Is TIB in Getty's Future?

will be allowed to see.

Films division to add to their Energy Film.

This would give them a commanding position in the stock footage market.

strong illustration division with the acquisition of TIB.

probably fold into EyeWire -- fold into Photo Disc -- etc. etc. It would tend to

consolidate the RF competition as well as the Rights Protected competition.

for any of their brands. This fits neatly in their acquisition strategy. Some Getty

investors on the Yahoo message board are asking if Getty will ever be able to

actually grow the market.

What's It Do For The Photographers?

will be on the new "Getty One" hub directed toward creative professionals.

The two companies might retain separate editing departments, but it would seem likely

that the catalog philosophy and certainly the on-line philosophy would be totally

integrated.

section of creators so they get a full range of possible solutions for any creative

problem. On the other hand they want to limit the amount of new material they put

on-line or in print catalogs.

This probably means that they will continue to "cherry pick" taking very few images

from each photographer and locking up the best work of as many photographers as

possible. They are likely to be even more selective than they are now. As one Tony

Stone photographer says, "Is that possible?"

the world except New York and Boston. Will the TIB shooters be offered the standard

TSI contract which is a better deal for them? Will the TSI shooter be pressured to

accept even lower percentages to conform with those being paid to TIB photographers?

Will TIB photographers get preference in catalog selection because they are willing

to accept lower percentage than TSI shooters?

Online USA

Another rumor coming from The Seattle Times is that Getty Images has acquired Online

USA, a leading provider of celebrity news and event photographer on the web. The

deal is said to be worth about $2 million, but still has not been announced publicly

by Getty Images.

Online USA has about 30,000 images online. They specialize in fast-breaking

celebrity news coverage and provide photos to hundreds of magazines and newspapers

worldwide. It will become part of the Press and Editorial Division of Getty whose

other brands include Liaison Agency, Allsport and Hulton Getty.

Real Networks

In an effort to try to reach consumers Getty announced today an agreement with

RealNetworks, Inc. to connect the more than 70 million users of RealNetworks products

to Getty Images' visual content on the Internet.

As part of the agreement, Getty Images' leading brands, commencing with EyeWire,

PhotoDisc, and Hulton Getty, are featured visual content providers for RealSlideshow

Plus, enabling users to easily create streaming media presentations using a broad

array of contemporary stock and editorial photographs, illustrations, and clip art.

Through the RealNetworks' web site at www.real.com, RealSlideShow Plus customers can

select from a collection of thousands of free images for use in their online

broadcasts. RealNetworks develops and markets software products and services

designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices

to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web.

The complete libraries of EyeWire, PhotoDisc, and Hulton Getty - consisting of

hundreds of thousands of royalty-free and rights-protected photographs, footage and

audio clips, illustrations, and clip art - are available to all RealNetworks

customers for purchase through numerous links on RealNetworks' web site.

Additionally, selected images and clips from Getty Images' collections can be

purchased through RealStore at www.realstore.com.

Beginning in November, EyeWire will feature and resell RealSlideshowPlus,

RealProducer, and other RealNetworks products through its web site www.eyewire.com

and in EyeWire's award-winning catalog.

"Getty Images offers RealNetworks users, particularly RealSlideshow and RealProducer

customers, all the components they need photographs, footage, illustrations, clip

art, and audio to create media rich, online presentations and broadcasts," said Len

Jordan, Senior Vice President, Media Systems, RealNetworks. "Businesses rely on a

hybrid of visual and audio content to communicate ideas, and Getty Images is the

leading worldwide provider that supports these diverse needs with its family of

industry-leading brands."

"The impressive royalty-free content that Getty Images has provided offers a

wonderful opportunity for RealSlideshow Plus customers to easily and immediately get

started," said Ben Rotholtz, General Manager, Media Systems, RealNetworks. "The

quality and breadth of Getty Images' offerings also ensures that customers will come

back to Getty Images as their creative and business needs grow."

The agreement with RealNetworks illustrates how Getty Images leverages its many

branded collections to offer compelling solutions for both strategic partners and

customers. In addition to its exceptional breadth of content, Getty Images' focus on

e-commerce capability and seamless Internet access to its collections enables the

company to easily link its product offerings with complementary online brands, such

as RealNetworks, expanding its customer reach.

"The partnership with RealNetworks is a clear example of how Getty Images is creating

opportunities for both creative professionals and business users to access great

digital photography, audio and video," said Jonathan Klein, co-founder and Chief

Executive Officer of Getty Images. "Partnerships, such as this one with

RealNetworks, accelerate our strategy of creating online vertical portals for both

these key audiences."