Cox to retain IBM to provide private-label, localized Internet access and broad-based Internet services.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 1996--Cox Enterprises, Inc. announced today that it has signed an innovative agreement with IBM that will enable Cox to provide customers in each of its local markets a broad base of Internet services.

The key services include:

-- dial-up access to the Internet, provided by the IBM Global

Network, private-labeled under the brand name of the local

Cox business Web site.

-- private-label Netscape browser included in the access

software (IBM is a licensee of the Netscape browser).

-- private-label customer support, e-mail, 800 numbers and

billing, provided by the IBM Global Network.

-- hosting services that ensure each Cox Web site has highly

reliable 24-hour-a-day server operation and support --

especially during peak usage periods -- taking advantage of

IBM's worldwide system of Internet connections. Cox Web sites

will be housed on servers located at IBM's ISSC network

operations center in Boulder, Colo.

``Each of our local media businesses is an expert in gathering high-quality, local content and promoting its own products and services on its own medium,'' said William L. Killen Jr., vice president of new media of Cox Enterprises. ``These skills are our strategic advantage as we build interactive content brands in this new medium, the Internet.

``This agreement enables each Cox business to be a gateway to the Internet in its city, allowing one-stop shopping for access and local interactive content,'' he said.

Rick Selvage, general manager, media and entertainment, IBM telecommunications and media industry solutions unit, said, ``We believe that the Internet has great potential in building and enhancing customer relationships which, in turn, build brand loyalty. If we can bring customers onto the Internet through a local brand that they trust and in which they perceive value, they're likely to stay longer and have a better experience online.''

An example of building brand value and using existing Cox media to promote access and local interactive content is ``Austin 360.'' This Web site, to be launched this summer, will provide entertainment, information and communications built around the various communities of interest in the diverse Austin, Texas, community. The site is being developed by Interactive Design Works of Cox Newspapers' Austin American-Statesman. Austin 360 will offer its customers private-label Internet access kits under the name of Austin 360, built and supported by IBM. The American-Statesman will promote the Austin 360 site and the Internet access kit. When the customers of Austin 360 connect to the Internet through the kit, they'll see the Austin 360 site first.

Cox Newspapers, a founding member of New Century Network (NCN), has recently signed on with NCN to develop its own city sites. Those sites will serve their communities with interactive experiences much like those of Austin 360.

Cox Broadcasting has two stations that already have launched city sites: WSB-TV, Atlanta, has Atlanta Right Now (www.wsbtv.com), and WSOC(TV), Charlotte, N.C., has CharlotteNow (www.CharlotteNow.com). The Cox/IBM agreement will enable these sites, along with other Cox sites such as Manheim Online (www.manheim.com) to have quality hosting and the ability to offer Internet access.

Cox has other Web sites that generate high traffic, such as Fastball (www.fastball.com) and Atlanta Games (www.atlantagames.com). The Cox/IBM agreement also will meet these traffic demands by providing quality hosting and server operations.

The IBM telecommunications and media industry solutions unit offers a wide range of solutions for the telecommunications, cable TV, wireless, broadcasting, publishing, advertising and entertainment industries. The IBM Global Network is one of the world's largest data networks and Internet services providers, with more than 600 Internet access sites in more than 45 countries. It serves more customer enterprises (25,000) in more cities (850) and countries (100) than any other network provider. The IBM Global Network offers a broad portfolio of connection, electronic commerce and network outsourcing services.

IBM has been a pioneer in the development of the Internet. It designed special hardware and software, and provided operations support for key networks that make up today's Internet, including the Internet's primary backbone, the NSFnet. IBM also helped form Advanced Network & Services (ANS), the organization that had been responsible for managing and servicing the NSFnet from its inception until the beginning of 1995. IBM can be reached at www.ibm.com.

IBM offers hardware, software, consulting and services to help customers take advantage of the potential of the Internet. Whether addressing an individual need or creating a total enterprise solution, IBM provides the expertise required to plan, design, implement and operate an Internet solution for businesses.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Cox Enterprises, Inc. owns Cox Newspapers, Inc. (newspapers, direct mail marketing, book publishing and online services) and Cox Broadcasting, Inc. (TV, radio, spot sales, production and research). It has majority ownership of Manheim Auctions, Inc. (wholesale auto auctions, dealer financial services, government autions, online services and printed price guides) and publicly traded Cox Communications, Inc. (cable distribution, programming and broadband telecommunications).

CONTACT: Cox Enterprises, Inc.,

Bill Killen, 404/843-5190,

or bill.killen(at sign)cox.com;

or

IBM

Colleen R. Brathwaite, 914/642-5455,

colleenb(at sign)us.ibm.com