ONHEALTH NETWORK CO
PRER14A, 1999-05-06
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)
                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
           PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Filed by the registrant                     [X]
Filed by a party other than the registrant  [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary proxy statement
[ ] Definitive proxy statement
[ ] Definitive additional materials
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                            ONHEALTH NETWORK COMPANY
                (Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

                            ONHEALTH NETWORK COMPANY
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

|X|  No fee required.

[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:_____________

(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:________________

(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange  Act Rule  0-11  (Set  forth the  amount  on which  the  filing  fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):____________________________________

(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:____________________________

(5) Total fee paid:_____________________________________________________________

[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided  by Exchange  Act
Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting fee was paid
previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration  statement  number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

(1) Amount Previously Paid:_____________________________________________________

(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:_______________________________

(3) Filing Party:_______________________________________________________________

(4) Date Filed:_________________________________________________________________


<PAGE>


                            ONHEALTH NETWORK COMPANY
                                _________________


   
                            NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
                           TO BE HELD ON JUNE 15, 1999
                               _________________
    


TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF ONHEALTH NETWORK COMPANY:

   
         The Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of OnHealth  Network Company,  a
Washington corporation (the "Company"),  will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 1999,
at 2:00 p.m.  (Pacific  Time),  at the Hilton Hotel,  1301 Sixth and University,
Seattle, Washington 98101, for the following purposes:
    

         1.       To elect a Board of  Directors  to serve until the next annual
                  meeting of  shareholders  and until their  successors are duly
                  elected and qualified.

         2.       To  consider a proposal  to amend the  Company's  articles  of
                  incorporation  to increase the number of authorized  shares of
                  Common Stock from 29,000,000 to 100,000,000 shares.

         3.       To  consider a  proposal  to ratify,  confirm  and  approve an
                  amendment to the Company's  1997 Stock Option Plan to increase
                  the  number  of shares  reserved  for  grant  thereunder  from
                  1,750,000 to 4,750,000.

         4.       To  transact such other business as may  properly  come before
                  the meeting.

   
         Shareholders  of  record at the  close of  business  on May 7, 1999 are
entitled  to  notice of and to vote at the  Annual  Meeting  or any  adjournment
thereof.

         Your  attention is directed to the Proxy  Statement  accompanying  this
Notice for a more  complete  statement of matters to be considered at the Annual
Meeting.  A copy of the Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December
31, 1998, as amended, also accompanies this Notice.
    

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. YOU ARE REQUESTED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
                                                              

                                        By Order of the Board of Directors,

                                        /s/ Robert N. Goodman

                                        Robert N. Goodman
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer

   
Seattle, Washington
Dated:  May __, 1999
    


<PAGE>



                            ONHEALTH NETWORK COMPANY
                                _________________

   
                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       FOR
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                           TO BE HELD ON JUNE 15, 1999
                                _________________
    

                                  INTRODUCTION

   
         Your proxy is solicited  by the Board of Directors of OnHealth  Network
Company (the "Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held
on Tuesday,  June 15, 1999, at 2:00 p.m.  (Pacific  Time),  at the Hilton Hotel,
1301 Sixth and University,  Seattle,  Washington  98101,  and at any adjournment
thereof  (the  "Annual  Meeting"),  for the  purposes set forth in the Notice of
Annual Meeting.
    

         The  cost of  soliciting  proxies,  including  the  cost of  preparing,
assembling and mailing proxies and soliciting  material,  as well as the cost of
forwarding such material to the beneficial owners of stock, will be borne by the
Company.  Directors,  officers and regular employees of the Company may, without
compensation other than their regular  compensation,  solicit proxies personally
or by telephone.

         Any  shareholder  giving a proxy may revoke it at any time prior to its
use at the Annual  Meeting by giving  written  notice of such  revocation to the
Secretary of the Company.  The enclosed proxy, when properly signed and returned
to the  Company,  will be voted by the proxy  holders at the  Annual  Meeting as
directed  therein.  Proxies which are signed by shareholders  but which lack any
such  specification  will be voted in favor of the  proposals  set  forth in the
Notice of Annual Meeting.

   
         The mailing address of the offices of the Company is 808 Howell Street,
Suite 400,  Seattle,  Washington  98101.  The Company expects that the Notice of
Annual  Meeting,   Proxy  Statement,   form  of  proxy,  and  Annual  Report  to
Shareholders will first be mailed to shareholders on or about May 19, 1999.
    

