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STATHERO DAILY FANTASY SPORTS PLATFORM CLOSES A $4 MILLION SERIES A FUNDING ROUND BASED ON A $37 MILLION VALUATION LED BY BFG SPORTS BET

StatHero

The ONLY independent fantasy sports company playable in 34 states, StatHero lets DFS players go H2H against house lineups instead of in short-odds contests with unknown users. The fantasy sports and sports betting hybrid has become a game-changing force in the DFS space with 400% month-over-month growth in deposits and players betting an average of $1,500/yr; THREE TIMES the average spend of industry leading apps DraftKings and FanDuel. It’s this type of explosive growth that drew the attention of Illinois-based BFG Sports Bet, a venture capital fund with over a decade of experience in the highly regulated gaming industry. BFG is leading StatHero’s $4 million Series A Round of funding, on a $37 million valuation. The prospect of high-growth potential is obvious and this marks a significant next step. Monica and Robert Breslow of BFG Sports Bet: “We believe StatHero is the most innovative, exciting, user-friendly DFS platform available on the market today and has potential for tremendous growth. The combination of the gaming market, passion of the founders and the clear innovation of the gameplay itself really set them apart in our eyes. Not to mention the disruption that StatHero has been able to bring to this industry over such a short period of time.” Following a $2 million seed round investment in June of 2020 (also led by BFG) StatHero focused its energy and resources on innovation and development. It has fueled a considerable rise in users and has seen the company’s valuation more than double in the time since. Jason Jaramillo, Founder of StatHero: “This Series A round is so special to me because our original investors made it a priority to double up on their investment of StatHero. 2022 is going to be very big for us.” StatHero’s combination of skill-based games and low barrier of entry has allowed players to dive deeper into games while claiming a well over 50% winning percentage. As the company focuses on the future, a Series B round of funding is on the horizon for next spring. Until then, new products, new leagues and new features will be added to complement the slate of head-to-head contests and PARLAYS. About STATHERO Combining the best of fantasy sports and sports gaming, StatHero is a first of its kind daily fantasy sports platform. The company has exploded in growth since founded in 2019 in large part due it’s simple gameplay, low commitment and instant gratification. Stathero uses the familiar fantasy sports based format to allow players to compete against posted lineups across a variety of professional sports and game types including Survivor Pools, Head-to-Head and Fantasy Parlays. Their patent pending gameplay gives players an advantage unlike any other in fantasy sports. It’s truly daily fantasy the way it was meant to be played - one-on-one. For more information, visit: www.stathero.com and follow us on Twitter @StatHeroHq. For media/press inquiries on, please contact: Dianne Quirante, dianne@emcbowery.com Contact Details STATHERO Dianne Quirante +1 323-654-0001 dianne@emcbowery.com Company Website https://stathero.com/

December 15, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

The Roberto Clemente Museum Tour Experience Sponsored By AARP

Atlantino LLC

Atlantino LLC, producers of the broadcast special “The Roberto Clemente Museum Tour Experience,” announced today that it will air this one-hour special on December 18th and 19th, 2021 via Regional Sports Networks in English and select Hispanic Networks in Spanish. AARP will be the broadcast’s presenting sponsor. The Roberto Clemente Museum Tour Experience will air in multiple markets in the United States and Puerto Rico, at varying dates and times on December 18th and 19th, 2021. The broadcast event will take the audience on a tour through the newly re-opened Roberto Clemente Museum at the Museo del Deporte in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. It will also feature interviews with: Manny Ramirez, Richie Ray, Lou Melendez, Ray Negron, Omar Minaya, Bart Hernandez, Luis Sojo, Leonor Colon, and more! The special broadcast event will air during Prime Time on the following channels and platforms December 18th and 19th in the US: YES Network, NBC Sports, Vme TV, AT&T SportsNet, MASN, BronxNet, Bally Sports, Spectrum TV Noticias en Español, and Mega TV. NESN will also air it on December 26th, 2021. Local air dates and times can be found at http://atlantinoevents.com/. “With the 50th anniversary of the passing of Roberto Clemente approaching on December 31st, 2022, this broadcast marks the beginning of a year-long campaign to promote the legacy of Roberto Clemente by encouraging Clemente fans to visit this historic museum exhibit and see first-hand the Clemente memorabilia, art, personal documents, and photos,” according to Broadcast Executive Producer, Ralph Paniagua of Atlantino LLC. "We are proud to continue to highlight the enduring legacy of Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest sports icons of our time,”, said Yvette Peña, AARP's vice president of Hispanic/Latino Audience Strategy, in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. "Through service, integrity and grace, Clemente continues to be an example for our communities and AARP is committed to keeping that Latino legacy alive," she added. This broadcast event is co-sponsored by Goya Foods and Guaynabo City. Strategic partners, producers, and media allies for this event include FizzyLabs, 3 Eyes LLC, HypeSmack, LatinoBaseball.Com, Museo del Deporte de Puerto Rico, 21 In Rights, Inc, The Roberto Clemente Foundation, and Soundwave Riders. About AARP AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media. About Atlantino LLC Over the past 36 years, Ralph and Joseph Paniagua have built Atlantino into a powerhouse sponsorship and activations platform for Latino sports, entertainment, experiential, and digital. Through Atlantino and the company’s Latino Baseball and Latino Boxing media properties, Ralph has spearheaded Fortune100 brand activations with more than 18 Major League Baseball teams, the Roberto Clemente Foundation, and more recently Golden Boy. Contact Details Heather Lopez +1 305-647-9275 atlantinollc@gmail.com Company Website https://atlantinoevents.com/

December 14, 2021 09:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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COMCAST COMPLETES MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR BROADBAND EXPANSION TO MORE THAN 9,100 RURAL HOMES & BUSINESSES IN LAS VEGAS, NM

Comcast New Mexico

Comcast today announced the company completed a multi-million-dollar expansion to bring broadband and the entire suite of Xfinity services to more than 9,100 homes and businesses in Las Vegas, N.M. "The City of Las Vegas joins Comcast in celebrating the completion of this considerable investment in our community. An investment of this magnitude will support workforce development, virtual education, overall quality of life, and greater access to high-speed Internet for our residents. It also improves our Internet infrastructure in a way that may be attractive to businesses interested in locating or expanding their operations here," said Mayor Louie Trujillo of Las Vegas. “I am grateful for Comcast’s commitment to expanding broadband access in critical areas of New Mexico like Las Vegas.” This expansion is another example of Comcast’s investment in New Mexico to ensure residents and businesses have access to innovative, reliable, fast, and secure broadband services. In October, Comcast completed a network upgrade in Gallup, N.M. to bring Gig speeds to the community. In the last three years, Comcast has made $149.4 million investments in technology and infrastructure across the state. “This investment in Las Vegas will bring improved broadband services to thousands of homes and businesses -- expanding educational access and driving economic development opportunities within the community. Together with industry leaders like Comcast, New Mexico will continue to close the digital divide and address the needs of New Mexicans in communities large and small across the state,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Residential consumers in Las Vegas will have access to all Xfinity Internet service offerings with speeds faster than 1 Gig, as well as the award-winning Xfinity X1 video platform, Xfinity Home, Comcast’s professionally installed home security solution, and Xfinity Mobile. Comcast provides unmatched value to Xfinity Internet customers through superior WiFi coverage, control of connected devices with xFi in the Xfinity App, xFi Advanced Security for cyber security protection at the gateway level, a free Xfinity Flex 4K streaming device, as well as access to Peacock Premium and thousands of hours of free content. Businesses will have access to the full suite of Comcast Business services including Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps, Business TV, Phone, SmartOffice TM technologies, and dedicated business support. Comcast previously provided video-only services in Las Vegas. “Reliable broadband services are essential for healthy communities. With expanded broadband access, our community members can access telehealth, education, and other resources they need to stay connected and engaged” said Elmo Baca, Chair, Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation. This expansion provides low-income families and individuals across the Las Vegas area with access to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest and most successful broadband adoption initiative. The program provides 50 Mbps Internet service for $9.95 per month and the option to purchase a new Dell laptop for $150. Additionally, Comcast has participated in the federal government’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program since its inception in May 2021 and in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which extends and modifies the EBB. All Internet Essentials customers are eligible for ACP and can enroll in the program to receive their service for free. Since 2011, Internet Essentials has connected 296,000 low-income New Mexicans to the power of the Internet at home, many for the first time. “We welcome Comcast to our area. Having the services provided will be an incredible boost to our economy. Additional broadband options, including Gig Internet speeds, is critical for Las Vegas’ economic development goals. We know that relocating and expanding businesses need cutting-edge speeds,” said Philip Martinez, President, Las Vegas San Miguel Chamber of Commerce. “Technology is a powerful driver of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth, and we recognize our company plays an important role in connecting New Mexicans to all the opportunities broadband offers,” said Chris Dunkeson, Area Vice President, Comcast. “Completing this expansion in Las Vegas is another example of our investment in New Mexico and our commitment to bringing more opportunities to communities around the state.” About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Julianne Phares +1 505-218-0961 julianne_phares@cable.comcast.com Comcast Kyle Biederwolf +1 505-264-5966 kyle_biederwolf@comcast.com Company Website https://newmexico.comcast.com/

