Turner and Outblaze in web 2.0 joint venture

24 January 2008

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Hong Kong – Turner Entertainment Holdings Asia Pacific and web infrastructure company Outblaze Ltd have formed a joint venture in web 2.0 enterprise TurnOut Ventures Ltd. Based in Hong Kong, TurnOut will leverage Cartoon Network’s brands and characters and Outblaze’s web expertise to launch online, digital interactive community networks.
TurnOut is expected to create a series of community websites for children and young adults to offer Cartoon Network characters and content under a brand license. Outblaze will provide its expertise and creativity to build the web businesses of the JV. The company will work brands like The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10 and Mojo Jojo, and develop new service-rich web 2.0 destinations with games and video sharing features.
TurnOut will bring together Turner intellectual property with deployments technologies including OutblazeVideo. Outblaze was responsible for a number digital businesses and online branded environments including The Impossible Team Online Game for adidas, a football-themed Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG), and SanrioTown.com, a community-based official website for Hello Kitty and other Sanrio Corporation properties. SanrioTown.com has grown to over two million active users.
In addition to the community sites, TurnOut will manage the recently enhanced Cartoon Network sites throughout the region. Other plans include the development of online businesses in the region, including opportunities in China, multi-player online games, licensing and merchandising, educational products and other businesses that will leverage on Cartoon Network and acquired brands.