Disney Expands Wireless Content for Verizon Wireless Get It Now

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA, and BEDMINSTER, NJ — New ABC News, Disney, and ESPN wireless content is now available for Verizon Wireless customers in the Get It Now^SM virtual store. Verizon Wireless customers can now access expanded popular applications from ESPN, Disney, and receive ABC News Headlines.

EXPN Top Shots

A popular EXPN.com online photo application (http://expn.go.com/expn/summerx/2003/index) is now available as EXPN Top Shots via Verizon Wireless handsets. The service allows wireless customers to view up-to-the-minute photos of the best tricks and stunts, statistics, and rankings from extreme sports events. Customers can also rank and vote for their favorite photos.

Disney Magic Kingdom

Disney Magic Kingdom is a collection of Disney-themed ringtones and graphics. A one-stop shop for Disney fans' wireless needs, Disney Magic Kingdom has ringer and graphic downloads based on Disney's classic and contemporary animated characters.

ABC News Headlines

With ABC News Headlines, Verizon Wireless customers can immediately view news images, slideshow galleries, and read ABC News reports. Based on their preferences, they can personalize the service by selecting which news categories, such as domestic, international, business, entertainment, and politics, to receive. A news ticker screensaver allows customers to see the top news headlines before launching the ABC News Headlines program.

These new services join the catalog of content from The Walt Disney Company already available to Verizon Wireless Get It Now customers, which includes the following wireless games and services:

• Pirates of the Caribbean, based on the hit Disney film.
• ESPN's X Games Skateboarding and X Games Snowboarding games.
• ESPN BottomLine and ESPN ProHoops data services.
• Finding Nemo, an adventure game based on the popular Disney and Pixar film.
• Mickey's Forget Me Not, a fast-paced memory game.
• Pooh's Hunny Blocks, a rich full-color matching and memory game.

Pricing

The ringtones and wallpapers are available on a pay-per-download basis, direct from Verizon Wireless customers' Get It Now-enabled wireless phones and range from $1.49 for one download to $8.99 for ten downloads. Monthly access to Disney and ESPN games starts at $2.49 per month, or can be purchased for unlimited play starting at $4.99.

Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime charges apply when browsing, downloading, and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store and charges for downloading Get It Now applications appear on customers' monthly Verizon Wireless billing statements.

"We've been doing business with Verizon Wireless and through Get It Now for over a year now," said Larry Shapiro, executive vice president, business development and operations for The Walt Disney Internet Group, which distributes wireless content for the brands of The Walt Disney Company. "Verizon Wireless is the natural place to expand our offerings because they bring the necessary scale to make this medium a valuable business."

Added Manish Jha, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN Emerging Media and Data Services, "Working with Verizon Wireless on these innovative new products, such as The Bottom Line, allows us to further our mission of giving sports fans what they want, anytime and anywhere. We look forward to providing fans information, entertainment, games, and community features they'll enjoy no matter the location."

About Walt Disney Internet Group
Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) provides strategic leadership and operational management for The Walt Disney Company's (NYSE:DIS) Internet properties, including category leaders Disney.com, ESPN.com, and ABCNEWS.com. A market leader in developing and distributing entertainment and informational content to new platforms, WDIG is committed to creating and delivering products for broadband distribution, including: ABC News On Demand, a subscription video news service that offers the Internet's first 24-hour, live Internet-only news channel and top ABC News programs for on-demand viewing; Disney Connection; and WDIG Motion, a proprietary video technology for broadband users. Through relationships with some of the world's largest wireless carriers, WDIG distributes content and services to wireless users under the Disney, ESPN, and ABC brands. Additionally, WDIG has led the way in developing interactive content for televised programming through its Enhanced TV service. Steve Wadsworth is president of WDIG, which is headquartered in North Hollywood and has operations in Seattle; New York; Orlando, Fla.; Tokyo; and London.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 34.6 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD)(LSE:VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Get It Now
Get It Now from Verizon Wireless puts a virtual software store inside a wireless phone. Customers with Get It Now-capable phones can download applications over the air and purchase them from their phones. getTXT, getIM, and getEMAIL help customers stay in touch and communicate with others. getGAMES keeps customers entertained, while getGOING applications, made for today's mobile lifestyle, offers restaurant location services with maps, directions, and more. View and share digital photos with getPIX, check out Web cams with getFLIX, or identify incoming callers by assigning a unique ring with getTONES. getALERTS keeps customers informed, while getBROWSING lets them access the Web from their wireless phone.

####