December 13, 2021 08:29 AM Mountain Standard Time

ThriveFantasy Partners with Fanatics to Continue NFL and College Football Growth Strategy

ThriveFantasy

ThriveFantasy, the leading player prop daily fantasy sports and esports platform, announced today it has signed a partnership deal with Fanatics, the fast growing American online retailer of licensed sportswear, sports equipment and merchandise. Through this partnership, Fanatics will provide ThriveFantasy with several co-branded marketing benefits aimed at cross promoting its unique offerings to the growing and active Fanatics fan and user base. Among these services will include advertising on Fanatics social media platforms and co-branded email marketing to its fan base. “Fanatics has become a one-of-a-kind brand in this space. Because of this, it made complete sense to create this type of partnership,” says Adam Weinstein, founder and CEO of ThriveFantasy. “We believe that there is a large cross over between the Fanatics fan base and those who play daily fantasy and esports and we can’t wait to engage, so that ThriveFantasy can become a go to destination for them.” About ThriveFantasy ThriveFantasy is a Daily Fantasy Sports and Esports App for Player Props. Thrive eliminates the countless hours of research users have to spend, by only focusing on the top-tier athletes that have the biggest impact on the game. Follow ThriveFantasy on Instagram (@ThriveFantasy), Twitter (@ThriveFantasy) and Facebook (ThriveFantasy). Download the app today via the App Store and Google Play. App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/thrivefantasy/id1240062484 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appster.p2f&hl=en_US Contact Details Michael Adorno +1 917-399-3743 mvadorno@gmail.com Company Website https://www.thrivefantasy.com/

