Wizzard Media (NYSE Amex: WZE), the world’s largest podcasting network
announced today the acquisition of the exclusive distribution rights to
six iPhone Apps. These Apps are currently for sale through Apple’s App
Store for use on iPhones and the iPod Touch including: Blue Attack,
OmNomNom, Sudoku Unlimited, TouchScan, Blue Defense and Sudoku Classic.
Based on current sales figures, Wizzard estimates these Apps will
generate over $228,000 in annual revenues, after the standard deduction
of Apple’s 30%, for the Company before any increased sales from
marketing the Apps via the Wizzard Podcast Network to iPhone and iPod
Touch users. Through advertising and marketing by Wizzard’s thousands of
podcast producers to their highly engaged audience of iPhone and iPod
users, Wizzard believes sales could be significantly higher on an annual
basis. The Company plans to continue to acquire the rights for up to 100
already launched and approved iPhone Apps to provide podcast producers
with a continuous stream of fresh, paid advertising for their episodic
shows, app developers with increased sales revenues and provide for
profitable App sales for Wizzard. Piper Jaffray’s Financial Analyst,
Gene Munster, is projecting total App Store revenue of $780 million in
2009 for Apple.
“The Apple App Store has been an incredible success since its launch
last year and we believe iTunes is the greatest digital media sales
channel in the world. We know through our podcast distribution
statistics that they attract a tremendous amount of media consumers,”
says Chris Spencer, Wizzard Media CEO. “The simplicity of a consumer
hearing about a great App from their favorite podcast and being able to
pause the podcast, click to the App store and buy, all on their iPhone,
makes us believe that this could be a great success for podcasters app
developers and for Wizzard. The fact that they don’t have to enter
credit card information and the low cost price of the Apps make this a
compelling offer to consumers.”
This announcement is the first step in Wizzard’s expanded monetization
plan for its podcasting network of 20,000 producers and their 18 million
viewers and listeners, approximately 70% of whom use iTunes to subscribe
to and download their favorite podcasts. The plan, launched in
mid-March, has already resulted in the closing of the afore mentioned
Apps and Wizzard is in negotiation with 20 Apps for acquisition with a
growing pipeline of interested App developers who see the value of
marketing Apps via podcasts.
