Radio One's Interactive Unit Creates the Largest Online African-American Community

Radio One's Interactive Unit Creates the Largest Online African-American Community

Interactive One Network Includes NewsOne, TheUrbanDaily, HelloBeautiful and Black Planet

NEW YORK, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Interactive One, LLC the digital connection for Black America and the new digital division of Radio One, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROIAK)(NASDAQ:and)(NASDAQ:ROIA), the largest African-American multimedia company, launches three new content-driven websites: NewsOne, TheUrbanDaily and HelloBeautiful. The three sites will join BlackPlanet, the premiere social networking site for African-Americans, acquired by Radio One earlier this year, making it the largest online media entity for African-Americans reaching more than 6 million unique visitors monthly. This announcement comes just a few weeks after Radio One announced the results of its "Black American Survey," the largest ever national survey of African-Americans. The survey showed that nearly 68% of African-Americans are now online compared with 71% of all Americans, proving that the digital divide is now closed. The study also shows that more than 16 million African-Americans are currently using broadband, a number that is projected to grow by 31% to 21 million by 2009.

"Interactive One is the largest and most comprehensive digital network for African-Americans," said Smokey D. Fontaine, Chief Content Officer, Interactive One. "Our family of targeted content sites and our social network enables users to find original and intelligent content tailored to African-American's interests and needs and to engage in conversation with the Black community online."

NewsOne.com provides up to the minute, comprehensive coverage of newsworthy events relevant to African-Americans across the country and the world. NewsOne features a combination of syndicated news agency content from trusted sources including the Associated Press, original news reporting from a nationwide stringer network focused on gathering authentic, local content and opinion blogs from some of the most provocative minds in Black America. The site provides its viewers with a rich, multimedia experience and an unprecedented level of interactivity that leverages the BlackPlanet social networking platform.

TheUrbanDaily.com serves as the eyes and ears for African-Americans looking for a one-stop, comprehensive destination for entertainment news, information, gossip and opinion and original celebrity interviews. Featured programming includes content on urban music, film, TV, fashion, style and pop culture. With an emphasis on rich media audio and visual experiences, TheUrbanDaily boasts access to the hottest stars and offers exclusive content distributed over all of Radio One's radio, television and print platforms. This new destination engages its audience with innovative interactive elements that take full advantage of Radio One's immense audience and makes good on the web's promise of great community-based content.

HelloBeautiful.com, currently in Beta, will celebrate the lives and style of African-American women with a dynamic daily mix of fashion, beauty, entertainment and relationship content. With up-to-date and engaging news, tips, tools and empowering lifestyle advice, HelloBeautiful will serve as an on-line gathering place for urban women looking for a daily online destination that they can trust and enjoy. Featured bloggers will drive conversation on topics from hair to make-up and celebrity styling, provide insight and access to top talent and foster Black women's ability to live life to its fullest.

"We are growing rich online experiences across our network of sites, serving the multitude of demographics within the African-American community," said Alfred C. Liggins III, CEO Radio One, Inc. "This is a critical and growing part of our media platform that reaches over 20 million African- Americans every month across radio, TV, print and online."

In April, Radio One's Interactive One unit acquired the social networking company, Community Connect Inc., a family of social-networking brands including BlackPlanet.com, MiGente.com, and AsianAve.com. Community Connect's leading social network, BlackPlanet, was launched in 1999 and has consistently attracted the largest online audience of African-Americans. The network draws in over 17 million members, with over 6 million monthly unique visitors and 400 million page views per month. BlackPlanet features member aggregated news, events, video, photo sharing and social networking, along with groups, forums, and blogs.

As part of the Interactive One family, BlackPlanet will be integrated into the social networking experience on all of the sites. Longtime BlackPlanet users will now benefit from access to the news, information, entertainment and style tips that the other sites detail while new users to any of the sites will discover an incredibly rich community.

ABOUT INTERACTIVE ONE

Interactive One was launched by Radio One in 2007 to complement Radio One's existing portfolio of media companies targeting the African-American community. Since its launch, Interactive One has quickly become the #1 online platform for a broad swath of the African-American community, serving more than 4 million users. Interactive One is powered by the mission to create an online community that engages and positively impacts upon the lives of African-Americans. Interactive One is composed of a variety of sites, including NewsOne.com, TheUrbanDaily.com, and HelloBeautiful.com, as well as the Community Connect Inc. family of social networking sites, which includes BlackPlanet.com.

ABOUT RADIO ONE

Radio One, Inc. (www.radio-one.com) is one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies and the largest radio broadcasting company that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. Radio One owns and/or operates 52 radio stations located in 16 urban markets in the United States. Radio One also owns Magazine One, which publishes Giant Magazine (www.giantmag.com), interests in TV One (www.tvoneonline.com), a cable/satellite network programming primarily to African-Americans, Reach Media (www.blackamericaweb.com), owner of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and other businesses associated with Tom Joyner, and Interactive One. The company is led by Chairperson and Founder Catherine L. Hughes, and her son, Alfred Liggins, III, who is Chief Executive Officer and President.

Media Contacts:
Eva Ross
Dan Klores Communications
212-981-5218
Eva_ross@dkcnews.com

Keesha Johnson
Dan Klores Communications
212-981-5212
Keesha_johnson@dkcnews.com

Source: Interactive One, LLC

CONTACT: Eva Ross, +1-212-981-5218, Eva_ross@dkcnews.com, or Keesha
Johnson, +1-212-981-5212, Keesha_johnson@dkcnews.com, both of Dan Klores
Communications

Web site: http://www.radio-one.com/
http://newsone.com/
http://theurbandaily.com/
http://www.hellobeautiful.com/

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