Penton's Windows 2000 Magazine Network Enters Home Networking Market With Connected Home Media

Business Wire, April 11, 2001

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

LOVELAND, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2001

Penton Media, Inc. (NYSE:PME) announced today the launch of Connected Home Media.

This initiative will begin with the email newsletter Connected Home EXPRESS and online resources at www.connectedhomemag.com.

The expanding availability of high-speed broadband access to the Internet is driving the emerging multi-billion dollar home-network market. Explosive growth in broadband Internet use in the home is creating a means for home computing users to share one connection for telecommuting, home entertainment equipment (especially music electronics), multimedia and gaming components, personal digital assistant (PDA) devices, Internet appliances, cellular phones, and home office equipment.

Yet, publishers' efforts to tap this growth market have thus far missed the mark, according to Karen Forster, publisher of Connected Home Media. "A recent survey found that installation, maintenance, and security concerns are key barriers for consumers looking to implement home-networking technology. Our editorial goal is to help consumers get and keep this emerging home technology up and running."

Forster added: "Everyone wants to minimize the time and effort necessary to make home technologies work, and Connected Home Media will help people avoid pitfalls and solve problems. You find plenty of information about speeds and feeds, and glitzy gadget coverage is everywhere, but no publication is actually showing users how to connect it all and keep it running as they add ever-evolving new technologies."

Penton's effort will leverage its leading position as a business-to-business IT publisher. Penton Technology Media's Windows 2000 Magazine Network, a print, online, email newsletter and event media network, reaches more than one million IT professionals every month. Forster said: "Our research shows that IT professionals are driving this new technology into the home. They want the same capabilities at home as they're used to at work, including shared high-speed Internet access, file and print sharing, and email."

Penton's research shows that IT professionals are the vanguard for adopting such products as home gateways and routers to deliver these capabilities. "As this group takes networking into the homes of telecommuting coworkers, as well as their friends, family, and neighbors, we'll provide the how-to details they'll need."

Forster continued: "The market is now ready for a more technical, how-to resource that not only tells you how to select a device -- a tack many publishers have pursued -- but how to network broadband connections and other technologies into an integrated digital home. In the IT space, we own this how-to position with Windows 2000 Magazine and will transfer this editorial approach into the home networking segment."

Penton Media (www.penton.com) is a leading diversified business media company that produces market-focused magazines, trade shows and conferences, and web sites. Penton's integrated media portfolio serves the following market sectors: Internet/broadband; information technology; electronics; natural products/food/retail; manufacturing; design/engineering; supply chain/aviation; government/compliance; mechanical systems/construction; and leisure/hospitality. The Company generated revenues of $404.6 million in 2000.