CarTV Video Ad Program Rolls Out Across Autobytel Network, Enabling Auto Marketers to Focus TV Ads on Millions of Active Internet Shoppers

CarTV Video Ad Program Rolls Out Across Autobytel Network, Enabling Auto Marketers to Focus TV Ads on Millions of Active Internet Shoppers

Industry-Leading Program Upgraded With State-of-the-Art Video Player; Company Streams Nearly 3,500 Hours of Automotive Commercials in November Alone

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autobytel's (NASDAQ:ABTLE) video production division, CarTV, has announced it is rolling out its streaming advertising program across the Autobytel network of car-buying web sites, enabling OEM advertising clients to present their TV commercials to millions of active, in-market car shoppers.(1) The program, which easily surpassed company projections for November with nearly 3,500 hours of car commercials on Autobytel.com and Autoweb.com, is also being upgraded with a new video player that will support near-broadcast-quality streaming video on virtually any PC.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041214/LATU067LOGO )

"When you consider how much it would cost to reach millions of active auto shoppers through broadcast television, given that less than 1% of the general population is in the market for a vehicle at any given time, it's not surprising that CarTV is experiencing such rapid growth," said Autobytel Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Donchak. "We're providing auto marketers with a compelling opportunity to re-purpose their costly TV ads to impact a massive, consolidated audience of vehicle shoppers -- at the moment they're making their brand decisions. It's the best of both worlds -- the emotional impact of TV advertising, and the unique targeting abilities of the Internet."

Turning Online Shoppers into an Instant, Massive Focus Group ...

According to Donchak, CarTV offers yet another level of value for Autobytel advertisers -- the ability to instantly gauge the impact of their commercials on a huge consumer segment. "You can see the brand take off the day the commercial starts running," he adds, noting several examples where an OEM client has moved past five or six competitors, in terms of consumer site research activity, while their commercial ran on the Autobytel sites. Auto marketers, moreover, can quickly assess the relative effectiveness of specific commercials and formats (e.g., a 30-second spot versus a 60-second spot). Says Donchak: "It's like a real-time focus group -- with tens of thousands of participants. We can monitor who's watching, and for how long; it's a gold mine of data for advertisers as they plan costly TV buys."

Currently, CarTV commercials launch automatically when consumers enter the home pages and research areas at Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, Autosite.com and Car.com. But the division is developing platforms to support more commercials and make them more targeted -- for example enabling OEMs to sponsor commercials on their brand's dedicated research page or a strategic vehicle category page. In 2005, CarTV will also integrate streaming commercials into Autobytel's Dynamic Content Placement program, so that a consumer researching a certain make/model would be automatically invited to enter a sponsored environment featuring comprehensive information about a competitive vehicle, including a TV commercial.

"We believe that CarTV is at the right place at the right time -- with streaming technology that finally works for mainstream America, and a truly unique automotive marketing channel in Autobytel. This is a real beginning, and we're already way ahead of the curve," concluded Donchak.

In addition to it OEM commercial program, CarTV produces a range of original video content for the Autobytel web sites. Current CarTV content includes an exclusive interview with Jay Leno (who weighs in on his new 2005 Ford GT), plus comprehensive SEMA show coverage and a range of "video test drives" of popular new models. CarTV will also provide live daily coverage from the floors of the Detroit and L.A. auto shows.

About Autobytel Inc.

Autobytel Inc. (NASDAQ:ABTLE), a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, helps retailers sell cars and manufacturers build brands through marketing, advertising, data and CRM (customer relationship management) products and programs. The Company owns and operates the automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Car.com, Carsmart.com, and AutoSite.com, as well as AIC (Automotive Information Center), a trusted industry source of automotive marketing data and technology for over 20 years. Autobytel is also a leader in dealership lead management and CRM solutions and owns and operates AVV, Inc., a top provider of dealership CRM and sales management products, and Retention Performance Marketing, Inc. (RPM(R)), which powers dealerships with cutting-edge customer loyalty and retention marketing programs. As the Internet's largest new car buying service, Autobytel generates over a billion dollars a month in car sales for dealers through its services and was the most visited new car buying and research destination in 2003, reaching millions of car shoppers as they made their vehicle buying decisions. Autobytel's car-selling sites and lead management products are used by more of the nation's top-100 e-dealers than any other program.

(1) Autobytel attracted 9.36 million unique visitors in November according to the most recent comScore Media Metrix report.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041214/LATU067LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Autobytel Inc.

CONTACT: Media, Melanie Webber of Autobytel Inc., +1-949-862-3023,
melaniew@autobytel.com; or Betsy Smith Isroelit, ext. 17, betsy@rbicom.com, or
Joe Foster, ext. 13, joe@rbicom.com, both of RBI Communications,
+1-323-960-1360, for Autobytel Inc.

Web site: http://www.autoweb.com/

Web site: http://www.autobytel.com/


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