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COMCAST TO DELIVER REALNETWORKS' RHAPSODY DIGITAL MUSIC SERVICE TO ITS NEARLY FIVE MILLION BROADBAND INTERNET CUSTOMERS
Nation's #1 Broadband Provider and #1 Digital Music Subscription Service To Launch Major TV and Online Promotion Providing Free Access to Rhapsody's 400,000 Song Library
Rhapsody Provides Broadband Customers Fun and Legal Way to Enjoy Music
PHILADELPHIA and SEATTLE, November 10, 2003 — Comcast, the nation's leading broadband Internet provider, and RealNetworks, the global leader in digital media services and software, today announced that Comcast will provide its nearly five million high-speed Internet customers and broadband music enthusiasts the ability to maximize their broadband connections by offering RealNetworks' Rhapsody, the country's leading Internet jukebox service, via a co-branded website accessible on Comcast's premier broadband customer destination home page at Comcast.net.
Rhapsody's digital music service provides unlimited access to a vast library of music from all five major music labels plus more than 200 independent music labels. From Elvis Presley and Sting to Outkast and Clay Aiken, the easy-to-use Rhapsody service features more than 400,000 songs.
The Rhapsody service is unique in that it allows subscribers to access more than 30,000 albums instantly, listen to complete albums, create custom playlists and burn CDs for 79 cents per track from hundreds of genres of music. Further, the service offers more than 50 commercial-free radio stations. There are no limits or meters for use of the service. The service is easy to use and better for consumers than the illicit sharing of music via peer-to-peer networks. With Rhapsody, customers don't have to wait for downloads or contend with other users' cluttered hard drives.
"By offering the Rhapsody service to Comcast High-Speed Internet customers, we are providing our users the opportunity to enjoy an extensive collection of music on demand, showcasing the value of a 100 percent pure broadband connection," said David Juliano, senior vice president and general manager for Comcast High-Speed Internet. "The Rhapsody music service is joining an already strong content lineup on Comcast.net becoming part of our constant efforts to offer our customers compelling and easy-to-use broadband content."
"We are delighted to deepen our relationship with Comcast, the country's number one broadband service provider," said Rob Glaser, Chairman and CEO, RealNetworks. "We are thrilled to pair Rhapsody, the number one Internet jukebox service, with the power of Comcast's broadband network, and believe this will accelerate the dramatic growth Rhapsody has experienced in recent months."
To encourage Comcast customers to experience Rhapsody, the companies also are launching one of the largest free music promotions ever. During November and December, Comcast and RealNetworks will offer the Rhapsody "You Can Have It All" promotion, which allows Comcast High-Speed Internet customers and RealOne users seven days of free access to the Rhapsody service, with no credit card required. Comcast customers also receive an exclusive opportunity to burn 10 free songs if they subscribe to the service, which costs $9.95 per month.
Comcast and RealNetworks will build consumer awareness of Rhapsody and the "You Can Have It All" promotion between now and the end of December with major TV and online advertising campaigns. The companies also will conduct additional significant joint marketing of the service in 2004. Additional terms of the Comcast and RealNetworks agreement are not being released.
About Rhapsody
RealNetworks' Rhapsody® is the number one Internet jukebox service. Rhapsody offers subscribers the lowest per-burn price available to U.S. consumers through any of the major digital music services. Simple, fast and reliable, Rhapsody gives users unlimited access to a massive legal collection of digital music for under $10 a month. In 2003, Rhapsody has been honored with PC Magazine's Editors' Choice Award and a PC World Best Buy Award.
About RealNetworks, Inc.
RealNetworks, Inc. is the global leader in digital media services and software for consumers and businesses. Consumers use RealNetworks' RealOne Player and the content subscription services it offers to create and play free and premium digital content. Broadcasters,
network operators, media companies and enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software at http://www.real.com. RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com.
About Comcast
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation, a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. Operating in 17 of the United States' 20 largest metropolitan areas, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, Digital Cable, high-speed Internet and telephone services, Comcast is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what's important in their lives. The company's 55,000 employees, in six divisions, serve more than 21 million customers.
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