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WILDBRAIN TEAMS UP WITH THE PHILLY SPECIALS–JASON KELCE, LANE JOHNSON AND JORDAN MAILATA–TO LAUNCH A NEW ANIMATED VIDEO FOR THEIR HIT HOLIDAY SONG “IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME (IN CLEVELAND HEIGHTS)” FEATURING BOYZ II MEN, FROM THEIR 2024 HOLIDAY ALBUM, A PHILLY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

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With lead vocals by famed NFL brothers, Jason and Travis Kelce, the new video drops today as part of The Philly Specials’ holiday charity initiative “Operation Snowball,” which also includes six new animated digital shorts from WildBrain

PHILADELPHIA and TORONTO, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – WildBrain, a global leader in kids’ and family entertainment, has teamed up with The Philly Specials—the music group formed by NFL Eagles Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata and retired Eagle, Jason Kelce —to produce a brand-new animated music video for their original song “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)” written by The Philly Specials’ Zach Miller (Dr. Dog) and featuring smooth guest vocals by Philadelphia’s iconic R&B trio, Boyz II Men. WildBrain has also produced six new animated shorts inspired by The Philly Specials that will be rolling out on social media this holiday season. WildBrain is making the new videos available for fans to enjoy on the WildBrain Kids YouTube channel and on WildBrain Television’s Family Channel in Canada.

 

WildBrain and The Philly Specials release new animated video for “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)”

The first single from A Philly Special Christmas Party (Vera Y Records), “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights),” debuted at #7 on the iTunes Holiday Chart this November and features brothers Jason and Travis Kelce singing about coming home at Christmas to Cleveland Heights, the Ohio suburb where they grew up. Produced by Charlie Hall (The War on Drugs) and executive producer Connor Barwin (Vera Y Records), the track is from The Philly Specials’ third and final holiday album, A Philly Special Christmas Party, a centerpiece of the group’s Operation Snowball, the ambitious charity initiative that will give a gift to every student in the School District of Philadelphia this holiday season. Proceeds from sales of A Philly Special Christmas Party will go to support Operation Snowball with the goal to exceed the $4 million donated in 2022 and 2023 from the sales of previous holiday albums, A Philly Special Christmas and A Philly Special Christmas Special.

The Philly Specials Rescue Santa

The new animated videos are produced in support of Operation Snowball by the talented team at WildBrain’s Vancouver studio—the folks behind such hits as Camp Snoopy on Apple TV+ and SEGA’s Sonic Prime on Netflix. The delightful new ’90s-R&B-meets-nostalgia music video for “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)” sees The Philly Specials embark on a thrilling animated expedition across the polar tundra to find Santa Claus and save Christmas for the world—and Cleveland Heights!

Following a trail of scattered gifts, The Philly Specials discover Santa’s sleigh has crashed into a snow drift on Christmas Eve, his toys have been lost and the reindeer have fled! Rescuing St. Nick, they team up with him and head to the North Pole in the wee hours (long after the Elves have gone to bed) to rebuild the lost toys and help make heroic deliveries around the world, ending in a triumphant return to Cleveland Heights.

Connor Barwin said: “We were delighted to work with WildBrain on the animated video for ‘It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights).’ Our goal was to capture the spirit of the song in a magical animated world with Jason, Travis and the whole Philly Specials gang. We wanted it to be fun for kids and a little nostalgic for adults, and the team at WildBrain nailed it. They were such a creative and collaborative group to work with, and we can’t wait for everyone to see it!”

Stephanie Betts, Executive Vice President of Content Creation at WildBrain, said: “We were thrilled to collaborate with The Philly Specials’ team and Vera Y Records on the video for ‘It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)’ and the accompanying social media shorts. It was a true pleasure for our team to bring their creative vision to life through animation, and we had an incredible time working together. Their dedication to children and families during the holiday season is nothing short of inspiring, and we were honored to support their efforts in making the world a brighter, better place.”

Get A Philly Special Christmas Party and support Operation Snowball

Fans can order the new album on white vinyl or CD from the official website below, or download it on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube music or wherever you stream your favorite songs. Fans can also support Operation Snowball by donating directly to The Fund for The School District of Philadelphia.

