Auto-By-Tel Becomes Excite's Exclusive Auto Buying Service
22 July 1998
Auto-By-Tel Signs Sponsorship Agreement with Excite, Becoming Exclusive Auto Buying Service on the Excite and Netscape Co-Branded Autos Channel within Netscape NetCenter
IRVINE, Calif.--July 22, 1998--Auto-By-Tel Corp. and Excite Inc. today announced that Auto-By-Tel will be featured as the exclusive auto buying service on the Netscape and Excite co-branded channels on Netscape's NetCenter.
This two-year agreement, combined with Auto-By-Tel's existing sponsorship agreement covering Excite's flagship excite.com service, means that Auto-By-Tel's potential audience will be more than 20 million consumers every month.
Excite (www.excite.com) and Netscape NetCenter (www.netscape.com) are two of the most visited sites on the web offering consumers easy access to the Internet's extensive information through search engines and links to topic-specific channels. Auto-By-Tel is featured on Excite's recently launched co-branded Netscape NetCenter Autos Channel, and its advertising will appear on all of the Excite-programmed channels, which include Autos, Shopping, Arts & Leisure, Auctions, Education, Games, Lifestyle and Real Estate channels.
"Auto-By-Tel is a strong partner for The Excite Network, providing powerful, comprehensive services and information for potential car buyers," said Kenneth Wachtel, senior vice president, Sales, Excite Inc. "Our continuing strategic relationship with Auto-By-Tel gives our millions of users increased access to the premier Web-based car buying services."
"This agreement takes Auto-By-Tel's already strong relationship with The Excite Network to its next level and gives us the opportunity to provide web users with the tools they need to make an informed buying decision," said Anne Benvenuto, Auto-By-Tel's senior vice president, Marketing. "We are pleased to be able to present our unique blend of content to Excite and NetCenter users."
Media.com, a division of Grey Interactive Worldwide, negotiated the two-year agreement. Said Dave Dowling, media.com's president: "Auto-By-Tel has consistently set trends when it comes to Internet marketing. Our challenge was to ensure Auto-By-Tel went 'beyond the banner' to reach its audience."
From the Autos Channel, consumers will have access to extensive research tools and information provided by Auto-By-Tel, including links to the top automotive information providers, detailed model information and reviews, and the Weekly AutoMarket Report, a consumer-based automotive newsletter. In "Buy A Car Online," one of six featured Auto Guides in the Autos Channel, car buyers will drop directly into Auto-By-Tel's purchase request form for a new or used car. Individuals seeking vehicle information can visit other Auto-By-Tel-sponsored Auto Guides in the Autos Channel, like "Take a Test Drive" or "Auto Makers," the spotlight feature of the Autos Channel to conduct research before making a decision.
Auto-By-Tel and Excite will work together to create and promote contests and car giveaways across the co-branded NetCenter channels. Up to three vehicles will be given away during each twelve-month period the contract is in effect.
About Auto-By-Tel
Irvine, Calif.-based Auto-By-Tel Corp. (www.autobytel.com) is a nationally branded Internet-based purchasing program for new and certified used vehicles and related consumer services, including automotive financing, leasing and insurance. Auto-By-Tel's North American Accredited Dealer Network includes over 2,600 dealerships, representing every major automotive manufacturer. Auto-By-Tel is a registered service mark of Auto-By-Tel Corp.
About Excite
Founded in 1994, Excite Inc. is a global media company offering consumers a free online service with a simple front end to the Internet and extensive personalization capabilities, and advertisers the best one-to-one marketing services available online. The Excite Network consists of two of the largest brands on the Web, Excite and WebCrawler, and its subsidiaries: Classifieds2000, MatchLogic Inc., Excite Japan Co. Ltd. and Excite UK Ltd. Personalized versions of Excite are available in France, Germany, the U.K. and Japan. Localized versions are available in The Netherlands, Sweden and Australia. Based in Redwood City, Calif., Excite Inc. has strategic relationships with America Online Inc., Intuit Inc., Netscape, Prodigy Internet and Tribune Co.
Netscape and NetCenter are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corp. in the United States and other countries. Other Netscape logos, product names, and service names are also trademarks of Netscape Communications Corp., which may be registered in other countries. Other product and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.