Yahoo! and Mark Burnett Productions Extend Alliance to Include ''App

    Business Editors/Entertainment Editors/High-Tech Editors

    SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2005--In the wake of its overwhelmingly successful promotions for the second season of "The Apprentice," Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO), a leading global Internet company, today announced that it will produce, host and sell advertising on the official websites for Mark Burnett Productions' upcoming "The Contender" and the third season of "The Apprentice" under the companies' ongoing content relationship. Yahoo! properties involved in the integration and promotion of Yahoo!'s Apprentice content include Yahoo! TV, Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! HotJobs, Yahoo! Search, Yahoo! Finance and LAUNCH, Music on Yahoo!, which combined reach a monthly unduplicated audience of 85 million unique users(1).
    "Yahoo! has the unique ability to provide dedicated fans the opportunity to be more engaged with their favorite shows through exclusive content that allows them to go deeper into the show," said Mark Burnett. "Yahoo! provides our avid fans with information and content that lets them have fun with the characters, the products and other elements of our shows. We're pleased at the value this provides fans of our shows, like 'The Apprentice.'"
    Content on the official websites for the third season of "The Apprentice," which will pit "street smart" versus "book smart" this season, and "The Contender," a new unscripted drama about the lives of 16 boxers who fight for one million dollars, will be updated weekly to complement each episode and provide a "behind-the-scenes" experience to site visitors. In addition, Yahoo! will incorporate branded programming elements throughout numerous other vertical offerings to expand the shows' reach and extend users' entertainment experience.
    "Our continuing relationship with Mark Burnett demonstrates Yahoo!'s dedication and unique capability to provide the most comprehensive original content available on the Internet," said Jim Moloshok, senior vice president of entertainment and content acquisition for Yahoo!. "At the same time, it also shows Yahoo!'s power to help programmers and advertisers reach a broad user base beyond the television viewing audience."
    Advertising opportunities on the sites will include sponsorship, broadband video ads, and banner ads, giving advertisers an opportunity to reach the massive online audience attracted to Mark Burnett's shows like "The Apprentice."
    "The Contender," debuting on February 21st, is a joint venture between MBP and DreamWorks, which formed Contender Partners, LLC, as well as an entity that is now licensed as a boxing promoter in California and Nevada. "The Contender" finale will be held at Caesars Palace on May 24. The show is sponsored by Toyota, Home Depot, Gatorade, Sierra Mist and Everlast. It stars Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard.
    The third installment of Mark Burnett's Trump-tastic competition pits book smarts vs. street smarts. At the beginning of the game, the contestants will be divided into teams based on their education level: One will consist of MBAs, lawyers and other well-educated types, while the other will be made up of entrepreneurs who have succeeded with only a high-school diploma.

    About Yahoo!

    Yahoo! Inc. is the No. 1 Internet brand globally and the most trafficked Internet destination worldwide. Yahoo! provides online products and services essential to consumers' lives, and offers a full range of tools and marketing solutions for businesses to connect with Internet users around the world. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

    About Mark Burnett Productions

    One of the driving forces behind reality television, Mark Burnett has a long history of executive producing Emmy Award-winning television. Burnett's entrepreneurial spirit pioneered the success of the reality "unscripted" drama series, garnered skyrocketing ratings and introduced millions of Americans to an entirely new television genre. Mark Burnett Productions revolutionized television, with hits such as Eco-Challenge, Survivor, The Apprentice and the upcoming Contender which premieres February 21 on NBC. MBP has garnered a total of 24 Emmy nominations since 2001. Mark Burnett was listed as the #1 Most Valuable Player by TV Guide and also in Time Magazine's Top 100 most influential people in the world today.

    About DreamWorks

    DreamWorks was formed in October 1994, by its three principal partners -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen -- to produce live-action motion pictures; animated feature films; network and cable television programming; home video entertainment books; toys; and consumer products.
    DreamWorks TV produces the hit series "Las Vegas," which is in its second season. "Las Vegas" was the highest rated new drama series last year in Adults 18-49. DreamWorks TV also produces the critically acclaimed FX drama "Rescue Me," which is in production on its second season. Other upcoming DreamWorks projects include the epic 12-hour limited series "Into the West" from Executive Producer Steven Spielberg, which is set to premiere in June 2005. DreamWorks' earlier successes include the sitcom "Spin City," which is now in syndication; the Emmy award winning miniseries "Band of Brothers" on HBO; and "Steven Spielberg Presents Taken" on the Sci Fi Channel. DreamWorks TV is run by Co-Presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.

    (1) Source: ComScore MediaMetrix, Dec 04

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CONTACT: Yahoo! Inc. Lynne Hentemann, 213-216-1764 hente@yahoo-inc.com or Bender/Helper Impact for Yahoo! Brenda Ciccone or Melisa Rodriguez, 310-473-4147

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ADVERTISING/MARKETING TELEVISION/RADIO CABLE INTERNET E-COMMERCE MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Yahoo! Inc.

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