December 13, 2021 09:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

Spotlight Sports Group and Diario AS Enter Into Joint Venture

Spotlight Sports Group

Spotlight Sports Group (SSG), a world-leading technology, content and media company specializing in sports betting and fantasy sports, announced today a joint venture with Diario AS (AS.com), the #3 sports publisher globally. The partnership will unleash new, high-growth revenue streams by combining Spotlight Sports Group's sports betting expertise and user engagement technology with AS.com’s millions of unique monthly visitors. The joint venture brings together elements of the two businesses to create a team of specialists to oversee the management of the website. AS.com’s selection to partner with Spotlight Sports Group and its state-of-the-art affiliate technology platform reflects the size of opportunity the partnership presents for the publishing giant. “We are thrilled to have created this true partnership with AS.com. They are a progressive company with an engaged audience and alongside our specialist sports betting content, this innovative platform will keep fans fully informed to make educated bets using Spotlight Sports Group’s data-driven affiliate technology,” said Harry von Behr, Managing Director (Sport) & co-US CEO of Spotlight Sports Group. “This partnership positions Spotlight Sports Group as a leading provider of sports betting affiliate and engagement technology across the global publishing sector.” Spotlight Sports Group will deliver: Native Spanish language betting content Responsive website using Spotlight Sports Group’s bespoke affiliate technology Proprietary data sets AI-based automated content generation Smart content modules, bet builders and free-to-play games Specialist services across technical SEO, social media and real-time CRM Revenue optimization management Gonzalo Teubal Rodriguez of AS.com commented “This partnership is a win-win for AS.com. It will deliver a world-class purpose-built platform for millions of sports fans built on the foundations of Spotlight Sports Group’s affiliate technology and empowering our users by giving them access to quality content and intuitive betting information and tools.” Rodriguez added, “It’s a chance to build a long term partnership with a like-minded global publisher while creating a sustainable revenue model to complement our core publishing business.” Spotlight Sports Group announced its intention to work with the world’s largest media companies by recently expanding its global proposition. This new-look offering includes a suite of products designed to showcase its specialist expertise in turnkey affiliate solutions for global publishers. AS.com’s Spanish-language content and sports betting affiliate platform is now live and available for sports fans in Spain. For more information on Spotlight Sports Group please visit: https://www.spotlightsportsgroup.com/en_us/ ABOUT SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP Spotlight Sports Group (owned by Exponent Private Equity) is a world-leading technology, content and media business specializing in sports betting and fantasy sports. Evolved from the Racing Post Group, Spotlight Sports Group engages millions of people directly through Racing Post, Pickswise, Fantasy Alarm, Free Super Tips and myracing. The company also has decades of experience in powering growth and conversion for the world’s biggest sportsbooks and media companies, delivering best-in-class technology and expert scalable content experiences in more than 70 languages. ABOUT DIARIO AS (AS.com) AS.com serves millions of users each month to its platform by using three language editions in Spanish, English and Arabic. The site primarily focuses on news, stats and commentary on soccer leagues throughout the world. In addition, it also features Spanish-language coverage of the major sports leagues in America, including the NFL, MLB and the NBA. Contact Details Hot Paper Lantern Michael Adorno +1 212-931-6143 madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://www.spotlightsportsgroup.com/en_us/

December 13, 2021 08:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

How A Camp Network Founded By Paul Newman Continues To Serve Sick Children

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/n0Seg6W1dME Over three decades ago, Paul Newman, the Hollywood icon and founder of Newman’s Own food company and Newman’s Own Foundation, envisioned a camp where kids living with serious and life-limiting medical conditions could break away from the everyday challenges of their illness to, as he said, “raise a little hell.” Today, Serious Fun Children’s Network, made up of 30 camps and programs around the world, has delivered more than 1.4 million life-changing camp experiences to kids living with more than 50 medical conditions and their families, totally free of charge. On November 30 th, live from New York City SeriousFun CEO Blake Maher and Newman’s Own Foundation President & CEO Miriam Nelson conducted a media tour discussing how Paul Newman’s vision has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of camp alumni who are living fuller lives because of their camp experiences. A key focus of the media tour was a first-of-its-kind study conducted by SeriousFun that examined the influence and lasting impact of residential camp participation With the help of the American Institutes for Research, SeriousFun set out to look at personal, social, and health-related outcomes that are influenced by SeriousFun camps, as well as the elements of the camp and camper's experiences that affect those outcomes Most notably, that SeriousFun camp experience had meaningful impacts that lasted throughout their adolescent and adult lives. Among 2,200 alumni campers aged 17-30, significant findings included: More than 80% reported that the SeriousFun camp experience had positive and lasting impacts on a variety of aspects of their life, including the willingness to try new things, appreciation for diversity, and self-identity and confidence. And, when it comes to health-related outcomes, more than 65% reported that camp influenced their health-related quality of life, medical self-advocacy and medical-related self care. For more information, visit SeriousFun.org About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 08, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Holiday Season Survival Guide

