The Weather Channel Interactive Ends 2004 Top of Mind Among Online Users

The Weather Channel Interactive Ends 2004 Top of Mind Among Online Users weather.com(R) Content Ranks Number Ten in December, While Year-End Results Reflect Outstanding Growth for the Company ATLANTA, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- weather.com, the most trusted source of online weather information and the Web site of The Weather Channel(R), today announces that it ended 2004 the most popular source of online news and information and the tenth most popular content on the Web, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In December, weather.com reached more than 25 million unique users, which represents 25.3 percent of all active at-work users. The site also experienced a 16.5 percent increase over its 2003 site traffic according to internal pageview reports. The Weather Channel Interactive's (TWCi) other products and services also experienced tremendous success in 2004. Last year, the site expanded its free video content to include 100 local weather forecasts, nine regional forecasts, daily weather features and expanded severe weather coverage. As a result, weather.com experienced a 470 percent increase in video consumption (Q4 2004 vs. Q4 2003). Revenue for TWCi's mobile business, which most recently signed a deal with Smart Video to provide live weather coverage from The Weather Channel cable network via mobile phones and launched a multi-carrier messaging service, increased by more than 300 percent in Q4 2004 as compared to Q4 2003. TWCi also experienced tremendous growth in the desktop space in 2004. In 2004, daily downloads of Desktop Weather from The Weather Channel, the company's popular and convenient desktop application, increased more than 300 percent versus 2003. Also in 2004, weather.com was selected as the most trusted source of online weather information by participants of a survey conducted by Nielsen Media Research. weather.com outscored other commercial weather providers five to one with more than one-third of survey respondents choosing the site. "We have never been prouder of the work that is taking place at The Weather Channel Interactive-2004 was a fantastic year," said Joe Fiveash, senior vice president and general manager for The Weather Channel Interactive. "It is a pleasure to start a new year on such a high note. We look forward to similar growth in 2005 as we continue to deliver the most trusted weather reports on the Web while building the most innovative and relevant products for our users, advertising clients and business partners." About The Weather Channel Interactive weather.com, a product of The Weather Channel Interactive and the Web site of The Weather Channel(R), is the ultimate source of weather on the Web. The site helps users plan their lives by delivering timely current conditions, expert forecasts and relevant lifestyle content for 98,000 locations worldwide. weather.com reaches more than 25 million unique users each month and is the most popular source of online weather, news and information. Its content is currently ranked the 10th most popular according to Nielsen//NetRatings. The Weather Channel Interactive is the leading provider of broadband and wireless weather products and also provides consumers with unique and customizable products such as Desktop Weather by The Weather Channel and Notify! by The Weather Channel, a personalized weather alert service. The company's partnerships include America Online, Yahoo!, Excite Networks, MSNBC.com, USAToday.com, AT&T WorldNet, ABCNews.com, Digital City, Road Runner, Verizon Wireless, Cingular, AT&T Wireless, Sprint, Nextel, T-Mobile and Palm Computing. For More Information Contact: Stacy Kirk weather.com 770-226-2611 skirk@weather.com Source: The Weather Channel CONTACT: Stacy Kirk of weather.com, +1-770-226-2611, or skirk@weather.com Web site: http://www.weather.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment