WheelsTV Network Signs Distribution Agreement with Akimbo

ACTON, Mass.--Feb. 2, 20058, 2005--Akimbo(TM) Systems, the company with the first Internet-delivered video-on-demand (VOD) service for television, and WheelsTV Network, the first television network devoted to the automotive lifestyle, today announced a distribution agreement that will make WheelsTV(TM) available on the Akimbo Service.

Akimbo subscribers will find everything from feature stories on the youth tuner scene to documentaries on automotive history, colorful hot rod and custom car events, adventure series and spectacular auto stunt shows. Programs such as Wild About Wheels, the first ever automotive lifestyle television series to air in prime-time, Hot Streets, covering the youth tuner lifestyle, True Top Speed, a fast-paced behind the wheel thriller, and Top 200, a valuable and entertaining consumer utility, will anchor the network.

Top 200(TM), billed as the next step in the car shopping experience, will provide consumers with video test drives and profiles of the newest vehicles on the road, today. With Top 200 on Akimbo, viewers will be able to shop and compare while enjoying colorful vehicle profiles of the newest cars, trucks and SUVs to hit the showroom floors. Vehicle data will be provided by Edmunds.com, the world-leader in automotive information.

WheelsTV is a leader in top-quality automotive lifestyle and enthusiast television programming for the entire family. It is currently available via video on demand and in some foreign countries. The full linear network is scheduled for launch later in the year.

Akimbo allows consumers to create their own personal television experience, and has won many industry honors, including the "Best of" 2005 CES Innovations Award in the online/Internet category.

"With WheelsTV on Akimbo, viewers who crave colorful automotive television can enjoy WheelsTV's assortment of programs anytime of the day or night. It's the new world of pinpoint television with engaged viewers watching exactly what they want to watch exactly when they want to watch it," said Jim Barisano, chairman and co-founder of WheelsTV.

Steve Shannon, Akimbo's founder and executive vice president of sales and marketing, said, "WheelsTV offers a wide variety of quality, relevant, and contemporary automotive television programming that adds significant value to our VOD service. We're very pleased to be working with WheelsTV, bringing its distinguished program service to Akimbo's subscribers."

"We are looking forward to working with Akimbo, true innovators in the new Internet-to-TV VOD space," said Greg Willis, WheelsTV's executive vice president, affiliate sales and marketing. "The Akimbo Service gives consumers access to a world of new programming. With Akimbo, subscribers can simply download WheelsTV's programs to the Akimbo Player and then watch them on demand, at anytime. It's a great new service and we are proud to join many other networks in delivering television via Akimbo."

Akimbo's "Queue and View(TM)" feature lets consumers select programs for download to the Akimbo Player through a broadband-Internet connection, and view them on their televisions. The Akimbo Service works with the Akimbo Player, a stylish set-top box that can store up to 200 hours of video, and provides consumers with viewing controls such as pause, rewind and archive. The Akimbo Player uses widely adopted technology for playback including Windows Media technologies for audio and video compression, and Windows Digital Rights Management.

Offering over 50 categories of specialty video content, Akimbo is an enhancement for traditional television rather than a replacement for it. Akimbo constantly scours the world for dynamic new programs and partners with a growing list of video providers to ensure a wide ranging and ever-changing selection of programs. Many of the programs are about special interests such as education, independent film, sports and hobbies that aren't found elsewhere on television. As its video library builds, Akimbo is waiving its basic service fee through April 2005.

ABOUT WheelsTV

WheelsTV (www.WheelsTV.net) is the first television network, VOD and Broadband service in the U.S. devoted exclusively to consumers' interests in cars, trucks and motorcycles--serving both the general audience and the enthusiast with a wide spectrum of vehicle-based entertainment, news and information. WheelsTV Network, WheelsTV On Demand and WheelsTV.net have been developed by the producers of multi-awarding winning automotive programming for Discovery, PBS, Speedvision, Fox and Outdoor Life Networks including Wild About Wheels, Wheels and Motor Trend Television. WheelsTV is a program service of Automotive Networks LLC, headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts.