NetShelter Technology Media Launches Open Media Platform to Help Marketers Reach/Target, Integrate With, and Engage Core Buyers

Market Wire, December, 2008

NetShelter Technology Media, which pioneered the concept of the vertical media network, and which recently passed long-time segment leader CNET to rank number one on the list of comScore Media Metrix's Technology News Web Properties, today announced that it has launched a new program to help marketers connect to their core buyers. The Open Media Platform, to be headed by Patrick Houston, NetShelter's Senior Vice President, Media and Chief Publisher, will serve as the foundation for marketers who want to target contextually relevant sites, integrate their messaging into the fabric of those sites, and engage customers in an ongoing dialogue more deeply than ever before.

At the same time, NetShelter is unveiling a new Open Media Platform program in connection with "Last Gadget Standing," one of the most popular and longest running features of the International Consumer Electronics Show, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow. CES will run from January 8 to 11, 2009 in Las Vegas.

"We call it Open Media Platform because these innovative programs not only provide the unmatched in-depth knowledge of our publishers and editors on the products they like, but we open the conversation to our vast global audience of more than 50 million unique visitors and encourage marketers to provide contextually appropriate ideas and opinions distinctly marked and identified as 'sponsored content,'" says Mr. Houston. "The end result is synergistic with a more holistic approach to what is next and interesting for both tech consumers and enterprise buyers.

"'Last Gadget Standing' distinguishes itself as the 'people's choice award' of the CES show," says Mr. Houston. "In keeping with the NetShelter operating philosophy of building value for visitors, publishers and marketers, we will arrive at a winner through the interplay of experts, consumers, and advertisers."

NetShelter will also host a special site ( www.Lastgadgetstanding.com ), scheduled to launch on Dec. 8 that will showcase all of the contest submissions, aggregate general CES coverage from the across the NetShelter network as well as house video of the live "Last Gadget Standing" event where each finalist will be given four minutes to make their case, with the winner determined by the audience via an applause-o-meter. Visitors to the "Last Gadget Standing" site will be able to follow the competition and to determine their own winner by voting through the site's special "Ballot Box" features. NetShelter is offering the site's sponsors an opportunity to demonstrate their own products online on a special video section called the "sponsor's showcase."

"We give marketers a chance to become an integral part of the site experience," says Mr. Houston. "We want to give them a seat in the conversation that takes place in the community of experts and users that constitutes the channel."

This year, Ms Raskin will cull through the list of submissions and winnow it down to 10 finalists with the help of experts from nine NetShelter tech websites including Geek.com, Slashgear.com, i4u.com, Mobileburn.com, Phonearea.com, TG Daily.com, HEXUS.com, TechEBlog.com, and FixYa.com. By the end of the competition each of the 10 finalists will demonstrate their products on the Las Vegas stage and online at the "Last Gadget Standing" site. "Sometimes journalists are more impressed with bells and whistles and miss the beauty of a technology that can really endure and improve the way we live," says Ms Raskin. "'Last Gadget Standing' winners represent the products won't just fade into oblivion once CES is over."

Earlier, NetShelter launched "Top Tech Gifts: An Expert Guide to Holiday Shopping" ( www.toptechgifts.com ), a website featuring 50 products recommended by experts from sites across the NetShelter media network. Panasonic and Nokia are sponsors for TopTechGifts.com.

"NetShelter's Open Media Platform helps tech marketers address audience fragmentation by helping them manage the tech purchasing cycle and gives them BACK control to over what's being said about their brand/products/services," says Peyman Nilforoush, Co-Founder and CEO of NetShelter Technology Media. "These programs rely on the collective wisdom of our individual experts who create our website properties. NetShelter has already passed CNET as the largest technology-oriented audience in the world. As we continue to emerge as the model for tech media companies of the future, you will see NetShelter taking more such leadership roles in the technology industry integrating advertiser messaging."

"Last Gadget Standing" was created for CES 2000 by well-known tech expert Robin Raskin, who has produced it every year since. During its eight previous editions, hundreds of products have been submitted to the competition by dozens of vendors from all across the tech landscape, including Verizon, Toshiba, Logitech, Fujitsu, H-P, Archos, Nokia, D-Link, Samsung, Nikon, Palm, XM, Pioneer, Netgear, Epson, inFocus, and Celestron.

Launched in 1999 as NetShelter, Inc., NetShelter Technology Media ( www.netshelter.net ) first pioneered the concept of the vertical media network assembling the largest technology-oriented audiences in the world via the NetShelter Branded Network (NSBN) and helping leading interactive advertising agencies and marketers engage with their core target audience of technology, IT buyers and influencers. NetShelter Technology Media reaches over 30 million unique visitors worldwide according to comScore and is ranked 1st in reaching technology audiences online. In a fragmented online media landscape NetShelter Technology Media is the new platform for technology publishing online. It partners with the top independent voices in the technology industry and helps them grow their media business. NetShelter's goal is to become the leading global media company for the technology sector.