Geocast Network Systems Closes Milestone Agreements With THOMSON multimedia, Liberty Media, Electronic Arts; Alliance Advances Company's Business Strategy

Business Wire, Dec 7, 1999

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 1999--

Geocast Network Systems, Inc. today announced deals with THOMSON multimedia (NYSE:TMS), Liberty Media Corp. (NYSE: LMG.A and LMG.B) and Electronic Arts(TM) (Nasdaq:ERTS), all of which include significant investments in the company. In addition, THOMSON multimedia, the nation's number one onsumer electronics manufacturer and marketer, will develop, manufacture and market an RCA-brand Geocast receiver. Geocast will also benefit from content relationships with Liberty Media and entertainment-software leader Electronic Arts.

Geocast is setting the framework for a comprehensive new service and network that will deliver customized, rich-media information and entertainment programming to the PC desktop via digital TV broadcast signals. By combining the efficiency and immediacy of broadcast with the customization and control of the PC, Geocast will give consumers personalized content with impressive full-motion video, CD-quality audio and instant software downloads. Geocast is backed by funding from Mayfield Fund, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Institutional Venture Partners.

"These agreements reinforce the three pillars on which the Geocast service and network are built: rich-media content and entertainment programming; digital broadcast bandwidth; and Geocast receiver distribution. The agreements announced today and those previously closed with A.H. Belo Corp. and Hearst-Argyle Television give Geocast a solid foundation in each of these areas," said H. Joseph Horowitz, chairman and CEO of Geocast.

Geocast recently announced alliances with major television station groups Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. (NYSE:HTV) and A.H. Belo Corp. (NYSE:BLC) to use digital television broadcast signals to deliver Geocast's programming service. The agreements extended Geocast's potential market reach to more than 30 million homes or nearly a third of all U.S. households.

With the Geocast service, PC users can create personal preferences that deliver on-demand traffic and weather updates, sports highlights, stock quotes, entertainment or breaking news. They will also have access to premium news and entertainment programming developed and broadcast by local television stations for Geocast users. Geocast allows users to decide which segments of news and entertainment information they want to view at their convenience.

James E. Meyer, senior executive vice president, Thomson multimedia; Robert R. Bennett, president and chief executive officer of Liberty Media Corp.; and Don Mattrick, president of Worldwide Studios for Electronic Arts, join the Geocast board. Board members also include H. Joseph Horowitz, chairman and CEO of Geocast; Kevin Fong of Mayfield Fund; William Randolph Hearst III of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; Bob Marbut, chairman and co-chief executive officer of Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.; Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and chief executive officer of A. H. Belo Corp.; and Tsutomu Shimomura, a Geocast founder.

About Geocast Network Systems, Inc.

With headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., Geocast Network Systems is building a new network that leverages digital broadcast infrastructure to deliver rich-media information and programming to the PC desktop. Geocast is backed by the premier venture firms of Mayfield Fund, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Institutional Venture Partners. In addition, Geocast has developed agreements with leaders in the broadcast, programming and consumer electronics industries. These partnerships include Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., A. H. Belo Corp., Liberty Media Group, Electronic Arts and THOMSON multimedia. For more information, visit the Geocast website at http://www.geocast.com.

About THOMSON multimedia

With sales over $6 billion in 1998 and 48,000 employees in over 30 countries, THOMSON multimedia (NYSE:TMS) is the fourth largest global supplier of consumer electronics products. The group has four main activities: Displays and Components, Consumer Products, New Media Services, Patents and Licensing. Within its activities THOMSON multimedia develops, manufactures and sells television displays and components, consumer products such as televisions, VCRs, camcorders, audio and communications products, digital decoders, DVD players and professional video equipment. Thomson Multimedia is the parent company of the U.S.-based Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Visit THOMSON multimedia on the Web: http://www.thomson-multimedia.com.

About Liberty Media

Liberty Media holds interests in a broad range of video programming, communications, technology and internet businesses in the United States, Europe, South America and Asia. Liberty's interest in video programming includes numerous globally branded entertainment networks such as Discovery Channel, TV Guide, QVC, STARZ, and Encore. Liberty's assets also include interests in international video distribution businesses; international telephony and domestic wireless telephony; plant and equipment manufacturer; and other businesses related to broadband services.