Find The Philly Specials Online:

Official: http://phillyspecialchristmas.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aphillyspecialchristmasYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aphillyspecialchristmasSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4JPJvxDtfBlQAiNm8dd7vX?si=Q4mf4KuhQXOinKfWHpKDCg

For more information, please contact:

For WildBrain: Shaun Smith – Sr. Director, Global Communications & Public Relations, WildBrain
shaun.smith@wildbrain.com 

For The Philly Specials: Maggie Poulos | Mixtape Media
Maggie@mixtape-media.com 

About WildBrain

At WildBrain we inspire imaginations through the wonder of storytelling. As a leader in 360° franchise management, we are experts in content creation, audience engagement and global licensing, cultivating and growing love for our own and partner brands around the world. With approximately 14,000 half-hours of kids’ and family content in our library—one of the world’s most extensive—we are home to such treasured franchises as Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Inspector Gadget and Degrassi. WildBrain’s mission is to create exceptional entertainment experiences that captivate and delight fans both young and young at heart.

Our studios produce such award-winning series as The Snoopy Show; Snoopy in Space; Camp Snoopy; Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City; Sonic Prime; Chip and Potato; Teletubbies Let’s Go! and many more. Enjoyed in more than 150 countries on over 500 platforms, our content is everywhere kids and families view entertainment, including YouTube, where our network has garnered approximately 1.5 trillion minutes of watch time. Our television group owns and operates some of Canada’s most loved family entertainment channels. WildBrain CPLG, our leading consumer-products and location-based entertainment agency, represents our owned and partner properties in every major territory worldwide.

WildBrain is headquartered in Canada with offices worldwide and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: WILD). Visit us at wildbrain.com.

About The Philly Specials

The Philly Specials are a collaboration between NFL players Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, and Lane Johnson and musicians including Stevie Nicks, Patti LaBelle, Boyz II Men, Devon Gilfillian, The Hooters, members of The War On Drugs, Dr. Dog, Sun Ra Arkestra and more. The project celebrates the true spirit of the holiday season through music, friendship, and joy while raising money to support charitable organizations throughout Greater Philadelphia. A Philly Special Christmas Special raised over $3M for local charities, including Children’s Crisis Treatment Center and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Snowflake Station. Singles, “This Christmas,” “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “Fairytale of Philadelphia,” and “Pretty Paper,” have garnered over 10M streams across platforms, “Fairytale of Philadelphia” reached #1 on iTunes, and 50,000 copies have been sold on vinyl. Its predecessor in 2022, A Philly Special Christmas, immediately sold out its limited pressing. The record reached four top ten spots on various Billboard Music Charts including #1 on the Compilation Albums Chart. A Philly Special Christmas donated over $1M to local charities, including Children’s Crisis Treatment Center, and fulfilled the wish lists of Philadelphia School District teachers via Donors Choose.

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SOURCE WildBrain Ltd.

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Innowise Named to 2026 CRN Tech Elite 250 List By The Channel Company

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WARSAW, Poland, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Innowise has officially secured a position on CRN’s 2026 Tech Elite 250. This annual ranking identifies IT solution providers across the US and Canada that have achieved top-tier status within the partner programs of the industry’s leading technology vendors. The inclusion follows a period of verified growth in technical proficiency and a focus on high-impact engineering.

“Innowise concentrates on creating scalable, resilient architectures that produce measurable benefits for our clients. The honor of being recognized by CRN highlights the commitment of our experts to maintain high standards in highly competitive markets,” said Dmitry Nazarevich, CTO at Innowise.

About the Tech Elite 250

The Tech Elite 250 is a directory of companies recognized as having the highest level of partnership and certifications within the global IT ecosystem. In order to reach the final list, the provider must hold the most advanced technical credentials from vendors like AWS, Cisco, Dell, HPE, IBM, Intel, Nutanix, and Nvidia.

This directory serves as a verified ledger for enterprise clients who need to orchestrate complex hardware and software stacks without letting legacy environments rot. Holding these certifications is mandatory to stop the cash bleed caused by inefficient infrastructure and unoptimized cloud usage.

About Innowise

Founded in 2007, Innowise is a global software engineering and IT consulting center. The company is focused on developing high-value technologies, including artificial intelligence, data engineering, and cloud computing. Innowise crafts technological solutions for companies across 40+ domains in order to assist them in updating, creating, and modernizing their digital ecosystems.

