Academic Distributing and Sony Pictures Digital Networks Expand Distribution Partnership for Education

[May 20, 2004]

Academic Distributing and Sony Pictures Digital Networks Expand Distribution Partnership for Education

DEWEY, Ariz. --(Business Wire)-- May 20, 2004 -- Academic Distributing Inc. and Sony Pictures Digital Networks today announced the expansion of their relationship, including an authorized reseller program for Sony Media Software products through Academic Distributing for the U.S. education channel. Effective July 1, 2004, Academic Distributing will become the sole distributor in this channel.

In the coming months, Academic Distributing will develop a broad array of comprehensive channel programs that will provide increased support of the entire line of Sony Media Software products which include such award-winning technologies as Vegas 5(R), ACID(R) Pro and Sound Forge(R) software. Academic Distributing's new initiatives will focus on increasing dealer support programs in order to establish higher market penetration to the rapidly growing educational segment. Sony Media Software also recently announced a new authorized reseller program to proactively partner with leading academic resellers who have demonstrated effective and creative sales and marketing programs.

"We are dedicated to supporting industry leaders like Sony Media Software. This partnership gives us an exciting opportunity to focus on a mutual long-term goal of increasing Sony's presence in education," said Garry Rogers, president, Academic Distributing. "Sony Media Software's products have a very strong sales history, and by introducing an authorized dealer program Sony is creating new opportunities for a very talented team of academic resellers," said Rogers.

"We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with Academic Distributing over the years and we value the energy, creativity and dedication that their entire team brings to the educational channel," said Brad Reinke, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Sony Pictures Digital Networks' Media Software Group. "We are proud to join forces with Academic Distributing and look forward to increasing both awareness and business opportunities in the marketplace for our entire software product line," said Reinke.

Sony Media Software products and site licenses for the U.S. educational channel are available exclusively through authorized academic resellers. For more information, please call 800-531-3227 or visit www.academic-wholesale.com.

About Sony Pictures Digital Networks

Sony Pictures Digital Networks -- a division of Sony Pictures Digital -- is responsible for broadband video delivery and personal media software and services.

The Media Software and Services division manages the following media creation software titles: Sound Forge(R) software, Vegas(R) software, CD Architect(TM) software, DVD Architect(TM) software, ACID(R) PRO software, Loops for ACID(TM) music libraries, Noise Reduction(TM) Plug-In, Sony(R) Screenblast(R) Movie Studio software, Sony Screenblast ACID 4.0 software and Sony Screenblast Sound Forge software. The team also runs ACIDplanet(R) (www.ACIDplanet.com), a worldwide community for progressive musicians. For additional product information, please visit www.sony.com/mediasoftware.

Sony Pictures Digital Networks is committed to making information and entertainment available anywhere, anytime, on any enabled device. Sony Pictures Digital is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. For more information, please visit www.sonypictures.com.

About Academic Distributing Inc.

Academic Distributing Inc., in business since 1989, is a leading U.S. distributor focused solely on delivering computing products to the academic market. Providing supply-chain services for more than 100 computer-product manufacturers, Academic Distributing's customers include more than 2,000 academic resellers throughout the United States and Canada.

ACID, Vegas, CD Architect, DVD Architect, Loops for ACID, Sound Forge, Noise Reduction Plug-In, Batch Converter and Screenblast are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Pictures Digital Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners in the United States and other countries.

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