SAN JOSE, Calif. - March 12, 2001 - | The Real Cities Network, the premier nationwide network of city and regional Web sites, today announced that it has an agreement with AT&T; Wireless to provide local news, sports and entertainment channels to AT&T; Digital PocketNet(r) users in 15 major markets. Eight of the 15 cities will be immediately available beginning today; seven additional markets will be available by late Spring, 2001.
As a result of this relationship, a collection of some of the best local Web sites is now available to all AT&T; Digital PocketNet users, who will have the opportunity to view localized headlines quickly and read on demand the full text of each story. Customers will be able to select the city of their choice and then scroll down to view updated news and sports stories, with local entertainment content to be available by late Spring 2001.
"By joining AT&T; Digital PocketNet service, we're extending Real Cities' commitment to multi-channel delivery of local content to users when and where they want it," explained Dan Finnigan, president of KnightRidder.com. "The significance of this agreement goes beyond meeting the growing demand for multi-platform wireless content delivery. It's also about meeting the need for on-demand, up-to-the-minute, localized information."
"AT&T; Wireless is delighted to bring to our customers news, sports and entertainment information from the Real Cities Network of local Web sites," said Andy Willett, vice president business development of AT&T; Wireless. "By working with leading local information content providers like Real Cities, we're able to provide a comprehensive and high-quality service to AT&T; Digital PocketNet users from coast to coast."
Real Cities Network Web sites available immediately to AT&T; Digital PocketNet users include:
* NYDailyNews.com, New York City's hometown connection, content provided by the New York Daily News
* BayArea.com, content provided by The San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times
* NWSource.com, content covering Seattle and the Pacific Northwest region provided by The Seattle Times
* Miami.com, content covering all of south Florida provided by The Miami Herald
* InsideDenver.com, content provided by The Rocky Mountain News
* TwinCities.com, content covering Minneapolis and St. Paul provided by the Pioneer Press
* Philly.com, content provided by The Philadelphia Inquirer
* Charlotte.com, content provided by The Charlotte Observer
"We're thrilled that content from the New York Daily News is now wirelessly available to people around the country," said Joe Stella, vice president of new media for the New York Daily News online. "Our membership in the Real Cities Network enables us to leverage the power of the Network to establish new wireless channels."
Real Cities' wireless content channels are supported and hosted by AirFlash, Inc., a Saratoga, CA-based development platform provider for location-based services. KnightRidder.com and AirFlash are working together to develop future wireless initiatives.
About AT&T; Wireless
AT&T; Wireless (NYSE:AWE) operates one of the largest digital wireless networks in North America. With more than 15 million subscribers, including partnerships and affiliates, and revenues exceeding #036;10 billion, AT&T; Wireless is committed to being among the first to deliver the next generation of wireless products and services. Today, we offer customers high-quality wireless communications services, whether mobile or fixed, voice or data, to businesses or consumers, in the U.S. and internationally. For more information, please visit: www.att.com/wireless.
About Real Cities and KnightRidder.com:
Real Cities consists of a unique partnership network that brings together the best strengths of leading U.S. media and Internet companies including A. H. Belo Corporation, Blade Communications, E.W. Scripps Co., Gannett Co., Inc., KnightRidder.com and North Jersey Media Group, Inc. The network allows media organizations to leverage their strong local content in a national network that brings to consumers news, sports, event happenings and community connections from locally run information sources that are trusted to be the heart and soul of their locale. Among Real Cities' member Web sites are BayArea.com, Cincinow.com, DFW.com, Indy.com, KansasCity.com, Kentucky.com, Miami.com, Philly.com, PittsburghFirst.com, PhoenixAZ.com, Charlotte.com, TwinCities.com and NorthJersey.com.
KnightRidder.com, a leader in local information and services on the Web and founder of the Real Cities network, is headquartered in San Jose, California. KnightRidder.com develops and manages the Internet properties of Knight Ridder (NYSE:KRI), the nation's second largest newspaper publisher. KnightRidder.com is a separate Internet subsidiary.
Press Contacts:
Cynthia Mallen Funnell, KnightRidder.com, 408-938-6076, cfunnell@knightridder.com
Bill Maxfield, PRx Inc. for KnightRidder.com, 408-350-0796, bill_maxfield@prxinc.com
Danielle Perry, AT&T; Wireless, 201-576-7707, danielle.perry@attws.com
