Home Improvement Radio Team to Host MSNBC.com Chats; Money Pit's Tom Kraeutler and Mary Barretta to Offer Expert Tips on Home Improvement, Safety and Consumer Issues

Business Wire, Jan 18, 2001

Business/Entertainment Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2001

Nationally syndicated radio hosts Tom Kraeutler and Mary Barretta will offer home improvement tips and expert advice as the newest hosts of one of MSNBC's popular interactive chat events on MSNBC.com (www.chat.msnbc.com), the number one news site according to Media Metrix.

Beginning Friday, January 19th at 4 PM ET, Kraeutler and Barretta will host the weekly sessions offering tips on everything from lowering today's sky-high utility bills, to making homes safer for children, to finding the best home improvement contractors.

The team is best known for their nationally syndicated home improvement radio show, aptly named "The Money Pit," which broadcasts each Saturday from 4 PM to 6 PM ET on the Talk America Radio Network. Tom Kraeutler is also a frequent contributor on MSNBC and was the home editor for the MSNBC cable program, HomePage.

"Taking care of a home today is an interactive event," said Barretta. "Whether you're a single Mom or a family with two working parents, time is short and getting the right information is the key. Our listeners want to know how-to, how much, and how long. We're excited to be able to share our experience and knowledge with the MSNBC interactive community."

"From high-tech homes to historic landmarks, every house needs care," said Kraeutler, who's often called the 'High Tech Tool Guy.' "It's the 21st century but many of us are living in homes built with technology that is over a hundred years old. Certainly, they don't stand up to the demands of today's families without constant attention."

"Chats are a perfect forum for home improvement and consumer issues. People love to share advice from their own experience," said Will Femia, MSNBC.com Chat Producer. "Tom Kraeutler and Mary Barretta have expertise on everything from child safety to consumer frauds and rip-off schemes. They are a welcome addition to our weekly chat schedule."

To join this or any of MSNBC's chat events, viewers can log on at www.chat.msnbc.com. Questions can also be posted in advance of the weekly sessions and a complete transcript of the most recent event is always available for review.

ABOUT MSNBC.COM

MSNBC.com is the number one news site based on audience data tracked by the Internet measurement service Media Metrix(TM). As the leader in breaking news and original journalism on the Internet, MSNBC.com additionally delivers the best of NBC News, MSNBC Cable, CNBC and NBC Sports. MSNBC.com provides expanded content via partnerships with The Washington Post, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, ZDNet, MSN Money Central(TM), The Sporting News, Expedia(TM), E! Online, Pencil News, FEED magazine, SPACE.com, Science magazine, inc.com, Inside.com, Internet Broadcasting Systems and Pioneer Newspapers. MSNBC.com's innovative distribution includes delivery of broadband content on HighSpeed.msnbc.com and for Qwest, Road Runner and Excite@Home. MSNBC.com wireless content distribution is delivered through agreements with MSN Mobile, i3 Mobile and Omnisky. In addition, MSNBC.com programs interactive content for MSNBC Cable and NBC News on WebTV Plus.

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