IBM Brings NHL All-Star Game to Cyberfans

Armonk, NY, January 19, 1996 ... IBM takes to the ice Saturday as an
official sponsor of the National Hockey League's 46th annual All-Star Game
and scores a hockey first by giving global fans a way to "attend" the game
-- on the Internet.

In addition to sponsoring the game for the thousands of fans who will
travel to Boston's FleetCenter January 20, IBM will host the NHL OpenNet**
World Wide Web site on the Internet. Millions of hockey fans around the
world can chat with players and celebrities, have access to digital
images, scores and rules, and browse schedules, history and highlights.

Most important, when the NHL All Stars face-off at 8 PM EST, fans can hear
a live audio cybercast of the game on the Internet. Through an innovative
technology called RealAudio**, on-line fans can select and play back the
audio broadcast on demand, without delays that can occur downloading from
the Internet.

"The significance of the Web site is that hockey is a truly international
sport," said NHL Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Rick
Dudley. "We have ardent fans around the world who use the Internet every
day and IBM has helped link those fans to our All-Star Game."

During the game and the NHL FANtasy weekend January 18 to 21, IBM will
provide fans with Internet connection software on CD-ROMs, a cyberbooth
for on-site Web updates, digital photography, which will be transmitted to
the Web pages, and hands-on exhibition booths for fans to try the
Internet. IBM will also offer complimentary Web browsers in 15,000 NHL
All-Star Magazines sold in the FleetCenter.

"Equally significant, however, is that this All-Star Web site is a dynamic,
realtime project for IBM and the NHL," said Bill Moses, vice president,
sports and broadcasting, IBM telecommunications and media. "We're
connecting the league's AS/400 to an RS/6000 Web server, so that all
up-to-date information is available to fans on the NHL OpenNet Web site
almost instantly. That's the real benefit of technology."

The IBM telecommunications and media industry solution unit offers a wide
range of solutions for entertainment, media, cable TV, wireless and
telecommunications companies.

IBM, one of the original developers of the Internet, is providing the Web
team and IBM Global Network Technology as part of its commitment to
network-centric computing. The IBM Global Network is one of the world's
largest integrated suppliers of data, voice and video services with 570
local Internet dial access locations in 41 countries worldwide.

"We see the Internet becoming a very popular way to tap into live events
such as the All-Star game," said Joanne Bradley, director of Internet
sales for the IBM Global Network, "and we're enhancing our network for
fast, reliable transmission." Currently IBM offers 28.8 bps in more than
325 US cities and is expanding that capability worldwide.

The RealAudio software system is developed by Seattle-based Progressive
Networks, which develops software products and services to enable users of
personal computers and other digital devices to send and receive audio and
audio-based multimedia services using today's communications networks.

More information can be found at http://www.ibm.com The NHL Web site is at
http://www.nhl.com RealAudio is at http://www.realaudio.com/prognet
 
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