Contact Information: Contact: Paul Luthringer Hearst Corporation Email Contact 212-649-2540 Amy Davidson Hearst Corporation Email Contact 212-649-2337
Hearst Announces Plan to Launch "News Reader" Product at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Identify Potential Uses Across Hearst Brands
Software Offers Consumers a Superior Onscreen Reading Experience
| Source: Hearst Corporation
NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 22, 2007 -- In a continuing effort to expand the reach of
its content, Hearst Corporation today announced an alliance with Microsoft
Corp. that will allow Hearst media properties to utilize Windows
Presentation Foundation technology to create "News Reader" software.
Hearst's initial deployment of the News Reader software, which launches in
beta at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer today, is a downloadable application
providing computer users with a new way to view newspaper content onscreen.
The "P-I Reader" can be downloaded at http://seattlepi.com/newsreader. The
announcement was made by George B. Irish, president of Hearst Newspapers,
and Kenneth A. Bronfin, president of Hearst Interactive Media.
The staff of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Web site, www.seattlepi.com,
and Microsoft worked with software developer IdentityMine to create a
digital reading experience that will be familiar to readers of Hearst's
Seattle newspaper. The P-I Reader can download an entire newspaper in
approximately two minutes, and the content then can be viewed with or
without an Internet connection. The P-I Reader, with a sampling of the
content available in the Post-Intelligencer and on seattlepi.com, will be
available in free beta to registered users and can be downloaded starting
today at www.seattlepi.com. Hearst is identifying opportunities across its
brands -- including within its other newspapers and magazines -- to
leverage this innovative new platform for publishing and distributing
content and advertising.
Commenting on the announcement, Irish said: "At Hearst, we are constantly
looking for new ways to reach our readers. It is clear that digital
delivery and consumption are critical to the future success of the
newspaper industry. We are very excited to be collaborating with Microsoft
on this new application. We are delighted to begin the development of this
technology in Seattle and intend to expand to our other major newspaper
markets in the near future."
The P-I Reader allows users, such as business travelers or commuters, to
synchronize their laptops before getting on an airplane or train and have
available the latest content to read when it is most convenient. Up to six
days of content can also be archived and read. The text and photos in the
P-I Reader are displayed in a format to fit the size and layout of any
computer screen and readers can customize the display according to personal
preferences, such as font and window size, and move quickly through the
pages, without scrolling. A user can navigate through the entire paper
using just two arrow keys on the keyboard. The application works on any
computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP, from desktop PCs to tablets
to the latest ultra-mobile computing devices. Microsoft intends to broaden
support for the application to additional platforms, including mobile
devices and computers running Apple's Mac operating system, in the future.
Added Bronfin: "We want to continue to be at the forefront of the digital
publishing world and one way we are doing that is by working with
Microsoft, one of the world's top technology companies, to explore and
profit from new media platforms. The quality of the reading experience
remains paramount for us and we believe that readers will find this
platform to be the best they've seen."
The program uses Windows Presentation Foundation, Microsoft's advanced
display technology in Windows Vista. Consumers using Windows XP will
automatically receive the necessary enhancement to their system when
downloading the P-I Reader.
About Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com) is one of the nation's largest
diversified media companies. Its major interests include 12 daily and 30
weekly newspapers, including the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Houston
Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, and Albany
Times Union; nearly 200 magazines around the world, including Cosmopolitan,
Good Housekeeping, and O, The Oprah Magazine; 29 television stations
through Hearst-Argyle Television (NYSE : HTV ), which reach a combined 18% of
U.S. viewers; joint venture interests in leading cable networks, including
Lifetime, A&E, The History Channel and ESPN; as well as business
publishing, including a joint venture interest in Fitch Group; Internet
businesses; television production; newspaper features distribution; and
real estate.
About IdentityMine
IdentityMine assists leading companies to successfully evaluate and adopt
emerging technologies through conceptual demonstrations, functional
prototypes, mentorship and training programs, as well as customized
development projects. IdentityMine specializes in the design and
architecture of immersive Web and interactive application experiences on
the Microsoft .NET platform. The company designs, develops, and integrates
tomorrow's solutions utilizing the most advanced tools and processes. From
internal mission critical applications to new client product innovations,
IdentityMine's goal is to merge form and function with a stunning user
experience clients have come to expect. Clients include Microsoft, HP, NEC,
CCH, Thomson Financial, Pfizer, Hearst Corporation and Forbes.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.