College Broadcast-Running Start Merger Leverages Web Portal Technologies for Broadband Content Delivery to College Market.

Business Editors

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2000

Merger Creates First-to-Market Opportunity for College Vortal

College Broadcast(TM) Inc., the innovative cable and Internet-based entertainment and information resource for college students across the country - and Running Start(TM) Inc., a leading developer of Web content management and dynamic publishing systems - Wednesday announced a merger of equals between their companies.

Both companies are now wholly owned subsidiaries of CB Internet Holdings, which in turn will focus on leveraging the strengths of both companies through various initiatives.

The first major initiative between the companies is the upcoming launch of College Broadcast's new Web vortal (Vertical Industry Portal), a portal utilizing advanced Web technologies to deliver high-speed broadband content to the college market.

Synergies from the merger include provision by Running Start of a world-class technology platform underpinning College Broadcast's global broadband strategy. Running Start's technologies include deep data mining capability, targeted promotions, content-specific consumer interaction, Web content management, content syndication, e-commerce, distance learning, and dynamic publishing.

&uot;We're poised to execute the first real convergence play in the world's most wired broadband market -- U.S. colleges. We're already the most watched college cable TV network, and with Running Start's help, we will achieve `first-to-market' as a vertical broadband portal targeted to the college demographic,&uot; said College Broadcast's chief executive officer Chet Lyons.

&uot;Running Start's Web technologies streamline content integration, publishing, distribution, syndication, and e-commerce while providing efficient administration on a scalable basis. Running Start's technologies are helping us deliver a world-class portal capable of attracting top content and e-commerce partners and integrating them in ways they will find effective and valuable.&uot;

According to Running Start chief executive officer Ralph Zazula, &uot;Running Start's technology solutions will provide extensive differentiation to College Broadcast by maximizing each viewer's broadband experience and providing merchant partners the ability to target very narrow affinity groups while promoting their offerings within context-specific content.&uot;

Zazula went on to say: &uot;Combined with Running Start's technology leadership and market momentum in the horizontal e-business space, College Broadcast's multi-channel distribution platform in the college market provides both companies access to many exciting market opportunities.&uot;

About College Broadcast

Founded in 1998, College Broadcast is a dynamic media and marketing platform targeted to the trend-setting audience of 15 million U.S. college students.

Comprised of two media channels - college-owned cable TV systems and a vertical broadband Internet portal - College Broadcast delivers the most compelling entertainment experience on the Web while gathering valuable and timely information about the college market for advertisers and content providers.

The result is a unique, integrated media and marketing service, delivering unrivaled benefits to students, content providers, and advertisers focused on the valuable college market.

Original programming translates to an online experience capable of generating maximum viewer loyalty. College Broadcast's broadband content and applications are being carefully screened to match college students' eclectic tastes and interests. The portal launches in Q1.

College Broadcast's college cable TV network already reaches an enrollment of 1.4 million students via 182 college cable affiliates. The company is expanding its cable TV reach to 2 million students by increasing its cable affiliate network to more than 350 affiliates.

College Broadcast also serves as a marketing laboratory for content and advertising partners who want to explore the full potential of broadband today... within an environment of techno-savvy early adopters who enjoy unequaled access to high-speed Internet... also known as the American college market.

Experience gained in the only truly enabled broadband market is expected to provide invaluable insights to the emerging home-based broadband market.

For more information about College Broadcast, call 310/264-3996 or visit their Web site at www.collegebroadcast.com or www.cb.com.

About Running Start Inc.

Running Start is the leading developer of WebObjects-based technologies used to develop Web content management and dynamic publishing systems for the enterprise. These flexible and scalable solutions provide a high return on investment for their customers by decreasing project development times and increasing total functionality.

Running Start's technologies include ArticleBASE(TM), a Web content management, workflow processing, and dynamic publishing system; and RSCommerce(TM), a powerful e-commerce solution.

Created utilizing the Apple WebObjects 4 development platform, Running Start's technologies run on industry-standard server platforms such as Windows NT, Sun Solaris, and Mac OS X Server as well as leading databases including Oracle, Sybase, and MS SQL Server.

Both ArticleBASE and RSCommerce utilize Web interfaces for system configuration and maintenance, and they support open industry standards to allow integration with legacy applications.

Running Start's technologies and related consulting services are offered through a network of strategic channel partners and through the Running Start Professional Services Team. The company's distinguished clients include Apple Computer, TRW, First Chicago NBD Corp., Gofish.com, and Sendmail Corp.

Running Start is based in Tucson. For more information about Running Start Inc., its solutions, services, and reseller programs, call 520/296-3370 or visit their World Wide Web site at www.running-start.com.

Running Start, ArticleBASE, and RSCommerce are registered trademarks of Running Start Inc. All other products and brands are trademarks of their respective companies.