Media Players and Streaming-Media Players Now Installed On 99 Percent of U.S. Home PCs, Media Metrix Reports

Business Wire, Jan 22, 2001

Business & Technology Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2001

Usage of these media-player applications nears 50 percent,

but growth flattened in 2000

RealPlayer maintains lead over Windows Media Player and

Quicktime in the streaming-media player category

Media Metrix, the pioneer and leader in Internet and Digital Media measurement worldwide, today reports that media players now are installed on 99 percent of U.S. home PCs, enabling these computers to deliver both online and offline digital-audio and video to consumers. Streaming-media players, the subset of media players that enable real-time access of digital-audio and video over the Internet, also are now installed on 99 percent of U.S. home PCs. In November 2000, 47 percent of U.S. home computer users (both PC and Mac) used a media player, while 40 percent used a streaming-media player.

"As a result of aggressive bundling campaigns, media players and streaming media players are now installed on nearly every home PC in the United States, but growth of consumers' usage of them is flattening," said Steve Coffey, Executive Vice President, Media Metrix. "To close the gap between what people can do and what they actually do, the industry must continue to develop content and better delivery systems that encourage users to take advantage of the digital and audio capabilities they have."

In the streaming-media category, RealNetworks' RealPlayer maintains the largest share of users. In November 2000, 28 percent of all U.S. home computer users used RealPlayer, 22 percent used Windows Media Player (versions 6 and 7) and four percent used Quicktime (version 4). In contrast, 22 percent of these same users used RealPlayer in January 2000, 17 percent used Windows Media Player (versions 6 and 7) and three percent used Quicktime (version 4).

                             Media Metrix
         Media Player and Streaming-Media Player Installations
              Percentage of U.S. Home PCs, September 2000

         Media Players                                99%
         Streaming-Media Players                      99%


                             Media Metrix
                 Usage Reach for Media Player Category
       Percentage of U.S. Home Computer Users (Both PC and Mac),
                         January-November 2000

         Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov
         -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00

          40%  46%  43%  44%  45%  46%  47%  48%  48%  48%  47%


                             Media Metrix
            Usage Reach of Leading Streaming Media Players
       Percentage of U.S. Home Computer Users (Both PC and Mac),
                         January-November 2000

                 Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov
                 -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00  -00

RealPlayer        22%  24%  28%  29%  31%  31%  32%  32%  30%  29% 28%
Windows Media
 Player 6&7(a)    17%  18%  17%  18 % 18%  17%  18%  19%  20%  22% 22%
QuickTime 4.0      3%   3%   3%   3%   3%   4%   4%   4%   4%   4%  4%

(a) Windows Media Player 7 added as of August, 2000 data.

These findings are highlights from Media Metrix' 2000 Media Player Focus Report, which uses Media Metrix' patented operating system-based computer meter and other digital diagnostics to provide the most comprehensive, third-party analysis of this burgeoning category of applications and content.

Media Metrix Definitions:

Reach: The percentage of all computer users who ran a given program within the time period.

Media Players: The superset of software that can play digital media, both offline and online. These include by title: RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, Quicktime, Winamp, RealJukebox, MusicMatch, Jukebox, Sonique, Liquid, Player, Netshow, Spinner Plus, Radio Wave, Napster, Scour and Gnutella (and all its derivations).

Streaming Media Players: The subset of the main media players that allow users to "stream" content, or access it in real time over the Web. These include by title: RealPlayer, Windows Media Player (versions 6 and 7), Quicktime (version 4), Netshow, Spinner Plus, and RadioWave.

About Media Metrix

Media Metrix, a Jupiter Media Metrix Company, is the leader and pioneer in Internet and Digital Media measurement and the industry's source for the most comprehensive, reliable, and timely audience, e-commerce and technology measurement services. The Company provides the most comprehensive coverage of all Digital Media including more than 25,000 Web sites and online properties. Media Metrix utilizes its patented operating-system metering methodology to track Internet and Digital Media audience usage behavior in real-time - click-by-click, page-by-page, minute-by-minute. Today, Media Metrix has a representative sample of more than 100,000 people under measurement and covers more than 85 percent of Internet usage worldwide. Visit us at www.mediametrix.com for more information.

About Jupiter Media Metrix

Jupiter Media Metrix (NASDAQ: JMXI), formed by the merger of Jupiter Communications and Media Metrix, is a global leader in market intelligence for the new economy. The Company delivers innovative and comprehensive Internet measurement, analysis, intelligence and events to provide businesses with unmatched global resources for understanding and profiting from the Internet. Jupiter Media Metrix brings together world-class, innovative and market-leading products, services, research methodologies and people. Jupiter Media Metrix brands include Media Metrix, AdRelevance, Jupiter Research and Jupiter Events. The Company is headquartered in New York City and operates worldwide, across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe (as Jupiter MMXI Europe), and the Middle East. Visit us at www.jmm.com for more information.