DGAP-News: The HBO Shop(R) Partners With asknet To Expand

DGAP-News: asknet AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous The HBO Shop(R) Partners With asknet To Expand European Online Sales The Karlsruhe-based e-commerce specialist takes over responsibility for expanding the growing HBO shop 15.10.2013 / 10:20 --------------------------------------------------------------------- The HBO Shop(R) Partners With asknet To Expand European Online Sales The Karlsruhe-based e-commerce specialist takes over responsibility for expanding the growing HBO shop, Karlsruhe - October 15, 2013 - from January 2014, the Karlsruhe-based company asknet will manage the e-commerce engine and operations for the European online HBO Shop. With asknet, HBO Global Licensing found a pan-European partner who could meet their direct to consumer expansion needs by proving multi-currency and multi-language options along with deep integration with shipping providers all over the EU. The HBO Shop (www.store.hbouk.com) features branded merchandise including apparel, jewelry, glassware, games, and premium collectables from acclaimed series such as Game of Thrones(R), True Blood(R), Girls(R), Boardwalk Empire(R), Sex and the City(R) and The Sopranos(R). Over the past several years the Shop has experienced rapid growth across several European markets, including the UK and Ireland, as well as increasing demand for product from fans across the continent. The partnership with asknet will expand the Shop's reach to all of Europe beginning January 2014 by providing services in local languages and acceptance of local currencies via the most popular payment methods, making it far easier for European fans to purchase goods from their favourite HBO shows. 'We are very pleased that, beginning in January, we have the opportunity to sell merchandise for renowned HBO programming,' said Michael Konrad, CEO of asknet AG. 'HBO is one of the world's leading premium networks with millions of subscribers whose programs are known and loved around the world.' The company will also be responsible for managing marketing and discount promotions and the coordination of merchandise suppliers. Targeted, local marketing campaigns will also be carried out, keeping fans informed about the latest products from their favorite series and offering them additional discounts. 'Because we have been carrying out e-commerce activities on behalf of numerous international companies for years, we will be able to successfully support HBO in internationalizing its online business, and ensure the flawless functioning of its online shop, including driving online sales by means of localized marketing campaigns,' explains Michael Konrad. 'We are excited to work with asknet to help us continue to support our developing European and international licensing business,' stated Diana Pessin, Director of Marketing and E-commerce, HBO Global Licensing. 'Their international expertise will be invaluable as we strive to meet the needs and expectations of our extensive global fan base who are thirsting for new ways to engage with their favourite programming.' About HBO Global Licensing HBO Global Licensing officially licenses the HBO(R) brand for the development and merchandising of innovative product lines inspired by the network's award-winning programming. With products created around classic series like the The Sopranos(R) and Sex and the City(R) to current hits like Game of Thrones and True Blood(R), items include fashion apparel, jewelry, digital and CD soundtracks, games, books as well as exclusive, premium collections in partnership with upscale, designer brands. Merchandise can be purchased in retail stores nationwide, at http://store.hbo.com, and at the groundbreaking HBO retail hub, the HBO Shop(R), located at 42nd and 6th Avenue in New York City. HBO Licensing & Retail products are also sold internationally across Europe, Asia and Australia. About HBO Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world's most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services - HBO(R) and Cinemax(R) - to approximately 114 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the most popular subscription video-on-demand products, HBO On Demand(R) and Cinemax On Demand(R) as well as HBO GO(R) and MAX GO(R), HD feeds and multiplex channels. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 70 countries. HBO programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide. About asknet asknet, a leading global provider for customized e-commerce solutions allows merchants to sell into more than 190 countries around the globe. asknet's e-commerce gateway exceeds market standards for software and digital media distribution. The company develops and maintains portals for software distribution and supplies 80% of all German universities with software products. asknet acts as a large account reseller for Adobe and Microsoft in the Academic Market and won the IBM Bestseller Award 2012. asknet offers students a wide range of software downloads for personal use through its leading Internet platform 'studyhouse.de'. asknet's customers include numerous providers of specialty software including ABBYY, CyberLink, F-Secure, Nero, NetObjects, Norman, Panda Security and Steinberg Media Technologies. asknet was founded in 1995 as a spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT, formerly the University of Karlsruhe). In 2012 the company's transaction revenues amounted to more than 90 million euros. For more information, visit www.asknet.com. Press Contact: asknet AG Katja Speck Phone: +49/721/96458-6369 eMail: katja.speck@asknet.com End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 15.10.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- 234599 15.10.2013