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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
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.
RealNetworks, RealOne, and Rhapsody are trademarks or registered
trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other trademarks are
the property of their respective owners.
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