SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 3, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ZDNet (www.zdnet.com), a leading editorial resource for IT professionals and business influencers and a property of CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET), today announced an innovative new event Webcast program, and the success of its first event sponsored by VeriSign, Inc. (go to http://www.zdnet.com/webcasts for a video demo of the event).

ZDNet's combination of program elements enhances the impact of Webcast events for both its audience and sponsors. This formula, resulting from ZDNet's years of experience with sponsored Webcasts, includes:

    --  Editorial event focus on real-life IT problems

    --  Editorial clout that attracts top-notch panelists and a
        high-quality audience

    --  The vibrance and networking value of live, in-person events

    --  Audience engagement, enhanced by real-time polling during
        panel

    --  ZDNet feature Webcast distribution with guaranteed delivery of
        highly-engaged prospects.

VeriSign sponsored the first ZDNet event Webcast, "Digital Defense Test 2003," which took place in September and focused on the cybersecurity standards debate. The Webcast was based on a live event, attended by 70 senior IT executives and business professionals. Moderated by ZDNet's Dan Farber, panelists represented the who's who of the cybersecurity world, including Howard Schmidt, former White House cybersecurity czar and current chief information security officer at eBay; Dr. Phyllis Schneck, president and chairman, board of directors, FBI InfraGard, and VP Enterprise Services, eCommSecurity Inc.; and Mark Graff, chief cybersecurity officer, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. To date, more than 2,000 ZDNet audience members have registered for event Webcast, which launched in October and can be accessed at http://zdnet.com.com/html/z/tu/1003/ddt2003.html?tag=tu.fd.sc.link.

ZDNet has found that editorial-driven Webcasts attract five times more registrants than marketer-driven Webcasts. In addition, a large percentage of its editorial Webcast registrants opt to receive information from sponsors. For example, 40 percent of the people who registered for the Digital Defense 2003 Webcast opted to receive information from VeriSign. Ultimately, a much higher volume of ZDNet's high-quality, IT professional audience responds to sponsors when ZDNet's brand of unbiased, topical coverage is featured, versus vendor-driven content. For example, 91 percent of the audience members at the live event said they were likely to make changes in their security strategies based on what they learned at the event.

"The team at ZDNet knows how to do this, and how to do it well," said Stratton Sclavos, chairman and chief executive officer of VeriSign. "VeriSign could have done the event on its own, and invited the same panelists, but it wouldn't have had the editorial quality or objectivity that you get from being involved with folks who are professionals."

To increase audience engagement during the event by giving the audience a voice, ZDNet gave each audience member a real-time polling device. Questions were posed to the audience throughout the event, and the poll results were displayed live and included in the discussion. "There are a lot of panels where it's dry, and you don't have the interactivity between the panelists themselves and the audience. In this case, we hit a home run on both fronts," said Sclavos.

"An hour of watching this online can rival 20 (White House) town hall meetings, in terms of educating people and making them more aware of what they need to do," said panelist Howard Schmidt.

The ZDNet event Webcast program was designed to be easily integrated into a sponsor's routine schedule of client events. This way, the in-person editorial panel events do not cost a premium to host. The event Webcasts are featured live on the ZDNet home page, and are heavily promoted on the site for a month afterward. After that, users can access them in ZDNet's Webcast archives.

Marketers interested in hosting a ZDNet event Webcast should contact Chas Edwards, 415-344-2734, or chas.edwards@cnet.com.

About CNET Networks, Inc.

CNET Networks, Inc. (www.cnetnetworks.com) is a leading global media company informing and connecting buyers, users and sellers of technology, consumer electronics and gaming products. Known for its editorial expertise, CNET Networks combines its award winning content with the power of interactive technology to provide its users an intuitive, dynamic and relevant environment. The company's content portfolio features top brands including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, GameSpot, 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 12 countries.

SOURCE: CNET Networks, Inc.

CNET Networks, Inc.
Sarah Winterhalder, 415-344-2218 (Media)
sarah.winterhalder@cnet.com
Cammeron Finnegan, 415-344-2844 (Investor Relations)
cammeron.finnegan@cnet.com

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