Up and running since 1 December 2006, http://axn.jumboplay.com provides subscribers with an unrivalled, all-round entertainment experience. Sister channel, Animax will launch its website http://animax.jumboplay.com on February 1 2007. This move by SPE Networks - Asia is to keep up to speed with the digital habits of both AXN and Animax viewers who, by and large, are very tech-savvy and have great interest in gaming.

Mr. Ricky Ow, General Manager of SPE Networks – Asia says, "The Internet and PC entertainment has grown tremendously since its introduction in the consumer market. Over a short period, the PC and Internet have become reliable sources of entertainment. As part of our commitment to deliver a holistic, 360 degree entertainment experience to our viewers, the tie-up with Dragonback Media shows that the channels are serious in connecting with our viewers beyond television."

The co-branded sites open the floodgates of a large inventory of PC and console games from notable publishers such Eidos, PlayFirst, Atari, Ubisoft and Microsoft, and new games are added every single month. In a bid to stake its claim as a premium entertainment service provider, JumboPlay will be the first Asian-based Games on Demand service to carry PlayFirst titles and release the smash hit, the Diner Dash series, which has been downloaded and played by over 100 million people worldwide. The next installment, Diner Dash 3: Flo on the Go, is scheduled for release within the next two months.

Another Asian first will be the release of Atari’s newest Never Winter Nights 2, the sequel to the huge hit, Never Winter Nights, and scheduled for release in early January. The game is widely acknowledged to be the most anticipated PC game of 2006. The first release in the series has acquired blockbuster status.

Key titles also available on the two websites include Microsoft’s Age of Empires, and Age of Mythology series, as well as best selling family title Zoo Tycoon, followed by Zoo Tycoon 2 in the first half of 2007, Crytek/Ubisoft’s Far Cry, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, Rainbow 6, Prince of Persia and Ghost Recon series, Eidos’ Tomb Raider: Legends, Championship Manager, Deus Ex, the Hitman series, and Atari’s Crash Day and Act of War. Other publishers in the lineup include Oberon Media, Cenega, Enlight, Terminal Studios and many more.

The co-branding comes at the cusp of a boom in gaming. It is predicted that by 2009, Asian PC online gamers will increase to a total of 174 million users, with 103.1 million of them casual PC gamers; 47.4 million moderate PC gamers; 23.4 million hardcore PC gamers. The co-branded gamesite will be an additional channel through which AXN and Animax can connect with their viewers.

Ow continues, "After being revved up by the thrills on the channel, consumers can choose from JumboPlay’s massive offerings to extend their entertainment experience into the virtual world. From passive to interactive entertainment, AXN and Animax provide an unrivalled experience like no other."