Columbia TriStar Television Distribution Selects MediaHippo to Develop Enterprise Television Business-To-Business Website

Columbia TriStar Television Distribution (CTTD), a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, announced today that they have selected MediaHippo, a dynamic communications solutions provider, to develop and implement an enterprise-level distribution, advertising, marketing and media relations site for its extensive network of local television stations, cable and satellite operations and other business partners. The creation of this site will transform CTTD's businesses from a traditional model into a complete online e-business solution. CTTD.com will be introduced at NATPE on January 23, 2001.

"We are excited to be partnered with MediaHippo in this new venture," commented Steve Mosko, President, CTTD. "This B2B site represents our commitment to embracing the most modern means of communicating information and content to our customers, while giving them access to the most efficient way of conducting their business with us. The site will be a valuable tool for all areas of CTTD, including programming, marketing, media relations, sales, business affairs, distribution, and research."

Robert Oswaks, Executive Vice President, Marketing, CTTD, added, "Columbia TriStar Television Distribution is an industry leader in the quality, quantity, and effectiveness of support materials we make available to our stations and other business partners. We took great care in selecting the company that would create and execute a state-of-the-art online system that can maintain the integrity of our brands while offering instantaneous two-way communications. MediaHippo is the leader in its field and we are tremendously excited to be moving forward with them."

MediaHippo will help CTTD by developing a system of secured, business-to-business sites that will enable the company's content partners to access, analyze, share and obtain marketing materials, broadcast schedules and general show information. In addition to forming a common point of contact for the Columbia TriStar Television Distribution's network, the system will also facilitate all online requests, orders and confirmations as well as requests from the media.

CTTD's B2B internal task force is headed by Mr. Oswaks and managed by Colyn Scott, Manager, Research Operations, who coordinates with representatives of each CTTD department in determining and implementing their area of the site.

Ranked as one of the top 100 interactive agencies in the United States by Adweek, MediaHippo competed with top level design and communications firms throughout southern California to collaborate with CTTD. "We are very excited about working with Columbia TriStar Television Distribution," stated CEO Steve Miller, "We feel that with our knowledge of the convergence of TV, film and the Internet and with our core competencies in strategic consulting, design, and technology integration, we are the perfect candidates for the job."

"We develop enterprise-level Internet infrastructures for corporations and dot-com start-ups," said COO Monica Schwartz. "Though we represent several of the nations largest advertising agencies and industrial corporations, we also specialize in interactive solutions for entertainment and media companies."

"MediaHippo serves clients nationwide in a variety of industries," said VP of Business Development Jim Costello, "but they all have one thing in common: They seek to make an impact on their audience. Our goal is to empower our clients using a powerful combination of on-and offline technologies."

About MediaHippo

MediaHippo develops Dynamic Communications Solutions for clients in the entertainment, advertising, design, industrial and government sectors. The Burbank based company provides turnkey interactive solutions to a wide range of businesses and continually develop some of the most innovative Web and interactive media solutions in the industry. They also focus on providing dot-com businesses and independent consultants and publishers with the creativity, partnership and guidance that it takes to foster success on the Web.

About Columbia TriStar Television Distribution

Columbia TriStar Television Distribution is a world leader in the production and distribution of first-run and off-network television product. The studio provides programs to more than 1000 affiliates in 211 markets and 12 cable networks. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television production and distribution, worldwide channel investments, home video acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment products, services and technologies, and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web <http://www.spe.sony.com/>.

SOURCE: Columbia TriStar Television Distribution

Contact: Paul Nichols of Columbia TriStar Television Distribution,
310-244-6630

Website: http://www.spe.sony.com/