fund the content. Final contracts were signed at the end of May.

The sponsors of this unique, 10 day round-the-clock transmission responded enthusiastically to Normandy's concept of adding feature content emphasizing music education and suited to the web format. The ideas were designed to be flexible enough so the content could later migrate to the Aspen Music School site if desired, thereby giving it a life far after this summer's event.

Normandy International is currently under contract to a major US arts organization to assist with its new media efforts and is in discussions with other cultural institutions around the world. The next level for application of Normandy's model will be to corporate sponsors seeking uniquely high impact branding.

About Normandy International, Inc.:

Based in Paris, Normandy International, Inc. specializes in unique, global distribution of media content to over 100 countries, focusing primarily on sports, music, and live events. Normandy and its subsidiary NextThing TV have negotiated rights contracts for the most lucrative pay-per-view events of the past 20 years. In addition, it offers niche consulting on national events with an international presence. Clients have included: BSkyB, Canal Plus, JSB, TV Globo, MNet, BBC, Premiere, and over 25 other major international media companies. For more information, go to: http://www.normandyinternational.com/.

About Alexis Denny:

Alexis Denny is a Yale graduate, an Emmy-award winning journalist, and founder of several pioneering international media and special events companies. The first woman to work on the production team of Monday Night Football, Ms. Denny -- mentored by Howard Cosell -- went on to become the first woman to serve as the exclusive television representative for heavyweight champion boxers, including Riddick Bowe and George Foreman.

Ms. Denny's global pioneering work has led to her involvement with other prominent ventures outside of sports. She has served as Executive Producer of recordings featuring Placido Domingo, Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has partnered with Nelson Mandela's cabinet to offer young athletes in Soweto access to training facilities, as well as coordinated goodwill tours of US military bases for US celebrities. Most recently, Ms. Denny advised the founders of Athens Eco-Week 07 regarding the production of events featuring Nobel Laureate Al Gore.

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FCMN Contact:

Source: Normandy International, Inc.

CONTACT: Lisa Amore, +1-202-506-3056, lisa@amorepr.com, for Normandy
International, Inc.

Web site: http://www.normandyinternational.com/
http://www.medici.tv/

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Profile: International Entertainment