PASADENA, Calif., and REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 17, 1999 — Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch Inc. (Nasdaq
“TMCS”
) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) today announced the most extensive local offering available online from any city guide provider. The two companies are delivering local arts and entertainment content to nearly 3,000 local areas nationwide through the new MSN TM Local Channel, as well as through the MSN Entertainment Channel and Microsoft® WebTV Network TM service. The new MSN Local Channel is Microsoft’s latest move toward delivering the Everyday Web to consumers by making it easy for them to access all the latest local arts and entertainment options and other community information in one place.
“Our delivery of CitySearch arts and entertainment and other local content through MSN channels and WebTV further reflects our commitment to helping people get things done online,”
said David Stansbury, executive vice president of content at Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch.
“These new distribution channels will enable us to offer local information about live music, movies and other entertainment events to nearly 3,000 local areas in all 50 states, including the more than 70 cities we currently service with our CitySearch city guides.”
“Microsoft’s Everyday Web vision is about making it easy for people to get information and get things done quickly using the Web,”
said Yusuf Mehdi, director of marketing for MSN.
“MSN Local Channel, featuring CitySearch’s leading content, extends that power to the local level by giving people a unique opportunity to obtain news, information and tickets to arts and entertainment opportunities in their community.”
New MSN Local Channel
Familiar local content from MSN, including that from the HomeAdvisor TM online real estate service and the CarPoint TM online automotive service, will make the new MSN Local Channel a convenient one-stop spot for people looking to get things done nearby, such as research a car or rent an apartment in a specific neighborhood. MSN Local Channel extends the Everyday Web for consumers, allowing them to save valuable time by using the Web to get top-notch local news through MSNBC and up-to-date arts and entertainment information for their community. MSN Local Channel will also provide a local community hub where consumers can discuss issues, favorite spots around town or anything that comes to mind.
CitySearch content for the new MSN Local Channel will include entertainment information about movies, live music, the arts, recreational activities, sports and restaurants. Seasonal content, such as local holiday guides, will also be provided. Visitors will be able to access the information by logging on to MSN.com ( http://www.MSN.com/ ) and clicking on the new MSN Local Channel or by going directly to http://local.MSN.com/ . After users select their city from the available list, local information for the selected city will appear, including CitySearch’s arts and entertainment content as well as MSN content.
Content will vary by locale, with links made available to CitySearch’s city guides, ticketmaster.com, and TMCS’ national music news site, LiveDaily.com. All local areas will receive live-music and movie content – including reviews, previews and features – through LiveDaily, Ticketmaster.com and TMCS’ distribution agreement with Showtimes.com, which provides local theater listings and showtimes for 31,000 theater screens nationwide. CitySearch movie and live-music content will also be delivered through Microsoft’s MSN Entertainment Channel.
Through a recent update to the WebTV® Plus and Classic services, CitySearch is also delivering information on dining and local arts and entertainment events to WebTV subscribers. As part of the updated WebTV Around Town® online city guide, CitySearch will provide local restaurant information, with additional links to more detailed information at its city guides. TMCS will also provide WebTV subscribers with content about local events – including live arts, music and sports – through Ticketmaster and LiveDaily.com.
About MSN
MSN is the network of services from Microsoft that helps people better organize the Web around what’s important to them. The network of MSN services, located on the Web at MSN.com ( http://MSN.com/ ), helps people easily stay in touch with friends and colleagues, make smart and secure purchasing decisions, and get more done. MSN offers award-winning e-mail functionality; personal communications services; wireless services information; customizable access to news; popular sites for travel, investing, automotive services, shopping and more; an online community; a Web search engine and directories; and top-rated Internet access.
About WebTV Networks
WebTV Networks, Inc., is a leading provider of enhanced TV services using Internet and digital technologies. WebTV Networks offers a range of enhanced TV services for set-top boxes, satellite products and other TV-related devices. Today, these services include the WebTV Classic service, the WebTV Plus service and the WebTV Plus service for satellite. WebTV Networks owns and operates a network of TV services and provides enabling software and hardware reference designs to consumer electronics manufacturers.
WebTV Networks, based in Mountain View, Calif., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. Microsoft incorporates WebTV technologies in the Microsoft TV software platform, which it licenses to television network operators worldwide.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
About Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch
Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch Inc. is a leading local portal company that provides in-depth local content and services to help people
“get things done”
online. TMCS offers practical tools for living that make the Internet an indispensable part of peoples’ everyday lives. The TMCS family of Web sites includes citysearch.com, ticketmaster.com, cityauction.com, match.com, sidewalk.com, livedaily.com, astroabby.com and jobs.citysearch.com. TMCS is located in Pasadena, Calif.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
This press release contains forward-looking statements about Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch Inc. (the
“Company”
), including those concerning its future product plans. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from these statements. Among the risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect the Company’s actual results are the limited operating history and early development stage of the Company; the absence of history of Ticketmaster Online as an independent company; the Company’s lack of profitability and anticipation of continued losses; the Company’s dependence on its relationship with Ticketmaster Corp.; control of the Company by USA Networks Inc.; the potential for conflicts of interest; the fact that the license agreement between USA Networks, Ticketmaster Corp. and the Company is subject to certain limitations that are contained therein; possible future sales of the Company’s securities by USA Networks Inc.; company integration risks; the Company’s dependence on increased ticket sales; the Company’s future capital needs and the uncertainty of additional financing; and the unpredictability and potential fluctuations in future revenues and operating results. Investors are encouraged to read the risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch is the owner or licensee of its name and logo trademarks and service marks.
Microsoft, MSN, WebTV Network, WebTV, HomeAdvisor, CarPoint and Around Town are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
