SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 2003--CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNET), a leading global media company informing and connecting the buyers, users, and sellers of technology, today announced the debut of the first "Interactive Archway" advertising unit on the front door of its award-winning CNET News.com Web site.

Sun Microsystems, Inc. is the first company to use this new ad unit to announce its Network Computing 03 Q3 quarterly Web event, underscoring Sun's commitment to network computing. The unit, which is unique to CNET Networks, is the first of two Interactive Archways that Sun will run on News.com this week.

The Interactive Archway ad unit begins with a five-second introduction and dissolves to an anchor position that wraps around News.com's top story. Because the ad unit supports multiple screens and different options for the user, marketers can provide user in-depth content in a single unit that compliments, not competes with, the day's headline news.

"Sun continues to look for smart and innovative ways to communicate with our customers in a contextually relevant environment, said Scott Anderson, director of eMarketing, Sun. "The CNET News.com Archway Unit lets us offer the latest information from our company, including trial software offers and whitepapers, which are also critical information for the buying process."

Beyond Interactive, Sun's interactive agency, developed the unit in conjunction with CNET Networks, using a combination of Macromedia Flash and the commercial break ad format from the Eyeblaster Rich Media Platform.

"CNET News.com continues to be a critical resource for business technology leaders who need breaking news, as well as top-level analysis of the latest industry trends and issues," said Greg Mason, executive vice president of sales and marketing, CNET Networks. "We're proud to offer our strategic marketing partners such as Sun a powerful ad unit that reaches users as they enter News.com, helping them effectively reach a broad base of users for the kick-off of important events and product launches."

Based in San Francisco with offices in Boston, New York, Washington, Asia and Europe, CNET News.com is known for its real-time journalism, as well as its ability to dissect pivotal trends before others have spotted them. The newsgroup has won dozens of national honors, among them recent awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, National Press Club, and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. Most recently, News.com received top rankings in Technology Marketing's 2003 Annual Influencers Report. Its technology stories are syndicated daily to several traditional news organizations, including The New York Times, Business Week, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, and Toronto Globe & Mail.

About CNET Networks, Inc.

CNET Networks, Inc. (www.cnetnetworks.com) is a leading global media company informing and connecting the buyers, users and sellers of technology. The company's product portfolio includes top brands CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Builder.com, News.com, GameSpot, Download.com, and mySimon, as well as Computer Shopper magazine, and CNET Channel. With a strong presence in the U.S., Asia and Europe, CNET Networks has operations in 16 countries.

Sun, Sun Microsystems and the Sun logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

    CONTACT: CNET Networks
             Media Contact:
             Sarah Winterhalder, 415.344.2218
             sarah.winterhalder@cnet.com

    SOURCE: CNET Networks