SET-TOP.COM and The Weather Channel in Interactive TV Advertising Deal; Agreement to Promote The Weather Channel ITV Web site and TV Channel

Business Wire, May 3, 2000

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2000

SET-TOP.COM, the leading innovator of Internet services for television, Wednesday announced it has entered into a trial advertising agreement with The Weather Channel to promote the broadcaster's Interactive TV Web site and TV channel through SET-TOP.COM's Internet TV Portal.

The agreement allows The Weather Channel to potentially reach millions of Internet TV-enabled set-top box and videogame machine owners. The Weather Channel will promote its Interactive TV Web site (itv.weather.com) in banner advertisements throughout the SET-TOP.COM Web site. In addition, The Weather Channel will use SET-TOP.COM's proprietary Click-For-TV(TM) Banner Advertisement technology to attract viewers to its TV channel.

Click-For-TV(TM) Advertising allows set-top boxes, such as the WebTV Plus, to "click" to TV channels through banner advertisements shown on the Internet. With Click-For-TV Ad Banners, TV programmers can advertise directly on the Internet with up-to-the-minute information on sports, news or pay-per-view TV events that are currently playing or are about to start. Web surfers can instantly "tune-in" to their cable or satellite TV channels with a simple "click" on the ad banner.

"We wanted to attract the broadest audience to our Interactive TV offerings," said Mark Gathen, senior manager of New Media at The Weather Channel. "SET-TOP.COM's technology and portal allows us to market both our Interactive TV Web site and The Weather Channel cable network to interested Internet TV viewers."

"The Weather Channel has been the leader in pioneering new media applications," noted Jamison Ching, SET-TOP.COM cofounder and president. "They are the first of many TV programmers to develop new and exciting Internet applications and content specifically for the TV viewer."

SET-TOP.COM will also assign the TV HyperCode(TM) channel: WEATHER, to The Weather Channel's Interactive TV Web site. The TV HyperCode(TM) Navigation System allows Internet TV viewers to use their remote controls to access popular Web sites created exclusively for TV viewers. TV HyperCode channel listings will be promoted in both online and offline interactive TV advertising and publications including Web Guide (www.webguidemag.com), a bimonthly magazine with Web site reviews.

SET-TOP.COM will be demonstrating its TV HyperCode(TM)System and Click-For-TV(TM) advertising technologies in Booth No. 1866 at the upcoming National Cable Television Association's (NCTA) 49th Annual Convention and International Exposition held in New Orleans, May 8-10, 2000.

The Weather Channel Inc., based in Atlanta, is the nation's premier provider of weather information. The only 24-hour international weather network, The Weather Channel is seen in more than 75 million homes nationwide. The Weather Channel's Web site, weather.com, is the world's leading source of weather on the Web, and one of the fastest growing sites on the Internet. The Weather Channel is owned by Landmark Communications Inc., a Norfolk, Va.-based privately held media company with global interests.

San Diego-based SET-TOP.COM is a leading innovator in the Internet television industry. The company develops and markets set-top box technology and infrastructure services for broadband ISPs, TV programmers and TV equipment providers. Founded in 1999 by executives from General Instrument and Sony, SET-TOP.COM's flagship technologies include the patent-pending TV HyperCode(TM) navigation system, Click-For-TV(TM) banner advertising and "Made-For-TV" search engine. SET-TOP.COM currently supports the WebTV and Sega Dreamcast platforms and is planning to provide future support for Liberate Technologies, Worldgate, ICTV, and other Internet-capable TV set-top platforms. SET-TOP.COM is a Microsoft TV Solutions Provider and Liberate PopTV Developer.

Additional advertising or licensing information can be obtained by visiting the company's Web site at www.set-top.com or via e-mail at info@set-top.com.