EXHIBIT 99.9
News Announcement
[Bright Station logo appears here]
WebTop to form a strategic alliance with ZDNet UK
London - 8 December, 2000- WebTop, the Cambridge-based natural language search
specialist and subsidiary of technology company Bright Station plc
(www.brightstation.com), announces today a strategic alliance with ZDNet UK,
(www.zdnet.co.uk), a CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNET) company.
WebTop's search engine product will be featured on ZDNet's "Web Surfers' Power
Tools" site. The site - accessible from within the popular ZDNet Downloads
channel (www.zdnet.co.uk/downloads) - extends the innovative Power Tools
sponsorship program introduced by ZDNet earlier this year.
WebTop's "next generation now" search technology lets users input phrases and
complete paragraphs as the search request. Proprietary software then searches
the web for the search string within context. This is technically far in advance
of traditional key word search engines and gives more relevant, up to date, and
focused search results.
Shobhan Gajjar, Managing Director of ZDNet UK said, "We are delighted to be
working with WebTop to produce a co-branded version of their service. Search
continues to be at the forefront of web usage and WebTop are currently at the
forefront of next generation search technology with a service that will add
tangible benefits to our users web search time."
<PAGE>
- 2 -
Commenting on the strategic alliance with ZDNet, Andy Mitchell, CEO of WebTop
said, "This is early 'proof of concept' that our initial strategy of licensing
natural language search as vertical zones, is clearly in demand."
WebTop's web based search technology is only the first phase of many future
platform applications. The WebTop search software is currently available as a
free download and can sit on the user's PC. Phrases, paragraphs and even whole
pages are simply "dragged and dropped" over the WebTop icon to set a full
contextual search in motion. Future applications will reside in mobile phones
and TV set-top boxes.
WebTop has also established one of the largest web indices worldwide with over
500 million web pages, catalogued and organised into the 15 hand picked zones
currently available.
- Ends -
For general enquiries:
Bright Station plc
Nick Chaloner, Head of Corporate Communications Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930 6900
[email protected]
------------------------------
Hogarth Partnership Limited (for Bright Station)
John Olsen / Nick Lockwood Tel: +44 (0) 20 7357 9477
[email protected]
-------------------------
WebTop Tel: +44 (0)1223 715 050
Andy Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]
------------------------
ZDNet UK
Shobhan Gajjar, Managing Director Tel: +44 (0) 20 7903 6075
[email protected]
------------------------
Bankside Consultants Limited (for WebTop) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7220 7477
Julian Bosdet / Henry Harrison-Topham
[email protected] / [email protected]
--------------------- --------------------
Contd./
<PAGE>
- 3 -
Notes to editors
Bright Station plc is a technology company and a leading provider of Internet
and eCommerce solutions, including WebTop, Smartlogik knowledge management
software, Sparza eCommerce technology and OfficeShopper.
ZDNet, a CNET Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNET) company is the leading source of
information and services for people who want to buy, use and learn about
technology. As a top 10 Internet company with operations in more than 23
countries and 16 languages, CNET Networks connects buyers, sellers and suppliers
throughout the IT supply chain with award-winning content via the Web, wireless
devices, television, radio and print. Its respected brand portfolio includes
CNET.com, ZDNet.com, mySimon, News.com, TV.com, Computer Shopper magazine,
SmartPlanet.com, and CNET Radio, as well as CNET Channel Services, including
CNET Data Services, CNET Media Services and Channel Online. The company's vision
is to educate and empower people and businesses by unlocking the potential of
the technology world to make things easier and faster, and by helping them to
make smarter buying decisions.
