13th April 2010

AIME: new Board and launch of three year strategy to fuel support for growth in the UK Premium Rate Industry

London 13th April 2010: Industry trade association, The Association of Interactive Media and Entertainment (AIME) today announced the appointment of its newly elected Board which will oversee the micropay premium industry.

The newly elected board is a mixture of movers and shakers from all sections of the interactive media industry value-chain with representatives from broadcaster ITV, network operator BT agilemedia, mobile operator ‘3’, publisher Sport Media, terminating providers Mobile Interactive Group and OpenMarket (part of US venture AmDocs), promoters Venista, Million-2-1 and D2See and finally global voting company Harvest Media Group.

Particular emphasis has been placed on representation at the merchant promoter level, i.e. companies that generate revenue and are committed to growing interactive markets such as mobile apps, participation TV, games, gaming, chat and dating services. This board representation will become increasingly important when in 2010 the UK premium rate regulatory agency PhonepayPlus ushers in a new Code of Practice with more emphasis on targeting promoters at the point of sale.

With industry revenues generating over £800m in 2009, particular strategic emphasis has been placed on returning industry to growth and there are recent signs that this is happening as consumer trust is rebuilt and there is more investment in consumer services. The board will take a central role in driving AIME’s three year strategic plan which includes developing relationships with other trade associations such as DMA and ASA as well as continuing to focus on transformative areas like the AIME Interactive Broadcast Forum which has seen confidence return to the popular TV formats which run voting and competitions.

AIME’s three year strategic plan includes more detailed objectives, but also identifies four cornerstones that should provide a stable platform for representing member interests, providing them with competitive advantage and returning industry to growth. These include:

- Representation: strong regulator and stakeholder partnerships across industry to ensure AIME provides a single focus for representing industry issues
- Initiatives: drive industry growth/defence initiatives that produce industry best practice, improve trust and increase industry innovation & investment
- Networking: a series of seminar & networking events that will increase opportunity for information and business partnerships
- Information: building a centre for research and industry case studies that will support business development

Edward Boddington, AIME chairman said: “I am delighted to welcome the new and re-elected representatives to the AIME Board. Representing over 90% of the UK premium rate industry, AIME has a diverse membership and I would like to thank members for voting on a board that offers a good mix of high calibre individuals who are well placed to deliver on the ambitious programme of goals laid out in our three year strategic plan. I am also delighted that we have launched our 3-year plan which is further evidence that industry, at all levels, is working together and has confidence in the future. We will continue to drive initiatives that support industry growth and add value to our members’ business as well as enable media companies and brands to generate essential incremental revenues.”

The Board now consists of:

Re-elected board members:
Edward Boddington (Chair), CEO, Harvest Media Group
Paul Lynch, head of operations, ITV
Rory Maguire, head of payment services, 3
Jeremy Flynn, non-executive director, D2see
David Sheridan, head of legal and commercial dev, OpenMarket
Rudd Apsey, commercial director, Sport Media

Newly elected board members:
Dawn Cooper, commercial manager, Million-2-1
Richard Mann, COO, Mobile Interactive Group
Graham Pottie, COO, BT agilemedia
Oliver Wimmeroth, MD, Venista

Board Legal Advisor:
Sally Weatherall, MD, Strategic Brief