Salon.com (Nasdaq: SALN,
www.salon.com), one of the Internet's leading media companies, today
announced the election of two new board members, Brian Dougherty, Chairman
and Chief Technology Officer of Wink Communications Inc. and Leonardo
Mondadori, Chairman of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA (Italy).
Dougherty founded Wink Communications, a technology company
that provides a complete end-to-end system for electronic commerce on
television. Wink's investors include Microsoft, Paul Allen's Vulcan
Ventures and GE Benchmark Capital, and the company went public in August
1999. Prior to founding Wink in 1994, Dougherty served as Founder and
Chairman of GeoWorks, a leading provider of wireless
e-commerce and information services for the consumer market. Dougherty's
first entrepreneurial venture was launched in 1980 when he founded Imagic,
a popular video game company that designed products for the Atari system.
"We're excited to have a technology and e-commerce visionary like Brian
join Salon.com's Board of Directors as we strive to grow the company," said
Michael O'Donnell, Salon.com's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We
look forward to tapping into Brian's 20-plus years of experience in
creating compelling consumer technology and successful e-commerce
offerings."
Leonardo Mondadori, the second addition to Salon.com's board, is Chairman
of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA, one of Europe's largest media companies.
With its magazine, book, multimedia and Internet operations, sales for
Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA exceed $1.5 billion. Mondadori spearheaded
the launch of Mondadori.com (www.mondadori.com), one of Italy's preeminent
portals, and is the driving force behind the convergence of the Internet
and publishing within the company.
"We plan to draw on Leonardo's expertise in building large, scalable media
companies in potential new markets overseas," said O'Donnell. "In addition
to Mondadori's corporate new media efforts, Leonardo has personally
invested in emerging Internet companies and has a keen understanding of the
right formulas to be successful in Europe and around the world."
Dougherty and Mondadori join Salon.com's other directors: David Talbot,
Salon.com Founder, Chairman and Editor in Chief; Michael O'Donnell,
Salon.com President and CEO; Norman Lear, Chairman of Act III Productions;
Jim Rosenfield, former President of CBS Television; and Ronald Celmer,
Managing Director of Constellation Ventures. Sada Chidambaram, Managing
Director of Dotcom Ventures, has resigned from the board to make room for
the new members.
About Wink Communications, Inc.
Wink Communications, Inc. based in Alameda, Calif., provides a complete
end-to-end system for low-cost electronic commerce on television. Wink
Enhanced Broadcasting allows advertisers, merchants and broadcast and cable
networks to create interactive enhancements to traditional television
advertisements and programs. With a click of the remote control during an
enhanced program or ad, viewers can use Wink to access program-related
information, participate in votes and polls, and play along with games and
trivia tests.
Wink capability is currently available to viewers in cable markets in
California, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, New York and Tennessee. Wink
Enhanced Broadcasting has been available in Japan since October 1996 and in
the United States since June 1998. A complete list of industry leaders who
have adopted the Wink technology and additional information regarding Wink
Communications is available at http://www.wink.com.
About Mondadori
Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA (traded at the Milan Stock Market) is Italy's
leading publisher and one of Europe's leading publishing groups.
Established in 1907, the company has played a crucial role in the cultural
development of Italy, from its foundation to the present day.
The business areas of the company fall into five categories: books,
magazines and advertising, printing, direct marketing, computer publishing
and new media. In recent years, the company has also been active in
reinforcing its strength in all publishing sectors through acquisitions.
About Salon.com
Salon.com (Nasdaq: SALN; www.salon.com; AOL Keyword: Salon) is an Internet
media company that produces a network of 10 original content sites and two
communities -- Table Talk and The Well. Salon.com was founded by David
Talbot, former arts editor of the San Francisco Examiner. Premier
advertisers and sponsors of Salon.com include Visa, IBM, Lexus, Microsoft,
Virgin.com, Intel, DrKoop.com, barnesandnoble.com and EDS. The network has
relationships with 275 advertising sponsors. In September 1999, the site
had 1.9 million unique visitors.
Salon.com recently announced an e-commerce ticketing arrangement with
CultureFinder.com and distribution arrangements for its books, news and
technology content via Rocket eBooks and AvantGo. Salon.com also has
distribution agreements with major online companies including America
Online, Lycos, Go.com, Alta Vista, CNN.com and CNet. Its content is
syndicated to North American newspapers through United Features.
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