CNET Extends Marketing Relationship With MSN

SAN FRANCISCO and REDMOND, Wash., April 17, 2000 — CNET (Nasdaq
“CNET”
), the source for computers and technology, today announced the signing of an online advertising agreement with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) on the MSN TM network of Internet services, one of the top three Internet portal sites.

Through this agreement, MSN will promote the daily online newsletter offered by CNET News.com ( http://www.news.com/ ) by offering it free to subscribers of the MSN Hotmail® Web-based e-mail service through the WebCourier® HTML newsletter distribution service, a free online newsletter subscription program exclusive to Hotmail members. CNET News.com’s daily online newsletter offers readers late-breaking Internet, computing, intranet and technology business stories, as well as product and gaming information.

“The Hotmail WebCourier program has more than 30 million subscribers around the world, and each subscriber receives, on average, three newsletters,”
said Gregg Albright, regional ad sales manager for MSN.
“This program is an excellent venue for CNET to reach a targeted audience of technology-savvy consumers who are looking for the latest information and resources. And, according to independent research, by using MSN they are reaching consumers most likely to shop and purchase on the Internet. So CNET is reaching a prime audience for its shopping services.”

“By extending our successful two-year relationship with MSN to include the WebCourier program, CNET aims to expand its audience by steering new users to the No. 1 site for technology product information,”
said Sam Lawrence, vice president of Consumer Marketing at CNET.
“CNET was recently rated the No. 1 technology content site by Nielsen. We want to spread the good news and through our newsletter let consumers know why we are getting such rave reviews.”

About CNET News.com

With a full-time staff comprising scores of reporters, producers and designers, CNET News.com delivers breaking technology news 24 hours a day, which includes exclusive stories, live event coverage, in-depth analysis of major issues, and interviews with industry newsmakers. CNET News.com is the first online news organization to provide content to the Associated Press (AP), the oldest and largest news organization in the world. CNET News.com stories are carried on the New York Times Web site ( http://www.nyt.com/ ) and on ABCNews.com. Since its launch in 1996, CNET News.com has received numerous awards. For three years running, CNET News.com has won Editor & Publisher’s Best non-Newspaper Online News Service. For three out of the last four years, CNET News.com has won the Computer Press Association’s award for Best Overall Online Feature. CNET News.com won the Webby Award for Best News Site in 1998. Last year, CNET News.com won an award for best online feature from the Society of Professional Journalists. CNET News.com is also aired in the form of a television show on CNBC. Jai Singh, editor of CNET News.com, has been recognized by Marketing Computers magazine as the most influential online journalist.

About CNET Networks Inc.

CNET Networks Inc. is a global media company that creates content-driven Internet marketplaces for consumers and businesses. CNET is the world’s most trusted source of information on computers, the Internet and technology, serving millions of users each day. Using unbiased content as its platform, CNET has built the leading marketplaces for technology products, and, through its CNET Data Services subsidiary, is the primary provider of information powering the computer and electronics sales and distribution channels. In February 2000, CNET acquired mySimon, the Internet’s largest comparison-shopping service, with more than 200 categories and over 2,000 merchants. CNET also produces award-winning content for television and radio, with programs on CNBC and in national syndication, as well as in nearly 100 countries around the world. CNET currently has investments in cash and marketable securities that are valued at more than $1 billion, including its approximate 12 percent stake in NBC Internet Inc.

About MSN

MSN Sales delivers customized advertising solutions for the Everyday Web. MSN is the network of Internet 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 http://www.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 health, personal finance, traveling, investing, automotive services, shopping and more; an online community; a Web search engine and directories; and top-rated Internet access.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies 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.

Microsoft, MSN, Hotmail, and WebCourier are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the 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.

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