Contact:
Gita Chandra, gita@mkpr.com
MKPR, 212.627.8098 (for Webby Awards)
Jennifer Daumler, jennifer.daumler@level3.com
Level 3 Communications 720-888-3356
LEVEL 3 TO BE LEAD EVENT SPONSOR
OF 11th ANNUAL WEBBY AWARDS
Company to Provide Nominees and Winners Opportunity to
Highlight Achievements on Level 3’s “Red Couch”
New York, New York –(May 29, 2007)- The Webby Awards announced today that Level 3 Communications will serve as the lead event sponsor of The 11th Annual Webby Awards, which will be held in New York City on June 5, 2007.
Hailed as the “OSCARS® of the Internet” by New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards honoring Websites, online film and video, interactive advertising, and mobile content. Level 3 is an international communications company, operating one of the largest Internet backbones in the world.
The star-studded ceremony will also recognize a remarkable slate of special achievement honorees, including rock legend David Bowie, eBay President and CEO Meg Whitman on behalf of the eBay community, and YouTube founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen.
“We are excited to be a sponsor of The 11th Annual Webby Awards,” said Brady Rafuse, president of Level 3’s Content Markets Group. “Level 3’s network serves as a foundation to connect people and information via the Internet, and it is our pleasure to be involved in honoring those who are pushing the envelope in the use of this global communications network.”
“We are proud to be working with a sponsorship partner like Level 3 that shares our commitment to innovation and honoring excellence,” said David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards.
As part of its sponsorship, Level 3 will be presenting its “Red Couch” at The Webby Film and Video Awards on June 4th and The 11th Annual Webby Awards on June 5th. On the “Red Couch”, Webby winners will have an opportunity to be interviewed about the expanding range of possibilities they envision through the Internet. Selected interviews and videos will be available at www.Level3.com/redcouch after the event.
“The Web is growing and developing faster than ever, due in large part to the 2007 Webby nominees,” said Rafuse. “Over a quarter of the nominees this year are Level 3 customers; the rest likely traverse the Level 3 network whether or not they realize it. We are very pleased to be offering additional opportunities for these innovators to highlight their accomplishments.”
The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization with over 550 members including musician David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, Internet inventor and Google Chief Internet Evangelist Vinton Cerf, “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, and fashion designer Max Azria.
With international nominees up nearly 30 percent over 2006, The Webbys received more than 8,000 entries from a record 60 countries.
For more information on The Webby Awards, please visit www.webbyawards.com.
About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT), an international communications company, operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world. Through its customers, Level 3 is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers. The company provides a comprehensive suite of services over its broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, voice services and voice over IP services. These services provide building blocks that enable Level 3’s customers to meet their growing demands for advanced communications solutions. The company’s Web address is www.Level3.com.
About The Webby Awards:
Hailed as the “OSCARS® of the Internet” by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile web sites. Established in 1996, the 11th Annual Webby Awards received a record 8,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Adobe; The Creative Group; Verizon; AOL Video; dotMobi; The Barbarian Group; CondéNast|CondéNet; Level3; Adweek; Fortune; Reuters; Variety; Wired; IDG: Brightcove; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail and Museum of the Moving Image.
About the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS):
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences is dedicated to the creative, technical, and professional progress of the internet and interactive media. The Academy is an intellectually diverse organization that includes over a global organization with over 550 members including musician David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, The Body Shop president Anita Roddick, “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, and fashion designer Max Azria. The Webby Awards and The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences are registered trademarks of International Data Group. For more information, visit www.iadas.net.
OSCAR® is a federally registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Webby Awards and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences are in no way affiliated with or sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or OSCAR®.
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