"BLENDER" AND "The Transom" LINK CD-ROM, ONLINE MEDIA; Joint Venture Benefits Advertisers With Enhanced Consumer Information and Increased Exposure to Target Audience.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 21, 1995--In a groundbreaking link between an electronic magazine and an online service, "readers" of BLENDER, a bi-monthly interactive entertainment magazine published exclusively on CD-ROM, will be linked to The Transom, a young online service with a pop culture focus.

In a landmark marketing move, every issue of the CD-ROM magazine will incorporate The Transom software, giving BLENDER advertisers greater power in reaching their target audience.

Through technology inherent in new media, BLENDER and The Transom will work with advertisers to gather valuable reader information, determine demographics, establish online focus groups and conduct questionnaires and contests.

According to BLENDER director of advertising Gary Gonya, "It gives advertisers a multi-platform through which to market and communicate with this important audience of digital leaders. We're looking at the first step towards computer-based interactive TV."

"Access to The Transom opens up a whole new dimension for both BLENDER's advertisers and readers," said Michael Collins founder of The Transom. "Advertisers gain a stronger foothold in an ever growing market; and BLENDER readers gain access to Transom content and the World Wide Web."

Launched in August 1994, The Transom features full Internet access; original online columns by accomplished writers; news from sources like USA Today, The Associated Press, Reuters; popular consumer magazines; discussion groups; games; syndicated columns; and a full service mail gateway. Most recently, the service incorporated Netscape Navigator as its graphical World Wide Web browser.

One of the first services to offer a Web browser, Transom users can navigate the Internet almost effortlessly without separate SLIP and PPP connections. High speed local access is available from virtually everywhere in the U.S. and many cities abroad.

Entertainment Weekly recently named BLENDER as the leader in CD-ROM magazines. The July 28th issue states, "The difference between BLENDER and most of the other twentysomething digizines is that its publishers don't rely on zippy, gee-whiz looks to get by; they know that a magazine is first and foremost about high-quality original pieces."

Described as "part MTV, part Details, part Wired," BLENDER is a multi-media pop culture archive combining high-speed graphic interfaces and full-motion video with conventional magazine journalism. BLENDER features such interactive elements as in-depth feature stories using video hyperlinks as editorial sidebars, music reviews with audio and video samples, movie reviews with trailers, game demos and surprise "trap doors" which transport readers to unexpected and entertaining arenas.

BLENDER is financed by Felix Dennis, owner of Dennis International, the UK's largest computer publishing company. Currently, the magazine has on its staff over twenty-five experienced writers, designers and computer programmers. BLENDER's team recently received an International Design Award for excellence in interactive design. BLENDER can be found in stores such as Tower Records, Crown Books, Software, etc., Comp USA, and The Electric Boutique. It can be found on magazine racks next to Spin and Rolling Stone and is programmed for both Windows & Mac use.

CONTACT: Shelley Bates 

Michael Kaminer Public Relations 

212.627.8098 or [e-mail]

or

Jenifer Estess - 212.582.0700

Ken Schramm - 310.277.6200

Baker Winokur Ryder