Borders(R) and Michael Eisner's Vuguru Join Forces to Offer Original Internet Series,...

Borders(R) and Michael Eisner's Vuguru Join Forces to Offer Original Internet
Series, 'Robin Cook's Foreign Body: The Prequel,' on Borders.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Borders announced a new
alliance with Michael Eisner's independent media studio, Vuguru, to distribute
the innovative Web series, "Robin Cook's Foreign Body: The Prequel," through
the retailer's newly launched Borders.com site and to members of the Borders
Rewards(R) loyalty program, which now number over 26 million.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSLOGO )
Borders, together with Vuguru, will offer its customers a series of 50
two-minute episodes that are the prequel to international best-selling author
Robin Cook's novel, "Foreign Body." Cook's "Foreign Body" follows two young
Indian beauties that are coaxed into traveling to Southern California by a
group of cunning, cutthroat medical entrepreneurs who promise to help
cultivate their nursing training in the States by offering them the American
dream. The plot delves into the world of medical tourism with twists and turns
of seduction, murder and international intrigue.
Beginning today, customers can watch the first two episodes of the series
at www.BordersMedia.com/foreignbody. New episodes can be viewed daily
thereafter, culminating with the last installment airing Aug. 4. Cook's new
novel, "Foreign Body," to be published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, will be released
nationwide Aug. 5. Borders is also the exclusive online book retailer for
Vuguru's official "Foreign Body" Web site. Customers interested in
pre-ordering copies of Cook's upcoming thriller can place their orders at
www.BordersMedia.com/foreignbody.
"By teaming with Vuguru to offer our customers access to 'Foreign Body:
The Prequel' - exciting, high-quality digital programming - we are truly
elevating the shopping experience for our customers and differentiating our
company from our competitors," said Borders Group Chief Executive Officer
George Jones. "Now, customers can watch and learn the backstory to 'Foreign
Body' via these Web episodes on Borders.com before ever reading the book. It's
a great way for readers to catch the excitement of a new release."
"This unique marriage of offline and online content has created exciting
new partnership opportunities for Vuguru around the 'Foreign Body' series,"
said Michael Eisner. "We're thrilled to be in business with Borders, a company
that has truly embraced the emergence of digital media and continues to adapt
to its evolving landscape."
About Borders Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a
$3.8 billion retailer of books, music and movies. Through its subsidiaries it
operates more than 1,100 stores and employs approximately 30,000 people
worldwide. The company recently launched Borders.com for online shopping. More
information on the company is available at www.borders.com.
About Vuguru
Vuguru is a new media studio for Michael Eisner's The Tornante Company.
The studio produces and distributes innovative story-driven content for
current new media and emerging platforms. Vuguru's production of Prom Queen is
the first of many shows developed and produced by the studio. Privately held,
The Tornante Company makes investments in and incubates companies and
opportunities in the media and entertainment space. Tornante, which recently
acquired The Topps Company Inc., owns Team Baby Entertainment and has an
ownership stake in Veoh Networks. More information on Vuguru is available at
www.vuguru.com.
About Robin Cook
Dr. Robin Cook, who is widely credited with introducing the word "medical"
to the thriller genre and 29 years after the publication of his breakthrough
novel, "Coma," continues to dominate the category he created. His most recent
"The New York Times" best sellers include "Crisis," "Critical," "Marker,"
"Seizure," and "Shock." Cook's medical thrillers have successfully combined
medical fact with fiction to produce a succession of 25 "The New York Times"
best sellers that have been translated into 40 languages.
SOURCE Borders

Kolleen O'Meara, Borders, +1-734-477-1224, komeara@bordersgroupinc.com; or
Adam Schiff, Vuguru, +1-212-981-5216, adam_schiff@dkcnews.com