Innowise specializes in using established technologies and modular approaches to enable organizations to expand or shift their operations while retaining complete control over all their physical and intangible assets.

Media Contact

Lizaveta Piaskova, Innowise, 48 48 787 027 706, lizaveta.piaskova@innowise.com, innowise.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/innowise-named-to-2026-crn-tech-elite-250-list-by-the-channel-company-302751951.html

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Neusoft Showcases Full-Stack & Global Innovations at Auto China 2026

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BEIJING, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At Auto China 2026, Neusoft Corporation hosted a press conference on April 25th and announced three key strategic moves: the iteration of Neusoft OneCoreGo® Global In-Vehicle Intelligent Mobility Solution 7.0, the launch of Neusoft NAGIC.AI Cockpit Software Platform, and the strategic upgrade of its subsidiary, Neusoft Smart Go. By leveraging full-stack technology and a global ecosystem to drive innovation and empowerment, Neusoft is transforming vehicles into proactive, connected and collaborative mobile intelligent spaces.

OneCoreGo® Global In-Vehicle Intelligent Mobility Solution 7.0: An Evolved AI Companion for Global Intelligent Mobility

Intelligent mobility requires proactive perception, scenario integration, and global connectivity to meet personalized user needs and complex driving scenarios. Neusoft, whose products cover over 130 countries and regions worldwide, addresses these challenges with its OneCoreGo® Global In-Vehicle Intelligent Mobility Solution 7.0 through AI-driven innovation and global ecosystem collaboration. Powered by One Mate’s cross-agent collaboration and a sub-product matrix including One Map, One Sight, One Cloud, One Pay, One Store, One Link, and One Guard, the solution delivers full-link global mobility services spanning navigation, in-cabin AR, payment, app ecosystem services, connectivity and security. By breaking down functional silos, it streamlines multi-step operations into a single “depart” command, leveraging full-stack AI technology across perception, decision-making, interaction, and execution processes.

Guan Xin, Vice President of Neusoft and General Manager of Neusoft Automotive Innovative Solutions Division, said, “Adhering to the core principles of AI and globalization, OneCoreGo® 7.0 keeps innovating, evolving into a globally intelligent mobility companion that truly understands user needs.”

To enhance driving safety and mobility efficiency, OneCoreGo® 7.0 has also comprehensively upgraded its sub-products: One Map Global Navigation newly introduces 3D city effects, 3D lane-level maps, and traffic light guidance, offering dedicated solutions for two-wheelers and commercial vehicles as well. One Sight AR For Car improves navigation display effects, reducing instances of taking wrong routes. One Pay In-Vehicle Payment achieves over 90% payment coverage for parking services across core European cities. Combined with One Cloud’s global compliance cloud monitoring platform and One Guard’s full-stack vehicle networking security services, it creates a truly comprehensive OneCoreGo® Global In-Vehicle Intelligent Mobility Solution.

Neusoft NAGIC.AI Cockpit Software Platform: Dual-track Architecture for AI Integration in Every Vehicle

Amid the AI-driven transformation of the automotive industry, the market faces two challenges: limited computing power in legacy vehicles and high adaptation difficulties for next-gen models. Neusoft’s NAGIC.AI Cockpit Software Platform adopts a flexible “distributed + centralized” dual-track architecture approach. For existing vehicle models, it introduces the AI BOX solution, rapidly boosting computing power via external AI computing units, significantly reducing upgrade costs and timelines. For new vehicle models built on next-gen central computing platforms, Neusoft provides a full-stack AI cockpit software product suite, meeting automakers’ stringent requirements for system stability, reliability, and full-domain control.

Pang Hongyan, Vice President of Neusoft and General Manager of the Automotive Intelligent Software Division, said, “Our dual-track architecture enables every vehicle to embrace AI and enjoy an intelligent future. Both existing models and new-generation vehicles can find the most suitable path to intelligentization.”

Moreover, Neusoft’s NAGIC.AI Cockpit Software Platform features scenario-based, human-centric AI Agents seamlessly integrating driving safety, occupant care services, intelligent assisted driving and in-cabin entertainment. Neusoft also collaborates with global ecosystem partners to drive intelligent upgrades of in-cabin interaction products, fostering a more open and dynamic intelligent cockpit ecosystem.

