CNET Download.com Expands with Free, Legal Music and Game File Services; Goes Beyond Software, Offering Multi-Category Digital Fuel for Today's Gadgets and Devices

Business Wire, April 26, 2004

Entertainment Editors/Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2004

CNET Download.com, the world's leading download resource and a property of CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET), today announced the addition of free, legal music and game file discovery and download services, expanding beyond its core offering of software downloads. The move is manifested on the site's home page (http://music.download.com), which today unveiled three tabs -- software, music, and game files -- as clear entry points into CNET Download.com's expanding offerings.

On a monthly basis, tens of millions of people turn to CNET Download.com to discover free-to-try, legal software, easily navigating between more than 30,000 latest-version offerings in 12 primary categories for virtually any purpose, business or pleasure. Users download more than 75 million software files each month. An unbiased resource, CNET Download.com makes software discovery easy, directing users to "most popular" and "most talked about" lists, new releases, product spotlights, and top-rated programs in each category.

Now, CNET Download.com is adapting its proven, intuitive interface and unbiased approach to meet the needs of music and gaming fans, helping them find and download free, legal music and game files from a broad selection of offerings that will become increasingly comprehensive as the year progresses.

"CNET Download.com earned its popularity by making it easy for people get the most out of their computers and handheld devices," said Scott Arpajian, senior vice president of CNET Download.com. "As digital music and gaming technologies break into the mainstream, it is natural for us expand into these categories, providing the digital fuel that brings them to life."

CNET Download.com Music (see related announcement for more detail)

CNET Download.com's user base includes a heavy following of music fans, as evidenced by the fact that the "Audio and Video" software category steadily ranks as the number-one download category on the site. Now, the people who turn to CNET Download.com for software such as CD burners, media players, rippers and encoders, music management, and MP3 search tools will also be able to fill their audio devices with free, legal songs.

CNET Download.com's music service debuts today with thousands of songs, which it has gathered since it invited artists to upload their music starting last month. CNET Download.com expects this database to rapidly increase in size and variety, as more artists discover the unmatched opportunity to stage their music in front of tens of millions of music fans. Currently featuring basic functionality only, it will roll out a number of new community, discovery, and technology features as the year progresses.

This CNET Download.com music launch is separate from CNET Networks' coming launch of the all-new MP3.com site, which will take place in the next few weeks.

CNET Download.com Game Files

CNET Download.com co-developed its game files feature with CNET Networks' GameSpot, and launched it late last year as a new category. The category quickly grew in popularity, and is currently among the most popular categories on CNET Download.com. Now broken out as one of the three featured digital fuel genres on the CNET Download.com home page, the game files offering stands apart from other game file services in that it offers the largest selection of fast, free and secure game files.

About CNET Networks, Inc.

CNET Networks, Inc. (www.cnetnetworks.com) is a premier global interactive content company that informs, entertains, and connects large, engaged audiences with content in the personal technology, games and entertainment, and business technology categories. Known for its editorial expertise, the company combines its award winning content with the power of interactive technology to provide its users an intuitive, dynamic and relevant environment. The company's content portfolio features top brands including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, GameSpot, and mySimon, as well as Computer Shopper magazine, and CNET Channel. With a strong presence in the US, Asia and Europe, CNET Networks has operations in 12 countries.