WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., April 5, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq:UNTD), a leading provider of value-priced Internet subscription services, today announced that it has acquired the consumer web-hosting business of About, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PRIMEDIA Inc. (NYSE:PRM), for approximately $12 million in cash. The business maintains more than 3 million free, ad-supported web sites and has approximately 53,000 pay subscribers. It offers consumers a variety of affordable personal web-site services, including hosting, domain and email services. The company has approximately 30 employees and will maintain its operations in Orem, UT.
"A key strategy at United Online is to broaden our offerings of affordable, high-quality consumer Internet services, and personal web-site services are a logical complement to our successful, value-priced Internet access business," said Jon O. Fetveit, EVP and chief strategy officer of United Online. "In addition to the numerous cross-marketing opportunities presented by this acquisition, we view the large free user base as a valuable asset with untapped potential. We intend to leverage our marketing experience to realize that potential."
About United Online
United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq:UNTD) is a leading provider of value-priced Internet subscription services through a number of consumer brands, including NetZero and Juno. The company's standard Internet access services are offered at less than half the standard premium prices of its major competitors and are available in more than 6,500 cities across the United States and in Canada. United Online is headquartered in Westlake Village, CA, with offices in New York City, San Francisco and Hyderabad, India. For more information about United Online and its Internet access services, please visit www.untd.com.