Strategic Upgrade of Neusoft Smart Go: A World-leading Provider of Full-Domain Upper-Body Electronics Solutions for Intelligent Vehicles

Aligning with the trend of E/E architecture evolution from distributed control to “central computing + zonal control”, Neusoft Smart Go, a subsidiary of Neusoft in the field of intelligent vehicle connectivity, has completed a strategic upgrade, aiming to become a global leader in full-domain upper-body electronics solutions for intelligent vehicles.

This strategic upgrade positions Neusoft Smart Go to focus on full-domain scenarios in upper-body electronics, building a product matrix covering full-category in-vehicle electronics solutions, including central computing platforms, cockpit-driving-parking integration, intelligent cockpits, intelligent communications, intelligent audio systems, and zonal control units, and pioneering the integration of large model algorithms.

Jian Guodong, Senior Vice President of Neusoft and CEO of Neusoft Smart Go, said, “This strategic upgrade represents a significant leap from partial focus to comprehensive layout. Through our dual-track strategy of high-end cutting-edge solutions and mature standardized products, we can flexibly meet the mass production needs of vehicle models across different regions and price segments worldwide.” Neusoft Smart Go will provide mass-producible, adaptable hardware-software integrated solutions, empowering global automakers in achieving intelligent transformation.

Neusoft’s President, Mr.Gai Longjia stated, “In the future, Neusoft Smart Go will create stronger synergy with Neusoft Corporation by sharing internal technologies and capabilities while responding jointly to external demands. This specialized yet collaborative model will preserve business unit’s agility and expertise while enhancing Neusoft’s full-stack technological advantages.”

As a trusted partner in a smarter world, Neusoft is committed to collaborating with global automakers and ecosystem partners to build an open and inclusive intelligent automotive community together for the future of global mobility.

For more information about Neusoft, please visit www.neusoft.com.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/neusoft-showcases-full-stack–global-innovations-at-auto-china-2026-302753701.html

SOURCE Neusoft Corporation

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Lianlian DigiTech Returns to Money20/20 Asia to Expand Partnerships, Share Industry Trends, and Explore AI-Enabled Global Financial Infrastructure

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BANGKOK, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lianlian DigiTech, a leading global provider of digital payment services, was once again invited to participate in Money20/20 Asia, one of the world’s most influential fintech gatherings, held in Bangkok, Thailand from April 21 to 23. At the event, the company presented its latest developments in cross-border payment infrastructure, technology innovation, and ecosystem collaboration, offering a comprehensive view of its work enhancing global cross-border payment capabilities.

During the conference, Lianlian DigiTech announced a strategic partnership with UK-based fintech company USI Money to further strengthen its global cross-border payment network, delivering more efficient and reliable fund flows for merchants worldwide. Shen Enguang, Co-President of Lianlian DigiTech; Mark Ma, Head of Global Banking Partnership at LianLian Global; and Bryan Jiang, General Manager Hong Kong of LianLian Global, attended the event and engaged with representatives from international financial institutions. They shared perspectives on fintech trends and global payment innovation, offering industry insight into the continued evolution of a more integrated and interoperable cross-border payments ecosystem.

Building a Borderless Payment Network with Global Partners Including USI Money

At the event, Lianlian DigiTech formalized a strategic collaboration with London-headquartered USI Money to further develop its global payment infrastructure.

The partnership will focus on cross-border remittance and foreign exchange services, combining both companies’ technological capabilities and resources to deliver a one-stop payment and collection solution for global businesses. The offering is built to be efficient, secure, and cost-effective, improving overall fund flow efficiency and streamlining foreign exchange execution.

Syed Bukhari, Group Chief Business and Operating Officer at USI Money, said: “Our partnership with Lianlian will strengthen our remittance capabilities, creating greater value for our customers through broader network coverage and improved transaction performance.”

Bryan Jiang, General Manager Hong Kong of LianLian Global, said: “By leveraging the complementary strengths of our ecosystem partners in technology and compliance, Lianlian will continue to scale its global payment network and improve transaction efficiency. We remain committed to enhancing financial connectivity across global financial markets and delivering more efficient and reliable cross-border payment solutions for our customers.”

