WASHINGTON (Jan. 6, 2009)—Ted Prince, chief operating officer of National Geographic Ventures (NGV) and executive vice president of operations for National Geographic Global Media (NGGM), today announced the formation of the National Geographic Interactive Platforms Group, a division that unites National Geographic’s Games, Mobile and Maps businesses. Interactive Platforms will leverage National Geographic’s award-winning content, cartography, creative resources and brands to create new interactive consumer experiences and franchises across multiple platforms to further extend the Society’s mission of inspiring people to care about the planet.
Paul Levine, NGV’s senior vice president, corporate strategy and development, will serve as senior vice president of the Interactive Platforms Group and lead the new global division. “The formation of the Interactive Platforms Group underscores our commitment to providing compelling consumer experiences on multiple platforms and devices,” said Prince. “Paul led the successful launch of our Mobile and Games businesses last year and has successfully orchestrated a reorganization of the Maps business. His expertise and strategic thinking will be crucial as we extend our global mission through cross-platform initiatives.”
Interactive Platforms’ products and services will help the National Geographic brand to remain relevant to a new generation of consumers. The division also will further diversify National Geographic’s business into new revenue models such as subscriptions, applications, micro-transactions and e-commerce.
“Each month, over a billion people around the globe actively play games, connect and share via mobile applications, and use digital and print mapping products to entertain, enrich and inform themselves,” said Levine. “Through the Interactive Platforms Group, we will engage these audiences with our unique brand through an array of rich, multi-platform experiences.”
National Geographic Ventures is a wholly owned, taxable subsidiary of the National Geographic Society, one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the National Geographic Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. NGV, part of the National Geographic Global Media editorial group, includes National Geographic Television production and distribution, National Geographic Television International, Digital Media (including Nationalgeographic.com) and National Geographic Interactive Platforms Group, comprising the Mobile, Gaming and Maps business groups. NGV creates and distributes content across multi-platforms and media, providing outlets for the hundreds of scientific and expedition-based grants awarded each year. For more information, go to www.nationalgeographic.com.
Contacts:
Ellen Stanley
National Geographic
202-775-6755
estanley@ngs.org
Dana Block
mPRm
323-933-3399
dblock@mprm.com