ProSiebenSat. Media SE and Axel Springer SE acquire shares in the American Virtual Reality Specialist Jaunt VR

ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and Axel Springer SE acquire shares in the American Virtual Reality Specialist Jaunt VR

Munich / Berlin, September 21 - 2015: ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and Axel Springer SE have each acquired a minority shareholding in Jaunt, an American start-up that specialises in the creation and distribution of virtual reality content. Working with media companies, advertisers and artists, and using in-house developed camera and software technology, Jaunt produces high-quality virtual reality content and releases this via the Jaunt distribution platform. To date, videos are primarily receivable through the Jaunt Smartphone app using Cardboards - a cover which transforms every Smartphone into a 3D Virtual Reality viewer - in future they will however also be available directly on Virtual Reality headset displays such as the Oculus Rift.

Following the joint Media-for-Equity shareholding in the DEAG subsidiary MyTicket and the co-investment in Klaus Hommels LAKESTAR II Internet fund, the participation in Jaunt is a third measure in the joint initiative by ProSiebenSat.1 und Axel Springer to promote digital growth companies.

Alongside ProSiebenSat.1 and Axel Springer, The Walt Disney Com-pany, Evolution Media Partners and China Media Capital are also taking part in the current investment round in Jaunt. Other investors include Google Ventures, Highland Capital, Redpoint Ventures and Sky, as well as prominent angel investors such as Jared Leto.

Dr. Hanno Fichtner, Chief Digital Strategy Officer of ProSiebenSat.1 in San Francisco: The investment in Jaunt is an investment in the future of entertainment for ProSiebenSat.1. Virtual reality will trigger an entertainment revolution similar to what our core media of TV did. Jaunt is perfectly positioned in this market and has raised the quality of virtual reality experiences to the next level.

Anton Waitz, Managing Director of Axel Springer Digital Ventures Inc.: Jaunt is an exciting new component in the portfolio of our early-stage investments. We are investing in a market, which can change media use over the next few years: Virtual Reality will provide creative pioneers in the entertainment and news industry with completely new ways of pleasing their audiences.

Jens Christensen, CEO and Founder of Jaunt: We are excited to have Axel Springer and ProSiebenSat.1, two leading and innovative media companies, as a part of this strategic investor round. As we continue to build upon our leadership position, delivering amazing virtuality reality experiences to audiences worldwide, we are pleased to have these strong European partners on our side.

About ProSiebenSat.1 SE

ProSiebenSat.1 Group is one of the largest independent media corporations in Europe. The Company is the market leader in its core business of advertising-financed free TV, and is successfully adding digital entertainment offerings to its value chain. In recent years, the ProSiebenSat.1 has also built up an attractive e-commerce and ventures portfolio that is now one of its most important growth drivers. In addition, the Group has a presence in seven countries with an international program production and sales network. Thus, ProSiebenSat.1 has a broad and solid revenue and profit base.

About Axel Springer SE

Axel Springer is the leading digital publisher in Europe. With headquarters in Berlin, the company is active in more than 40 countries with subsidiaries, joint ventures and licenses. Axel Springer SE is divided into three operating segments: Paid Models, Marketing Models and Classified Ad Models. In 2014, it achieved an EBITDA of EUR 507.1 million. More than half of Group revenues were generated by digital activities, which amounted to more than 70 percent of Group EBITDA.

LINK:	http://en.prosiebensat1.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/press-lounge/pr...
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