Founded in 2009 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2024 (2598.HK), Lianlian DigiTech is a China-based, globally focused digital payment company with increasingly integrated AI capabilities across its platform. Guided by its mission of “Connecting the world, Empowering global commerce,” the company focuses on developing a trusted and scalable financial infrastructure. As of the end of 2025, Lianlian DigiTech has built a cross-border payment network covering more than 100 countries and regions, serving over 10.4 million customers worldwide.

USI Money is a foreign exchange and international remittance service provider offering tailored cross-border financial solutions for businesses and individuals. With competitive real-time exchange rates and efficient execution as its core strengths, the company delivers fast, secure, and reliable global fund transfers.

In addition, Lianlian DigiTech co-hosted a networking session with Unlimit during the event, providing a forum for industry dialogue. The session brought together a broad group of fintech partners to explore collaborative models and help foster a more connected ecosystem.

Industry Roundtables: Unlocking Layered Collaboration in AI-Driven Cross-Border Payments and Advancing Financial Inclusion in Emerging Markets

At the same time, Mark Ma and Bryan Jiang were invited to the themed roundtable discussions, where they shared insights drawn from industry practice and outlined new approaches to aligning fintech innovation with the global financial system.

At the roundtable on “Fintech and Banks,” Mark Ma noted that the global payment system is rapidly shifting from isolated capabilities to a layered, collaborative model. Banks continue to serve as the foundational infrastructure, responsible for clearing networks and liquidity management. Fintech firms like Lianlian, meanwhile, build on top of this foundation to deliver application-layer services for businesses, transforming complex cross-border payment channels into more accessible solutions that support a wider range of practical business scenarios. He also emphasized fintech’s growing role in compliance and value creation. By embedding risk controls and verification processes into technology workflows, fintech companies can act as compliance intermediaries, improving efficiency while filtering risk and enabling banks to operate more effectively at scale. Meanwhile, insights derived from transaction data and business flows allow for more precise evaluation of small and medium-sized businesses, shifting capital allocation from experience-based decisions to data-driven approaches and improving access to financial services.

At the roundtable titled “Different Worlds, Shared Challenges: Bridging Emerging Markets,” Bryan Jiang pointed out that the core of financial inclusion is shifting from scale of coverage to practical usability in everyday financial activity. The ability to serve underserved segments such as small and micro merchants and overseas workers in a sustained and reliable manner ultimately depends on continuous improvements in product design and operational capabilities. Using emerging markets as an example, Jiang explained that small and medium-sized businesses in these regions often face challenges such as difficult account setup, complex cross-border collections, high foreign exchange costs, and multi-layered tax requirements. Many existing solutions still follow traditional business-focused models, resulting in cumbersome KYB processes and lengthy review cycles that are misaligned with the asset-light, high-frequency, fast-turnover nature of these businesses. In response, Lianlian has lowered barriers to fund flows by offering local collection accounts, optimizing foreign exchange mechanisms, and improving settlement efficiency. The company has also restructured account architecture, streamlined review processes, and enhanced fund visibility, creating a more seamless and intuitive user experience that better aligns financial services with its clients’ business operations and day-to-day activities.

As digital technologies increasingly integrate with the real economy, innovations in AI and blockchain are reshaping the foundations of global financial services. Lianlian DigiTech has long invested in AI capabilities, global compliance, and the growth of its international service network. Its broad licensing coverage, regulatory track record, localized service capabilities, and technical reliability have earned the trust of regulators, customers, and partners worldwide.

Looking ahead, Lianlian DigiTech will continue to build on its cross-border expertise and compliance experience to further develop its AI capabilities and deepen collaboration with global partners. The company aims to extend its role beyond payment network services into more integrated financial infrastructure solutions. Lianlian DigiTech remains committed to serving as a trusted platform for global financial transactions in an increasingly digital environment, enabling businesses and individuals worldwide to access faster, more efficient, and more seamless cross-border financial services.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/lianlian-digitech-returns-to-money2020-asia-to-expand-partnerships-share-industry-trends-and-explore-ai-enabled-global-financial-infrastructure-302753667.html

SOURCE LianLian Global

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