• October 13, 2000

Through a formal agreement with Marathon Media Group, SurferNETWORK.com has begun streaming KTHK-FM, a 50,000-watt classic rock station originating from Pasco, WA. KTHK is the first of Marathon Media Group's almost 100 radio stations to go live over the Internet.

KTHK-FM has a listener base of 210,000 in the tri-city area of Richland, Pasco and Kennewick, WA. Its signal covers a 100-mile radius from Moses Lake to Pendleton to Walla Walla.

SurferNETWORK has established the SurferNETWORK Alliance of traditional radio broadcasters to stream their audio content over the Internet using SurferNETWORK's patent-pending technology to provide new advertising revenues at no cost to broadcasters. As the on-air broadcasts stream over the Internet, SurferNETWORK replaces the on-air commercials with new audible ads chosen for each listener based upon that individual's profile and preferences. The replacement is seamless. It is done quickly and smoothly so that listeners hear no indication that the on-air ad has been replaced by a targeted commercial.

SurferNETWORK solicits personal information from listeners under strict privacy-protection guidelines. Those who choose not to provide information hear more generic ads. When music is playing, SurferNETWORK displays on the PC monitor the name of the artist, title of the song and picture of the album cover. This visual information is clickable for purposes of buying CDs. Listeners are also given easy access to the most popular websites that match their individual preferences.

SurferNETWORK pays all costs and expenses and provides all the hardware, software and communications facilities required to stream radio broadcasts over the Internet. It shares advertising revenues with its broadcasters, so radio stations incur no expenses but receive revenue that is 100% profit every month.

- Anya Khait