Today, USA TODAY NETWORK, a unit of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), announced new enhancements to its full-screen, high-impact ad unit, Gravity, with the addition of 360 video. Launched today with Club Med, this makes it the industry’s first high-impact takeover ad with 360 capabilities. Developed in-house by the USA TODAY NETWORK product team, the ad demonstrates how the NETWORK and the iconic all-inclusive brand, Club Med, continue to be at the forefront of ad innovation, providing new ways to engage the NETWORK’s audience across 109 local properties and its national property, USA TODAY.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160801005803/en/

Launched as the world’s first IMAX-style advertising experience on the web in August 2014, the Gravity ad unit continues to significantly outperform industry benchmarks. In the second quarter of 2016, the unit performed with an 83% in-view rate and 60% interaction rate for ads that ran on desktop across the USA TODAY NETWORK, as recorded by MOAT Analytics.

“With USA TODAY NETWORK continuing to push the boundaries on storytelling in virtual reality and 360 video, it was a natural extension to offer the same immersive opportunity to our advertising partners,” said Daniel Bernard, Chief Product Officer. “Having high-engagement and interaction rates, adding 360 into the Gravity unit will drive further consumer interaction and time spent with a brand’s interactive story.”

Club Med’s Gravity 360 ad, that launched today on USA TODAY Travel, takes viewers through one of its 22 ski resorts, offering an inside look at its accommodations, dining experiences, and a journey down the slopes as well as some of its unique amenities such as a rock climbing wall.

“Club Med continuously strives for new ways to be at the forefront of the digital revolution and for consumers to get to know its resorts – most recently with our virtual reality videos and now with this 360 advertisement. Being the first to utilize USA TODAY NETWORK’s new advertising technology provides an immersive 360 experience at one of our 20 all-inclusive Alpine ski resorts, Club Med Val Thorens, France,” says Sabrina Cendral, VP of Marketing and Digital for Club Med North America.

The new Gravity 360 ad can be of any variety or length can play continuously through an auto-loop feature. A viewer education box appears the first time the unit is initiated to help educate the viewer on how to interact with the 360 video ad unit. Gravity 360 is supported on desktop in Chrome for both Mac and Windows, on Firefox on Mac and ie Edge browsers. For non-supported browsers, the ad will display in a traditional 2D video experience.

About USA TODAY NETWORK

The USA TODAY NETWORK is the largest local to national media network in the country. Powered by integrated and award-winning news organizations with deep roots in 109 local communities, plus USA TODAY, the multiplatform news network informs and engages more than 100 million people every month through its diverse portfolio of digital, mobile, and publishing products.

About Club Med

Club Med is recognized as the pioneer and all-inclusive market leader offering over 65 premium resorts in stunning locations around the world including the United States, Caribbean, Asia, South America, Europe, Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East. Each Club Med resort features authentic local style and comfortably chic accommodations, superior sports programs and activities for all ages, enriching children's programs, and gourmet dining and premium drinks all supported by our renowned international staff. The brand’s 22 ski resorts also provide world-class ski and snowboard instruction and lift tickets as part of their all-inclusive offering to create a seamless vacation experience.

USA TODAY NETWORKFor media inquiries, contact:Stephanie TackachSenior Manager, PR212-715-5490stackach@gannett.comorFor investor inquiries, contact:Michael P. DickersonVice President, Investor Relations703-854-6185mdickerson@gannett.comorClub MedTanya Ansaldi SacchiPublic Relations & Partnerships Manager786-564-6309tanya.ansaldi@clubmed.com

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