People Networks

IMG and Vogue.TV Partner to Launch Model.Live, a Broadband Video Series Sponsored by EXPRESS.com

NEW YORK, August 19, 2008—Model.Live is a new broadband video series that documents the lives of three IMG Models on their way to fashion shows around the world.  The 12-episode show reveals the truth about how professional models live, and the hard work and commitment required to achieve star status.  Created by IMG Media and sponsored by EXPRESS.com, the series will premiere on Vogue.TV, Tuesday, August 19.  The story will simultaneously unfold on global Social Media Network Bebo (bebo.com), where viewers can interact with the models and receive instant updates on their activities and experiences throughout the day.

Credit Crunch Hits Gap Year Travels as Trips Shrink by Half

London – 18 August 2008: The well travelled gap year has become the gap half year as the credit crunch impacts upon the student travel market – that’s the verdict of a new nationwide poll revealing that money worries are now the key concern for British students when planning Gap Year travels.

2,000 students and post graduates were surveyed for the study which was specially commissioned by the world's leading global social media network Bebo to celebrate their online reality adventure series "The Gap Year" www.bebo.com/thegapyear.

AOL to Acquire Socialthing!

AOL agreed to acquire Socialthing!, a social media aggregation tool that lets users track their online social communities and broadcast updates to them. The Socialthing! platform, currently in private beta, is integrated with 13 sites including Facebook, Twitter, Digg and Flickr. After the deal closes, Socialthing!, based in Boulder, Co., will be part of AOL's People Networks division.

Bebo Names Sean Kane as New Global Head of Mobile

London, UK – August 13, 2008 – Bebo, the leading social media network, today announced the appointment of Sean Kane to Global Head of Mobile. In his new role, Mr. Kane will head the development of relevant and compelling mobile experiences for Bebo’s 45 million plus users worldwide, ensuring Beboers can interact and engage with friends, media and content whenever and wherever.

Welcoming Mr. Kane’s appointment, Ziv Navoth, SVP Marketing & Business Development, Bebo said: “Sean has an impressive background in building businesses and in the delivery of mobile platforms. We feel confident that he will enable Bebo to deliver the best ‘social mobile’ experience on the web to our users, who increasingly are logging on from their mobile phones to consume, create, discover and share great content.”

Virgin Mobile to Sponsor Bebo's New Online Drama The Secret World of Sam King

London, UK - August 6, 2008 - Virgin Mobile has announced they will sponsor Bebo's latest online drama, The Secret World of Sam King. Using the new funding model of brand integration developed by Bebo, Virgin Mobile will be cleverly referenced in the show.   An additional dimension to the sponsorship will see Virgin Mobile take the show on location to the V Festival.

The Secret World of Sam King, a first between a social network and music company, launches on Wednesday 6th August and revolves around junior 'facilities' employee, Sam King, who from his base at Universal Music secretly founds his own start-up label in the post room.