SAN FRANCISCO–(HISPANIC PR WIRE – BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 19, 2002–With the number of American Hispanics accessing the Internet increasing at double-digit rates, Business Wire and Medialink Worldwide Incorporated (NASDAQ: MDLK) today announced the creation of a Spanish language version of their Internet joint venture, Newstream.com.
Newstream provides distribution of downloadable multimedia news content and streaming media to more than 17,000 registered online journalists, at more than 10,000 sites ranging from msnbc.com and nytimes.com to bbonline.com and ft.com. The new service, Newstream en Español, provides video, audio, text and graphics to dozens of Spanish language sites including Telemundo, CNN en Español and El Diario/La Prensa.
The two companies will post Spanish language stories with video, audio and photos on Newstream. Journalists and the general public can access the stories at http://www.newstream.com and clicking the prominent “en Español” button on the site’s home page.
A recent study by comScore Networks found the U.S. Hispanic Internet population grew 19% between the first quarter of 2001 and the first quarter of 2002.
“That means the number of Hispanics on the Web grew at a rate more than three times the rate of non-Hispanics,” says Newstream Managing Editor Les Blatt. “They now make up 11% of the total U.S. online population, and that number continues to grow. American corporations and organizations are eager to reach this expanding audience, and Newstream is by far the most efficient way for them to do it.”
The announcement, made during the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) International Conference, also included another new Newstream service, FeatureStream, which is also marketed by Business Wire as Smart Features.
A recent survey of Newstream’s registrants revealed a heightened interest in feature story ideas. The three most popular topics were health and medical, new consumer products and general lifestyle. A unique element of FeatureStream is its ability to provide journalists with topical news tied to seasons and events such back to school and the holiday retail season. There will also be story groupings aimed at particular interest groups, such as sports, home and garden, and automobiles.
“The number of news sites has continued to grow despite the economic downturn, making the phrase `doing more with less’ more meaningful than ever,” said Blatt. “As a result of this trend, which continues to escalate, Newstream has become a more vital source of news and feature material.”
About Newstream:
Newstream.com, a joint venture between Business Wire and Medialink, is the only vertical Internet portal dedicated to distributing multimedia and streaming corporate and public relations content to thousands of registered journalists.
About Business Wire:
Business Wire was founded in 1961 by its president, Lorry I. Lokey, veteran journalist and public relations executive.
Business Wire’s multi-channel delivery network provides real-time, simultaneous access to key audiences–the news media, trade publications, institutional and individual investors, business-to-business decision-makers and consumers.
The company electronically disseminates some 1,000 full-text news releases daily to the news media, the Internet, online services and databases, and the global investment community. Business Wire has network access to some 60 international and national news agencies, financial information providers, and Web-based news services throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.
Business Wire has 26 U.S. offices, plus Frankfurt, London and Brussels offices, and reciprocal offices worldwide.
About Medialink:
Medialink (http://www.medialink.com) is a global leader in providing comprehensive and compelling multimedia communication solutions and services for more than 3,000 corporations and other organizations seeking to communicate news to their audiences through television, radio, print and the Internet. The company provides production and satellite distribution of video and audio news, multimedia webcasting services, press release newswire distribution, photography production and digital distribution, and strategic corporate communications consulting. Medialink also provides media monitoring and analysis and public relations research to help clients determine return on investment from their communications efforts. Based in New York, Medialink has 12 offices worldwide including an international hub in London.
For additional investor and financial information, please visit the recently launched Investor Relations section of the Company’s Web site (http://www.medialink.com).
With the exception of the historical information contained in the release, the matters described herein contain certain “forward-looking statements” that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this release are not promises or guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. We caution you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein. Such statements may relate, among other things, to our ability to respond to economic changes and improve operational efficiency, the benefits of our products to be realized by our customers, or our plans, objectives, and expected financial and operating results. Forward-looking statements may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances or using words such as: will, believe, anticipate, expect, could, may, estimate, project, plan, predict, intend or similar expressions that involve risk or uncertainty. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, our recent history of losses, our ability to achieve or maintain profitability; worldwide economic weakness; effectiveness of our cost reduction programs; our ability to develop new services and market acceptance of such services, such as Teletrax; the volume and importance of breaking news which can have the effect of crowding out the content we produce and deliver to broadcast outlets on behalf of our clients; our ability to develop new products and services that keep pace with technology; our ability to develop and maintain successful relationships with critical vendors; the potential negative effects of our international operations on the Company; future acquisitions or divestitures may adversely affect our operations and financial results; the absence of long term contracts with customers and vendors; and increased competition, which may have an adverse effect on pricing, revenues, gross margins and our customer base. More detailed information about these risk factors is set forth in filings by Medialink Worldwide Incorporated with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s registration statement, most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other publicly available information regarding the Company. Medialink Worldwide Incorporated is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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CONTACT:
Newstream.com
Western Region
Nick Peters
323/465-0400, ext. 239
or
Business Wire
Marketing & Business Strategy
Michael Lissauer, 212/752-9600
or
Medialink Worldwide Inc.
Corporate Communications
Mary C. Buhay
212/682-8300
