For further information, contact Terry Curtin of Universal Pictures, 818 777 1842.
Universal Pictures To Launch New Web Site Providing Studio's Weekly Boxoffice Information
Universal Pictures will launch a new Web site on Monday, November 29, which will report the studio's actual boxoffice figures, it was announced today by Kenton Low, President, Universal Studios Online and Nikki Rocco, President, Universal Pictures Distribution. Unlike boxoffice figures published elsewhere on Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday), which are only estimates reported the previous morning, this Web site will provide the actual totals as soon as they become available in a consistent and user-friendly manner. The web site, which can be accessed at http://www.universal-boxoffice.com, will also include domestic feature film boxoffice information and will eventually include an archive listing of grosses on past Universal releases, international numbers, home video figures, as well as other relevant studio information. Universal Pictures will post the grosses from the weekend box office every Monday at 12:30 p.m. when the final figures become available, and will be expanding the site to include automatic e-mail notification of site updates for users who register to the site. In addition, the boxoffice site will contain links to the Universal Pictures web site at (http://www.universalpictures.com) as well as the studio's Web site at (http://www.universalstudios.com). In making the announcement, Kenton Low said, ""We're very excited about the wealth of opportunities this new web site will provide both the studio and the general public. We will now be able to provide a vital service which was previously unavailable to the media, while providing a new visitation site for the consumer."" Nikki Rocco added, ""With estimated grosses being reported every Monday by the trade and consumer press, we're concerned that these figures are being mistaken for the actual totals, which generally are not reported until the next day. This new Web site gives us the opportunity to post the final, documented figures on a timely basis. In addition, we are able to create a substantial data base which will make available historical boxoffice information about the studio, to both internal and external audiences."" About Universal Pictures Universal Pictures is a part of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com), a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd., a global entertainment and beverage company. Source: Universal Pictures Web Site: http://www.universal-boxoffice.com