USA Networks Inc. and The NHL Announce Ticketing, E-Commerce and Marketing Services Partnership

Business Wire, Sept 25, 2001

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2001

Combined Capabilities Within USA's Portfolio Of Companies Aims To

Enhance The NHL Fan Experience

The National Hockey League and USA Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: USAI) today announced a broad multi-year ticketing, e-commerce and marketing services partnership, delivered through USA's Electronic Commerce Solutions (ECS), Ticketmaster (NASDAQ: TMCS), Styleclick (NASDAQ: IBUY), NHL Interactive CyberEnterprises, LLC (NHL ICE), and other USA and NHL-affiliated companies. The multi-channel agreement delivers cross-marketing, commerce, ticketing and technology initiatives all designed to enhance the NHL experience.

Key components of the agreement include:

      ECS

    - NHL ICE names ECS the exclusive operator of the NHL's official
      online store for NHL.com and the 30 NHL teams.
    - ECS Merchandising develops the merchandising strategy for the
      NHL online store, and ECS Marketing develops a comprehensive fan
      database to use for direct to consumer marketing initiatives.
      The marketing plan includes cross-promotion throughout USA's
      media assets, including USA Network, SCI FI Channel, and online
      properties.
    - ECS develops and produces catalogues featuring officially
      licensed NHL merchandise.
    - ECS packages the fulfillment services of USA's HSN (Home
      Shopping Network) to manage package delivery services for direct
      sales to NHL customers.
    - ECS services NHL customers via USA's Precision Response
      Corporation, providing customer care both online and over the
      telephone.

      Styleclick

    - Styleclick, also a USA company, provides the e-commerce
      technology, services and infrastructure for designing, building,
      operating and hosting the NHL online store.

      Ticketmaster

    - NHL Enterprises names Ticketmaster the preferred ticket
      technology provider of the NHL.
    - Ticketmaster creates and maintains NHL customized co-branded web
      pages providing consumers a central location to purchase tickets
      online through the NHL.com network. In addition, consumers will
      continue to enjoy the convenience of purchasing NHL tickets
      through www.ticketmaster.com.
    - Ticketmaster offers NHL Enterprises and the teams to which it
      provides full ticketing services, deeply-discounted Venue
      Integrated Product (VIP) Suite of technology products, including
      TM ARCHTICS ticketing software, TM UltimateFan fan loyalty
      system, Fan TM hardware (bar-coding, access control turnstile
      mechanisms) and software and the Ticketmaster Online Subscriber
      Services package.
    - Ticketmaster continues to provide complete ticketing sales and
      distribution services through its Internet, telephone, and local
      ticket outlet retail to 27 NHL teams.

"Today's announcement cements USA's presence as the leader in interactive sports marketing, e-commerce, and ticketing, and illustrates the reliability, quality, and convenience brought to these transactions by our portfolio of companies," said Jon Miller, President and CEO, USA Information and Services. "Sports is the ultimate convergent medium, and as evidenced by the success of USA's multi-platform agreements with other major leagues, our established competencies in this field will deliver great results for NHL fans."

NHL Executive Vice President and COO Jon Litner said, "Our loyal, passionate, technosavvy fans expect the best from NHL.com, and the NHL strives to provide the best possible experience for our audience. The enhancements provided by ECS and Ticketmaster create easy-to-use, one-stop shopping for visitors to NHL.com - whether shopping for their favorite team's jersey or buying tickets to a game - that I'm sure our fans will appreciate and enjoy."

"We are excited about our partnership with the NHL and believe that the marketing and merchandising expertise of ECS and the award winning technology platform of Styleclick will enhance the experience for NHL fans as it has for our other league partners" said Lisa Brown, President and CEO, ECS.

"This agreement builds upon our relationship with the NHL by making available our state of the art technology services including fan loyalty, online subscriber services, access control and box office management systems," said John Pleasants, President and CEO of Ticketmaster. "By bringing all of these programs together and working with our other online properties including Match.com, Citysearch and Evite, we will put together fan programs for the league and for the teams that will help to stimulate demand and drive incremental ticket sales from a local level."

About USA Electronic Commerce Solutions

ECS offers partners more than 20 years of experience in electronic retailing, media and direct marketing services by serving as an entry point to the diverse entertainment, information and direct selling capabilities within USA Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: USAI) and is a division of the Company's Information and Services unit which also includes Ticketmaster (NASDAQ: TMCS), operator of Ticketmaster.com, Citysearch and Match.com, Hotel Reservations Network (NASDAQ: ROOM), Styleclick, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBUY) and Precision Response Corporation. ECS packages integrated suites of scalable solutions for third parties by delivering the context, distribution verticals, merchandising, database marketing, teleservicing, online customer care, and a uniquely qualified understanding of customers' needs in the age of new convergence. Having signed deals with the NFL, the NBA, CBS SportsLine, NASCAR.com and the PGA TOUR, USA's Electronic Commerce Solutions is now the leading commerce services partner for major players in the sports industries. More at www.usanetworks.com.