J.K. Rowling Announces Pottermore

LONDON, June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- J.K. Rowling today, Thursday 23rd June, answered mounting speculation about the nature of her new project and announced Pottermore, a unique and free-to-use website which builds an exciting online experience around the reading of her hugely successful Harry Potter books, and is partnered by Sony.

The announcement today was heralded by the revealing of the website's name via an online search for its letters, and a 'coming soon' holding page which received over a million visits within 36 hours of launching.

For this groundbreaking collaborative project, J.K. Rowling has written extensive new material about the characters, places and objects in the much-loved stories, which will inform, inspire and entertain readers as they journey through the storylines of the books. Pottermore will later incorporate an online shop where people can purchase exclusively the long-awaited Harry Potter eBooks, in partnership with her publishers worldwide, and is ultimately intended to become an online reading experience, extending the relevance of Harry Potter to new generations of readers, while still appealing to existing fans. As the Pottermore Shop develops, it is intended that it should include further products designed specifically for Harry Potter fans, offering a potential outlet for Sony products and services related to Pottermore. In keeping with Harry Potter's international appeal, the site will launch in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, with more languages to follow.

In the new website, which launches in Beta on 31st July, the storylines will be brought to life with sumptuous newly-commissioned illustrations and interactive 'Moments' through which you can navigate, starting with the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone . On entering, you choose a magic username and begin your experience. As you move through the chapters, you can read and share exclusive writing from J.K. Rowling, and, just as Harry joins Hogwarts, so can you. You visit Diagon Alley, get sorted into a house, and cast spells and mix potions to help your house compete for the House Cup.

At a press conference at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Rowling revealed some key features of the website. In an announcement which will thrill fans, she described how she has brought to life both the Sorting Hat and Ollivanders experiences from her books for the first time on Pottermore, by revealing the questions asked by the Sorting Hat - which places newcomers into their Hogwarts houses according to their characteristics - and the magic behind the Wand Chooser – which finds the right wand for each user from over 33,000 possible combinations. She also revealed glimpses of the new information she has provided on some of the best-loved characters.

J.K. Rowling 's announcement on YouTube and sony.com today revealed that Pottermore (along with the Pottermore Shop) will be open to all users in October 2011.  From today, 23rd June, fans can submit their email addresses on Pottermore.com in order to be contacted by the site following the opening of registration on 31st July, Harry's birthday. Also on that date, an online challenge will be launched, whereby the first million people to complete their registration will gain early entry into the website, and help put final touches to the experience.

J.K. Rowling commented,

"I wanted to give something back to the fans that have followed Harry so devotedly over the years, and to bring the stories to a new digital generation. I hope fans and those new to Harry will have as much fun helping to shape Pottermore as I have. To add to my input into the website, everyone will be able to join in by submitting their own comments, drawings and other content in a safe and friendly environment – Pottermore has been designed as a place to share the stories with your friends as you journey through the site."

Pottermore has been made possible with the support and partnership of Sony.

Sir Howard Stringer,  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President  of Sony Corporation, commented:

"Sony's association with J.K. Rowling's Pottermore brings together one of the world's  most innovative brands with the most successful book series in history, in a pioneering partnership that will help shape the future of story-telling. We are proud to be a part of it, both at this momentous announcement, and as we collaborate on its development over the coming years."

On Sony's partnership of Pottermore, J.K. Rowling commented:

"As I think people know, I am very protective of Harry and have always been very selective with any new initiatives, but I am totally committed to making this partnership with Sony and this wonderful new website a success. There are many companies I could have worked with on this ultimate digital expression of Harry Potter's universe, but it is Sony's unique philosophy of creativity in harmony with technology that made them my first choice. The spirit behind Sony's make.believe philosophy is one that rings true with Pottermore's own values."

The detailed creative execution has been led by TH_NK, a leading UK digital agency, under the supervision of J.K. Rowling and the Pottermore management tea m, in co-operation with Sony. J.K. Rowling 's publishers, Bloomsbury in the UK and Scholastic in the USA, as well as her international publishers worldwide, have been active supporters in the creation of pottermore.com and the Pottermore Shop. Warner Bros, the makers of the hugely successful Harry Potter film franchise , is also one of the partners who have worked to support the launch of Pottermore through a variety of marketing, promotional and other efforts and will continue to collaborate as the project grows .

The storyline of the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, will go live on the site in early 2012.  The Pottermore Shop opens when the site opens to all in October, selling complete ranges of the eBooks and digital audiobooks in a selection of languages, exclusively.

Designed for fans of all ages, the website has been created with child safety in mind, employing best practice and compliance with internet codes of practice in the UK, Europe and USA, and elsewhere.

For further information, electronic press kit and visuals, please contact J K Rowling’s PR team:
Mark Hutchinson [email protected] tel 07904 359 339
Rebecca Salt [email protected] tel 01620 829 800 or 07970 783 213
For Sony: Lisa Gephardt [email protected] (U.S.) tel 917-797-6036

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. An Electronic Press Kit, and set of images including pictures of J.K. Rowling and visuals from the website, are available from J K Rowling PR (details above) and at the Pottermore press room at www.pottermore.com/en/press.

2. J.K. Rowling's Pottermore announcement is at www.youtube.com/jkrowlingannounces and www.sony.com from 12.00 midday BST on 23rd June.

3. From 23rd June, fans can submit their e-mail addresses to Pottermore.com in order to be contacted by the site following the opening of registration on 31st July, Harry Potter's birthday.

4. On 31st July, an online challenge will be launched on Pottermore.com. 1 million of those successfully completing it will be granted early access to the Beta version of the website, enabling them to help put finishing touches before it opens to all in October 2011. Details of the challenge will be revealed on 31st July.

5. About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $87 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/

6. The Pottermore management team comprises CEO Rod Henwood and COO Tom Turcan, and the project has been overseen by Neil Blair, J.K. Rowling's agent. UK digital agency TH_NK have designed and built the website, and agency Adam & Eve have carried out the marketing.  Biographies and company profiles are available in the Electronic Press Kit.

The animation for the J.K. Rowling announcement was created by Anderson M Studios, and the film was produced by Adam & Eve.

7. The Harry Potter books have been the most successful book series of all time. Each of the seven books has broken sales records, with the series to date having sold approximately 450 million copies worldwide, distributed in over 200 territories and translated into 70 languages, as well as being turned into blockbuster films.

8. J.K. Rowling will not be doing interviews other than the announcement Press Conference. Rod Henwood, CEO of Pottermore, and other site representatives, are available for limited interviews.

SOURCE Sony