My Ad Agency is Better Than Your Ad Agency; Harris Interactive to Conduct the 13th Bi-Annual Advertising Agency Reputation Study

Business Wire, Dec 19, 2000

Business Editors

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2000

Would you really like to know who the best advertising agencies are - not just who has the largest billings?

Harris Interactive (Nasdaq: HPOL), the global leader in Internet-based market research, today announced it will again conduct the Harris Interactive Advertising Agency Reputation Study.

Started 36 years ago, this in-depth study measures the attitudes of 600 senior marketing, advertising, and brand executives in a cross-section of the nation's advertisers. Going way beyond just measuring capitalized billings, the study reveals how the top agencies rank against each other in 30 important criteria like:

--Which agency produces the most effective creative?

--Which agency is considered the most careful with its client's

money?

-- Which agency is thought to have the most responsive account

group?

The study, which is only available to ad agencies and marketing consultants on a subscription basis, has proven in the past to be a valuable source of data for new business development, personnel recruitment and competitive analysis.

Said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of the Harris Poll: "The Harris Interactive Advertising Agency Reputation Study is really the definitive measure of the market to which agencies are selling. It is by far the best roadmap to competitive positioning for all the leading agencies and those who wish to rival the top seated agencies for new business. I won't name names, but we do know that in the past, certain agencies, eager to position themselves for acquisition, and acquisitioners, bent on ensuring ROI, have used the study results to confirm asset value on the balance sheet."

The Harris Interactive Advertising Agency Reputation Study is currently being fielded by Harris Interactive Marketing Communications Research and is scheduled for release in March 2001. Subscriptions from agencies and agency consultants are due no later than January 2, 2001. Interested subscribers should contact LaSharn Williams at 800-866-7655 ext. 7135 for further detail.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive (Nasdaq: HPOL), the global leader in online market research, uses Internet-based and traditional methodologies to provide its clients with information about the views, experiences, behaviors and attitudes of people worldwide. Known for its Harris Poll, Harris Interactive has over 40 years experience in providing its clients with market research and polling services including custom, multi-client and service bureau research, as well as customer relationship management services. Through its U.S. and Global Network offices, Harris Interactive conducts research in more than 100 countries in multiple, localized languages. Harris Interactive uses its proprietary technology to survey its database of more than 7 million online panelists. For more information about Harris Interactive, please visit our website at www.harrisinteractive.com. EOE M/F/D/V

Safe Harbor Statement

This media release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking information. We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Additional detailed information concerning a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ is readily available in the "Risk Factors" section of the most recent Annual Report on form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.