YourUpdateTV

With the holiday season well underway, it’s time to talk holiday gifting, decorating, entertaining, personalization, home styling, and more. And with in-person gatherings resuming, time spent with family and friends this holiday season is more precious than ever before. Recently, Lifestyle Expert and Star of Netflix’s Queer Eye, Bobby Berk, teamed with Shutterfly on a nationwide SMT to discuss his tips on gifting, decorating, and more. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/hjidEp0O0Zs More than two thirds of consumers are planning in-person gatherings, more holiday parties, and bigger celebrations this year and Shutterfly makes it easy to unleash your creativity after a year of being apart. According to Bobby, it’s all about giving something a bit more personal rather than something generic or store bought. It’s more meaningful and is such a great way to connect with friends and family after being apart. Shutterfly has so many good options that for people to customize. For example, if your friends love a good game night, create personalized playing cards, pencils and notebooks to really elevate game play. Not only is a personalized gift more meaningful to the recipient, it’s also easy to make whether you’re adding a photo, name, monogram, or unique saying. From custom blankets and candles to coffee mugs and wall art, Shutterfly has something for everyone. Some of Bobby’s favorite ways to add the perfect personal touches to holiday entertaining and decorating include color. Choose a color pallet of 2-3 colors and use them throughout your home. Lighting is also so important. Keep the lighting simple by using white lights and candles that are great for any space and candles can add a nice personal touch as well. Additionally, photos are a great way to decorate for the holidays. Whether that’s adding temporary photo tiles with your favorite holiday memories or decorating your tree with customized ornaments. Or finding the best photos of your party guests and using them as name tags or place cards. For more information, visit Shutterfly.com About Bobby Berk: Berk is best known as the design guru on Netflix’s Queer Eye, but his rise to fame didn’t happen overnight. After years in the creative and design field, he took the leap to start his own brand. Epitomizing hip, urban luxury, Berk’s designs reflect a stylish and youthful spirit that perfectly fits any lifestyle. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 08, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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HowToBet.com Are Running Red Hot Making Their Picks in the HowToBet Podcast

HowToBet.com

We are now entering the final stretch of the 2021 National Football League season, but for the hosts of the How to Bet podcast, it has been playoff mode for a few weeks. Why? Because they are red hot making their picks in the various sections of the podcast, which continues to grow with each new edition. Daryl Fein and Sean “The Genius” Miller are now veterans of the game, heading into their 15th week on the show. The newest editions, which drop on Wednesday, December 8, cover Week 14 of the NFL season. The longer podcast, with the accompanying shorter shows, such as the Parlay Power Plays of the Week, Top 5 Bets of the Week, and NFL Betting Lines- Odds and Line Comparison, as well as the NCAA Football and over under segment, have all proven to be big hits for much of the season. Along with the podcasts, Miller also posts stories on the How to Bet website for the Thursday Night Football Bets, the Sunday Night Football Bets, the Monday Night Football Bets, and an overview of the whole week’s upcoming NFL Betting Lines, including all the opening lines and the current spreads, so bettors can have up to date lines all the way up until kickoff. With the playoffs now in sight, for both NCAA football and the NFL, the crew hopes to pick it up a notch, for all the bettors watching, and reading, around the world. “We had to battle for a few weeks there, right there around the middle of the season, when there were upsets every time I checked the scores,” Miller said. “It was a little bit crazy. But Daryl and I have been pretty hot over the last few weeks. I know personally my picks have been winning money, and that is the name of the game here for bettors. “There are 14 NFL games each week, and in the coming weeks we will start getting 16 games again. We try to focus on the games that we think will make the bettors the most money. It is hard to say the easiest games to pick, because there are no easy games. This season has been very tough to figure out: teams are up and down, and there have been so many unpredictable results. But what I, and I know Daryl, try to do is find a bet that might be more predictable. “There are some hot teams right now, and if you have been riding the Dolphins, Chiefs, or Washington, you could be sitting pretty right now. Then, of course, you can also find a lot of prop bets to play. If you can hit a +300 or +400 bet or two, you are already ahead for the week.” One of the things that has been most challenging to the duo is the chaos of the 2021 NFL season: entering Week 14, only six (and you could make an argument really only four) of the 32 teams are out of the playoff race with just four weeks to go. There are still two divisions (AFC North and AFC West) with all four teams at.500 or better, and the AFC has 12 teams at.500 or greater, and another, the Miami Dolphins, just one game under, which is a record for this late in a season. Of course, this is the first 17-game campaign ever, so we might see some more mayhem in the coming month. “I just think this season has been so interesting to watch, and of course to try to handicap and bet,” Miller said. “There are six games this week between teams that are between 5-7 and 8-6. Those teams are obviously not the elite of the season, but if you just look at what the Kansas City Chiefs have done of late, Washington, or Miami, if you can get hot right now and get into the playoffs, you will think you have a chance. “Just remember, last year, Tampa Bay was an afterthought as a Wild Card, and then won three games in a row to play the Super Bowl at home. Could one of the teams sitting there, down the standings, do the same in February?” One thing is for sure, though, through all of this chaos: the How to Bet crew is going to be pushing forward for the next month, getting ready for the NFL playoffs, and of course the BCS Playoffs at the end of December. About HowToBet.com HowToBet.com offers one of the world’s most comprehensive betting guides that can be accessed via a user-friendly web app. Its mission is to help make online betting safe, fun and as easy as performing a search on the web. There are already more than 400+ how-to guides freely available, all written by seasoned betting professionals. More guides are being added on a weekly basis in a continued effort to educate anyone interested in what is now a $199 billion betting industry. For more details, visit: https://www.howtobet.com/about-us/. Contact Details HowToBet.com Cristian Campan +45 50 30 42 66 cristian.campan@raketech.com Company Website https://www.howtobet.com

December 08, 2021 07:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

Expo 2020 Dubai Enters The Metaverse World Connecting Millions Across The Physical & Digital Globally

Magnopus

From today, anyone anywhere can experience the magic of Expo 2020 Dubai with friends and family. The World Expo has teamed up with Magnopus to offer an enriching digital experience for millions of on-site and remote visitors from around the world. Expo Dubai Xplorer sets a new standard for accessibility and inclusivity to large events and expands the World Expo’s vision of ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’ into the virtual world of Metaverse. The multi-player experience is available on iOS and Android powered by cloud-hosted services developed by Magnopus. Unique features include: Real-time connectivity between on-site and remote users across the physical and digital divide. One of the largest deployments in the world of persistent Cloud Anchors which allow millions of on-site visitors to experience AR spectacles aligned accurately to real world locations. A social, interactive digital twin of the 4.38km² Expo site—a living world built from the architectural files of the site and enriched with content and experiences. Uniting The Physical & Digital Users can customize their own AI-powered avatar and connect with others in real-time across the physical and digital divide. Standing on the Expo site, a visitor may see a friend from the other side of the world (viewed through the lens of their phone) as an avatar they can share experiences with, and communicate with via group creation and messaging. On-site hardware will also link the physical and digital worlds. Smart screens called “Digital World Viewers” show views of digital content to enhance the physical landscape for visitors. The desktop application is designed to mimic the capabilities of the mobile applications by connecting to the same cloud services for local content and avatar display. Augmented Reality Aligned To Real World Locations By using ARCore Cloud Anchors by Google for hundreds of location-specific activations around the site, visitors will experience entertaining and educational AR content relevant to wherever they are at Expo 2020 Dubai. AR activations including mysterious portals to far-off places, treasure hunts through history, and magical creature encounters are all aligned to real world locations with centimeter accuracy. This is currently one of the largest deployments of ARCore Cloud Anchors in the world. Geospatial authoring interfaces and global content delivery networks for updating and publishing new content in real-time enable designers to release new interactive AR experiences anywhere on the site during the run of Expo 2020 Dubai. Powered by a set of cloud-hosted services, content is automatically streamed down to the user's device when they approach a location or interact with an experience, without impacting the application’s install size. This enables users to experience any number of magical AR moments, all from a relatively small application on their device, and new or updated experiences can be pushed while the visitor is still in the app. Remote visitors can access the same AR content and experiences, over a connected digital twin of the site, via an interface similar to popular mobile games like Fortnite or Roblox. A Live, Social Digital Twin The digital twin of the Expo site covers more than 200 buildings from the world’s leading architects across a huge 4.38km 2 site, including 192 unique country pavilions. Hundreds of artists working around the world spent more than two years creating the living digital replica, enhancing it with dynamic lighting, art installations, animated experiences, and stunning spectacles. Virtual reality was used to collaboratively develop the designs and experiences so they could be tested before the physical site was even built. The visitor experience geolocates content on the site in real-time, so the digital twin has been built to a high degree of accuracy, at 1:1 scale from the architect’s CAD files, and confirmed with “as-builts”. Due to the size and detail of the site, it can’t be stored on visitor’s devices in its entirety and is streamed to visitors based on their location and proximity. The system also accounts for the performance capabilities of the visitor’s device to deliver the highest quality representation possible. Ben Grossmann, CEO of Magnopus, says, “This is the biggest space to date, connected across the physical and digital worlds. These ‘connected spaces’ are the building blocks of the new immersive web, or Metaverse. We’ve been working on these kinds of experiences and technologies for many years, and it was