Magnum Photos Inc. Signs Exclusive Online Marketing Deal with Eyetide Media


SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK, April 10, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Magnum Photos, Inc., the legendary cooperative agency for documentary photography, is partnering with Eyetide Media to market their photographers' books and fine art prints using Eyetide's patent-pending screensaver technology. (http://www.eyetide.com/magnumphotos/) Utilizing the Eyetide Viewer(tm) -- Eyetide's interactive screensaver platform, Magnum is distributing full-screen images straight to computer desktops to generate online book and print sales and drive traffic back to their Web site.

Eyetide's proprietary technology offers Magnum and other photo agencies a powerful platform designed to get increased value from their photographs. Within the Magnum-branded screensaver, consumers can use a mouse-activated toolbar to jump directly to Magnum's site to purchase books and collectors' prints of the image displayed on their desktop. Or, before purchasing, users can explore Magnum images further, by clicking on toolbar buttons to browse related information about the image's subject and/or photographer.

"Magnum photographers have produced hundreds and hundreds of important picture books that are recognized as the world's richest source of visual history from the past 60 years," said Nathan Benn, Director of Magnum Photos, Inc. "By using Eyetide's technology to distribute and share some of these pictures as screensavers, we expect to build even greater popular interest in Magnum photographers, their books and their prints."

Founded in 1947 by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, David Seymour and George Rodger, Magnum is the world's most exclusive photo cooperative. Members of Magnum today include renowned photographers like Inge Morath, Elliott Erwitt, Steve McCurry, Susan Meiselas, Bruce Davidson, Gilles Peress, Philip Jones Griffiths, Burt Glinn, David Alan Harvey, Alex Webb, Larry Towell, Paul Fusco, Dennis Stock, Thomas Hoepker, Costa Manos and Leonard Freed. Several of their books and collectors prints can be purchased through the Magnum Screensaver.

"Magnum's archives include many of the world's most recognized and adored images, documenting life and events that stretch from the 1930s to present day," says Evan Nisselson, Eyetide's SVP of Content and Product Strategy. "We're excited that they've chosen Eyetide's innovative technology platform to promote and sell such an expansive and powerful photography collection online."

About Magnum Photos, Inc.

Magnum Photos, Inc. is the American division of Magnum Photos, the most prestigious agency of documentary photographers in the world, representing approximately 75 elite photographers through offices in New York, Paris, London and Tokyo. The company produces, maintains, distributes and sells documentary photography for use in magazines, books, television, exhibitions and the Internet. Magnum is the only major photo agency that is still wholly owned by photographers, and is believed to be the world's longest surviving artist cooperative, www.magnumphotos.com.

About Eyetide Media, Inc.

Eyetide Media, Inc. has created a software platform that revolutionizes the way media assets are distributed and viewed via the Internet. Eyetide's next-generation screensaver network turns the idle computer screen into a new media channel, allowing partners to broadcast rich interactive content directly to user desktops everyday. Eyetide's present media partners include Sony Pictures, the NFL, Imax, Aurora Photos and now Magnum Photos, www.eyetide.com.

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CONTACT: Eyetide Media, Inc.
         Evan Nisselson, Jake Brooks 
         (212) 972-8999 ext. 318
         (415) 615-9980 ext. 205
         nisselson@eyetide.com
 
         Magnum Photos, Inc.
         Nathan Benn 
         (212) 929-6000
         nathan@magnumphotos.com