YouthStream Media Networks in Deal with Inktomi

YouthStream Media Networks, also known
as Network Event Theater, signed an agreement with Inktomi to provide college students with
access to more than four million products from 350 popular merchants via
the upcoming mybytes.com.

mybytes.com is YouthStream’s Internet hub for the college market due to
launch on Aug. 16. Through mybytes.com’s proprietary personalization
capabilities, products will be targeted to match individual interests in a
contextual manner as users move through the site.

YouthStream will integrate the Inktomi Shopping Engine into mybytes.com,
enabling students from any college or university throughout the U.S to access
shopping services. Financial arrangements were not disclosed.

YouthStream will feature an array of products geared specifically to college
students in 20 categories including consumer electronics, movies and music,
computers and video games, sporting goods, apparel and jewelry, home and
garden, office supplies, gifts, flowers and cards, toys and discount outlets.

mybytes.com users will also be able to take advantage of shopping services
such as product reviews, shopping tips, expert recommendations and
comparative shopping.

As students move throughout the site, relevant products are presented in an
e-commerce area on the right-hand side of each page, containing a picture of
a single item, a short description, the price, and a link to the point of
sale.

“Our ability to deliver product information directly to students based on
their interests, and the specific activity they are undertaking on
mybytes.com at any given time, enables us to continually present students
with relevant purchase opportunities–even if they are not searching for a
particular product,” said Ben Bassi, president of YouthStream.

“We believe that this positions us to substantially benefit from e-commerce
revenues since college students have $100 billion combined spending power and
over 37 percent purchase via the Web.”

YouthStream Media Networks also operates a national network of campus
theaters; a college newspaper advertising placement service; a campus event
marketing and postering and promotions company; a print poster catalog; and a
college online research service.

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