thrilling to take things to the next level to bring this grand vision to life with the Innovation and Future Technologies team at Expo 2020 Dubai." Rehan Asad, Chief Program Officer for Expo 2020 Dubai, says, “The Virtual Expo is an important part of delivering Expo 2020 Dubai’s promise and purpose— ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future ’. In 2013, Expo 2020 Dubai promised the world to host not only the best ever physical Expo but also the very best virtual Expo. That commitment and COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us to find innovative ways to share the Expo experience and content of our once-in-a-lifetime World Expo with a larger global audience who may not be able to travel from around the world. Magnopus and the wider team have unified the most innovative technologies into one integrated experience that truly brings Expo 2020’s creative vision to life in the digital and virtual world.” Daisy Leak, the project’s Executive Producer, says, “The global pandemic has affirmed that events can no longer be purely physical, or with only a perfunctory video streaming presence. By uniting 200 countries in a common experience, and making that experience available to visitors both on-site in Dubai and around the world, in an engaging and spatial context, we hope to serve as an example of what the future offers to unite people and places in a better way.” The multiplayer experience has been in development for nearly three years with world-class partners including Google, Unity Technologies, and Amazon Web Services with key contributions from: REWIND (experience design and platform development) Virtuos (3D asset development) Hexagram (quest narrative design and technology) Pinscreen (avatar technology with AI-driven face synthesis) Dog Studio (web development for Virtual Expo connected to content databases) VIM (BIM conversion technology) Terahard (activation development) Activated Realities (activation development) Source Sound (audio design and development) Expo Dubai Xplorer is available to download now on iOS and Android. About Magnopus Founded in 2013, Magnopus creates experiences and technologies that unite the physical and digital worlds. Magnopus is known for its continuous innovation in the entertainment industry; its Emmy-nominated VR projects; its role as a leader in virtual production through its groundbreaking work on Disney’s The Lion King (2019); and its pioneering work in AR. This year Magnopus acquired REWIND, a UK spatial design and innovation company, to further its mission to merge the physical and digital and lay the foundation for the new immersive web. About Expo 2020 Dubai From 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai welcomes visitors from every corner of the globe to join the making of a new world, as it brings together the planet in one place to reimagine tomorrow @ www.virtualexpodubai.com With the purpose of ‘ Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, Expo 2020 is the world’s most impactful global incubator for new ideas, catalysing an exchange of new perspectives and inspiring action to deliver real-life solutions to real-world challenges Expo 2020 is the biggest cultural gathering in the world, presenting a visually striking and emotionally inspiring 182 days, as more than 200 participants – including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses, and educational institutions, as well as millions of visitors – create the largest and most diverse World Expo ever Expo 2020’s sub themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability inspire visitors to preserve and protect our planet, explore new frontiers and build a better future for everyone For six months, Expo 2020 is be a must-visit family destination, with thousands of events, amazing exploratory experiences, and free entry for children up to age 18 Expo is committed to building a more equitable and just world for everyone, while keeping visitors safe by following the latest guidance of the world’s leading medical, science and health experts Expo 2020 is the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, located on a 4.38 sqkm site adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South Built with a meaningful and measurable long-term legacy in mind, the Expo site will transform into District 2020 – a model global community that will rethink the cities of the future – after Expo 2020 closes its doors Contact Details Clear Andrew Graham +1 646-385-0189 asg@agencyclear.com Rewind Jude Forbes +44 1727 261007 jude@rewind.co Company Website https://www.magnopus.com/

December 07, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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