Cygnus Business Media Partners with PermissionTV and Caterpillar

Contact:
Kathy Scott
Cygnus Business Media
770) 427-5290
Kathy.Scott@Cygnusb2b.com

Alisa Monnier
StarLink Worldwide
(312) 970 - 8498
alisa.monnier@starlinkworldwide.com

For Immediate Release

Creates the Cygnus Video Network and Construction Industry’s First Video Channel

Fort Atkinson, WI (December 19, 2006) – Cygnus Business Media announced today it has partnered with PermissionTV to launch the Cygnus Video Network which will include video channels from all of the company’s 15 major markets. PermissionTV’s platform delivers high quality television advertising via the Internet and has been successful in building video channels for companies like Fox Interactive, Lycos, Intercontinental Hotels and BobVila.com. Cygnus’ website ForConstructionPros.com is the first market to launch the new video initiative - FCP Video Channel -sponsored by construction industry giant Caterpillar.

“Like many of our customers, Caterpillar was looking to reach their customers and dealers in a unique way. The Cygnus Video Network of channels becomes part of a strong and powerful medium that has taken hold across the Internet as a communication vehicle that consumers love,” says Cygnus Business Media Co-CEO Carr Davis. “Business-to-business consumers are no different. Video can be viral, it can be downloaded and it can be viewed instantly. The ability to forward video of a product doing specific tasks in a natural, working setting to a team of buyers within one company is revolutionary, cost-effective and makes good business sense.”

Caterpillar ─ the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines ─ plans to integrate product demonstration videos onto the site showing equipment being used in live working environments. Caterpillar’s media services partner, StarLink, brokered the deal. It is the first time a business-to-business construction industry/publication site has offered video as an advertising vehicle to its customers.

ForConstructionPros.com which hosts the FCP Video Channel is supported and marketed through Cygnus’ strong list of construction titles - Equipment Today, Pavement, Rental Product News, Concrete Contractor, and Asphalt Contractor – which alone reach more than 150,000 professionals monthly who work in the heavy construction industry. Additionally, the company’s expo division produces 10 construction-related tradeshows drawing thousands to exhibit floors annually to view and test products. Videos can be emailed to attendees prior to each show.

“We believe buyers will download these videos onto their personal mobile devices and take them directly to tradeshows or to dealers,” says Cygnus Business Media’s Group Publisher Dave Davel, who heads the company’s Construction Equipment Media Group and has been covering the heavy construction market for more than two decades. “The videos not only demonstrate products, they include voice-overs done by professionals who navigate the buyer through all the bells and whistles, essentially converting a viewer into a purchaser more easily than ever before.”

“Market trends indicate customers are spending more time online,” says StarLink VP media director, Vickie Szombathy, “the video component of the FCP Video Channel essentially creates an environment where our clients can run online commercials that are ‘on-demand’ for consumers, when and where they need it, which is particularly helpful in the highly mobile construction industry.”

eMarketer estimates that spending for online video advertising will reach $410 million in 2006, an 82% increase over last year. The company projects Internet video advertising will grow to $3 billion by 2010 and is expected to be part of the mainstream at that time.

“Different than our print properties, our online media often breaks down barriers and we see mainstream consumers researching products using the content we provide for business insiders,” adds Davis. “While ForConstructionPros.com is still tied more to a business-to-business audience, it is visited by professionals around the world and opens an interesting new audience for our clients.”

Cygnus Business Media reaches nearly 15 million business owners, executives and professionals annually through its portfolio of over 175 media products. Its four distinct divisions - Cygnus Publishing, Cygnus Expositions, Cygnus Interactive and Cygnus Custom Marketing - provide comprehensive, integrated advertising and marketing programs for Cygnus’ valued customers and clients. The company's leading business publications, tradeshows, conferences, websites, online products and custom marketing capabilities enhance brand identity, generate sales leads, and build product awareness as they strengthen customer/client relationships. For more information on how Cygnus Business Media can help you achieve your advertising and marketing objectives, visit www.cygnusb2b.com.

About PermissionTV
Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, PermissionTV (www.permissiontv.com) is a technology platform for media companies and content owners to create and distribute high quality television programming via the Internet. Founded by seasoned television, media and technology veterans, PermissionTV is the first solution to combine the high quality television viewing experience with the interactivity and permission marketing aspects of the Web. For more information, see www.permissiontv.com.

About StarLink Worldwide:
“Small Company, Big Ideas.” StarLink (www.starlinkworldwide.com) is a global, full-service media company that delivers new life and fresh thinking to advertisers in any category, regardless of size, industry or customer base. With more than 80 employees on staff, StarLink acts as a small creative media agency with big agency resources that delivers winning ideas. As part of Starcom MediaVest Group (www.smvgroup.com), StarLink leverages the vast resources of one of the largest marketing organizations in the world on a scale that works for clients of all sizes and needs.

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