IdeaCast Inc. Counters Ad-Zapping and Engages Key Demos with Place-Based TV -- National HealthClub Network.

CHICAGO -- IdeaCast Inc.:

--Zap-Proof Advertising Platform Attracts Some of Country's Most Prominent Advertisers Including Pepsi, Orbitz, FTD and Molson All Focused on Reaching Key Adult Demos Nationally

--Long-term Broadcast Agreements Secured With Nation's Most Popular Content Providers including CNN, CNBC and MSNBC for Launch

--Multi-year Carriage Agreements with IHRSA Association Health Club Facilities to Deliver IdeaCast's Place-Based Network Feed to 75 of Top 100 DMAs Including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco 

IdeaCast Inc. is a new company focused on creating an innovative national network - National HealthClub Network (NHN) - aggregating some of television's most popular content. Delivering an advertising platform that brings select network programming to health clubs, IdeaCast has signed multi-year agreements with leading clubs and cable networks that allows the company to insert zap-proof advertising spots in existing commercial breaks. Fred Smith, the veteran advertising industry executive and new media and technology proponent who founded the company, serves as CEO.

According to Mr. Smith, the National HealthClub Network, which premiered on September 15, 2006, employs placed-based media that reaches highly receptive and targeted audiences made up of the key adult 21-44 year-old demographics. To that end, IdeaCast has reached an agreement with the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) to become the national organization's "official satellite/cable television service." The IHRSA represents over 4,800 U.S. health clubs with over 15 million members. Noted Mr. Smith, "Health club members are among the nation's highest economic income tier. However they also make up a significant part of a unique, affluent audience that is not easily reached through traditional commercial television."

As a result of this agreement, IdeaCast has entered into exclusive content partnerships with health club facilities in 75 of the top 100 DMAs. Launch markets will include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Baltimore, Seattle, Denver, Tampa Bay, Fort Lauderdale, Milwaukee, Jacksonville and San Jose, to name a few. Under these partnership agreements, IdeaCast also pays the costs associated with the installation of its proprietary network receiver and antenna.

Mr. Smith noted that as an outgrowth of IdeaCast's partnership with these facilities, the company will also air promotional content that will assist the clubs with their retention and new member campaigns. IdeaCast's agreement with these clubs locks in the content viewed on the televisions thus ensuring that both programming and sponsor messages are shown without channel changing or commercial zapping. Said Mr. Smith, "Cardio and tread mill users alike tend to focus on the televisions in these clubs to take their minds of their grueling workouts. Engaging programming is a very welcome distraction for club members."

Through a series of long-term programmer agreements, IdeaCast's National HealthClub Network broadcasts programming from such popular news networks as CNN, CNBC and MSNBC. Later this year, IdeaCast also plans on adding a local travel and weather channel to its service.

Looking to reach this targeted viewing audience, Pepsi, Orbitz, FTD and Molson have signed with IdeaCast as charter advertisers. Michael J. Soenen, President and CEO of FTD, remarked, "IdeaCast's new model helps solve the ad-zapping problem for FTD's television buys and delivers our brand message to a high-income demographic with significantly increased unaided recall."

Through Nielsen Media Research audience data and its own proprietary research as well as third party technology, IdeaCast will be providing ad agencies and advertisers with attendance verification, commercial recall, and retention data that measures the effectiveness of spots aired in this unique environment. IdeaCast's advanced distribution architecture also allows advertisers to:

--Create specific market coverage patterns

--Establish commercial roadblocks

--Utilize all forms of commercial lengths

--Position a message through program specific placement

Beth Corbett, Vice President of New Media Services at Nielsen Media Research, states, "For more than 50 years Nielsen Media Research has provided clients with reliable, actionable information and insight that defines the value of media. By making a long- term commitment to audience measurement, IdeaCast is taking the crucial step needed to provide its buyers with information that will determine the value of the National HealthClub Network. We are delighted to be working with IdeaCast on this project as we 'follow the video' to this unique environment."

Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and producer of such films as Akeelah and the Bee, states, "Consumer engagement is the ultimate goal. IdeaCast achieves that goal with an innovative platform that uses a traditional medium in a non-traditional way."

Added Mr. Smith, "During my many years on the agency side, I recall numerous client meetings revolving around trying to figure out ways to overcome zapping, fractionalization and changing media consumption patterns. It was these considerations that have led to the formation of IdeaCast. We are inserting commercial messages into television content that has already been openly accepted by health club members nationally."

A veteran advertising industry executive, Mr. Smith is best known as the co-founder of Chicago-based The Leap Group for which he served as Chairman and CEO. Agency clients included Nike, Anheuser-Busch (Bud Light, Michelob), Microsoft, Wal-Mart, American Airlines, Apple Computer, Ernst & Young and Miller Brewing Company (Miller Lite). Under his leadership The Leap Group expanded to have offices in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and he successful took the agency public in 1996.

Mr. Smith also served as president of the agency's interactive subsidiary Quantum Leap Communication (QLC) subsidiary. In its first year of business QLC won major assignments from such companies as American Airlines, MSNBC and R.R. Donnelley. Prior to forming The Leap Group, he served in executive positions with leading advertising agencies including DDB Needham, Leo Burnett Co., and Young & Rubicam

IdeaCast Inc. and National HealthClub Network are both headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.