High Speed Internet Access Continues Growth in U.S. Home Computer Market, According to Media Metrix

Business Wire, May 4, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2000

Broadband technology slower to penetrate U.S. households,

accounting for 4.5 Percent of all modem-enabled PCs

Media Metrix (NASDAQ: MMXI), the pioneer and leader in Internet and Digital Media measurement worldwide, reports that almost three quarters, or 73 percent, of all home computers with modems have a modem speed of 56 kilobits per second (kbps) or greater. This is up from 36 percent in the first quarter of 1999, or a 100 percent increase in the share of home PCs that connect to the Internet. The share of home PCs that connect to the Internet using high speed broadband technologies - including ISDN, DSL and cable modems - has increased from a negligible level in early 1998 to 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2000.

Although home computers with broadband quadrupled in penetration from a year ago, from 1.2 percent of all modem-enabled PCs to 4.8 percent, broadband grew at a slower rate than 56 kbps modems did during the same initial growth stage. According to Media Metrix' historical data, 56 kbps modems grew nearly tenfold during the same growth stage, from 2 percent to 20 percent from late 1997 to late 1998.

"The growth in 56kbps modem ownership has been fueled by a number of factors, including a demand for faster Internet access, the low cost of the modems themselves, ubiquitous bundling of 56kbps modems in PCs, as well as universal usability with practically any telephone line," said Bruce Ryon, senior vice president and general manager of the New Media Group, Media Metrix. "On the other hand, broadband has been slower to rise, due to limitations in geographic availability and higher cost. While we believe the broadband market will grow, media companies, advertising agencies and web developers need to ensure that their content provides a satisfying experience over 56 kbps environments for the foreseeable future."

                     MEDIA METRIX, INC.
       Modem Speed of PCs of U.S. Home Internet Users
              Share of Total Modem Enabled PCs
                     Q1 1999 to Q1 2000

                                     Q1 1999   Q1 2000       Percent
  Modem Speed                       Share (%) Share (%)      Change

  33.6 kbps or fewer                  62.3%     27.1%         -56.5%
  56.6 kbps                           34.5%     68.1%          97.4%
  128 kbps or more (ISDN/DSL/Cable)    1.2%      4.8%         300.0%
  Unknown                              2.0%      0.0%

    Source: Media Metrix HardScan Report (March 2000)

About Media Metrix

Media Metrix, Inc., with over 750 clients, is the leader and pioneer in Internet and Digital Media measurement worldwide and the industry's source for the most comprehensive, reliable, and timely audience ratings, e-commerce, advertising and technology measurement services. Through its acquisition of AdRelevance, an innovator in Internet advertising measurement, Media Metrix has expanded its product offering to include comprehensive data on where, when, how and how much Web marketers and their competition are advertising online. Media Metrix holds approximately 90 percent of the Internet audience rating research market in the United States.

Media Metrix provides leading advertising agencies, new and traditional media companies, e-commerce marketers, financial services companies and technology companies with comprehensive coverage of all Digital Media (including more than 21,000 Web sites and online properties). Media Metrix utilizes its patented metering methodology to measure actual Internet and Digital Media audience usage behavior in real-time - click by click, page by page, minute by minute. Media Metrix offers monthly, weekly, and daily data collection and reporting, and a sample of more than 70,000 people under measurement worldwide. Media Metrix currently has operations in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Australia and Japan. For more information about Media Metrix, please visit: www.mediametrix.com.