                      OUTSTANDING SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS

   
         Shareholders  entitled  to notice of and to vote at the Annual  Meeting
and any adjournment  thereof are shareholders of record at the close of business
on May 7, 1999. Persons who are not shareholders of record on such date will not
be allowed to vote at the Annual  Meeting.  At the close of  business  on May 7,
1999,  there were  _______________  shares of common  stock,  par value $.01 per
share ("Common Stock") issued and  outstanding.  The Company has no other voting
securities  outstanding.  Each share of Common  Stock is entitled to one vote on
each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting.  Holders of Common Stock are
not entitled to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.
    


<PAGE>


                DETERMINATION OF NUMBER AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
                                  (Proposal #1)

         Five directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting,  to hold office
until the next annual  meeting of  shareholders  and until their  successors are
elected and qualified.  It is intended that the accompanying proxy will be voted
in favor of the following  persons to serve as directors  unless the shareholder
indicates  to the  contrary on the proxy.  Management  expects  that each of the
nominees will be available  for election,  but if any of them is not a candidate
at the time the election  occurs,  it is intended  that such proxy will be voted
for the election of another  nominee to be  designated by the Board of Directors
to fill any such vacancy.

         The following  persons have been  nominated by the  Company's  Board of
Directors to be elected as directors at the Annual Meeting:

   
Name                                  Age               Title
- ------------------------------------- ----------------- ------------------------
Michael A. Brochu                     45                Chairman of the Board
Robert N. Goodman                     46                Director
Ann Kirschner                         48                Director
Ram Shriram                           42                Director
Rick Thompson                         39                Director
    

MICHAEL A. BROCHU has been a Director  of the  Company  since April 1997 and has
also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company  since  October
1997. Mr. Brochu has served as President and Chief Executive  Officer of Primus,
Inc., a leader in entertainment software, since November 1997. From October 1995
to October 1997, he served as President  and Chief  Operating  Officer of Sierra
On-Line,  Inc., a computer game software  developer,  and as its Chief Financial
Officer and Executive Vice  President from July 1994 to October 1995.  From 1987
to July 1994, Mr. Brochu served in the positions of Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Burlington Environmental, Inc.,
a division of Burlington Resources, Inc.

ROBERT N. GOODMAN  joined the Company in December  1997 as  President  and Chief
Executive  Officer and a member of the Company's Board of Directors.  From April
1997 to November  1997,  he was the Director of Business  Development  for MSNBC
Interactive  News,  LLC. From December  1995 to April 1997,  Mr.  Goodman was an
independent consultant working for Microsoft  Corporation.  From October 1995 to
November 1995,  Mr. Goodman was in the process of moving from San Francisco,  CA
to Seattle,  WA. From November  1993 to October  1995, he was Assistant  General
Counsel for The 3DO Company.

   
ANN  KIRSCHNER  has been a Director  of the Company  since  February  1998.  Ms.
Kirschner is currently the  Executive  Director of Columbia  Media  Enterprises.
From  December  1994 to  December  1998,  she  served as Vice  President  of NFL
Interactive  for NFL  Enterprises,  Inc. Ms.  Kirschner was  responsible for the
launch of the NFL's official Web site, the official Super Bowl Web site and Team
NFL. Prior to December 1994, she served as President of Comma Communications.
    

RAM SHRIRAM has been a Director of the Company since  February 1998. Mr. Shriram
is Vice President of Business  Development at Amazon.com,  an Internet retailer.
Prior to being acquired by Amazon.com, Mr. Shriram served as President and Chief
Operating  Officer of Junglee  Corporation,  a company that enables Web users to
locate, compare and transact goods and services on the Internet. Previously, Mr.

                                       2
<PAGE>

Shriram served as Vice  President of Netscape  Communications  Corporation  from
February 1994 to February 1998. Mr.  Shriram was  Netscape's  Director,  Channel
Sales of Network Computing Devices from October 1990 to November 1994.

RICK  THOMPSON  has been a Director  of the Company  since  February  1998.  Mr.
Thompson  has  served  as  Vice  President  and  General  Manager  of  Microsoft
Corporation's  Hardware  Division since October 1987. Mr.  Thompson  manages the
division's product lines and oversees development.


                  COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF EXCHANGE ACT

         Based  on the  Company's  review  of  copies  of forms  filed  with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  or written  representations  from certain
reporting persons,  in compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the Company  believes that during fiscal year 1998,  all officers,
directors,  and greater than  ten-percent  beneficial  owners  complied with the
applicable filing requirements.


                          BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS

   
         The Board of Directors  held 2 meetings  during 1998 and took action by
unanimous  written consent two times during 1998. No director attended less than
75% of the  meetings of the Board and any  committee of which the director was a
member.
    

         The Board of Directors  has  designated  two standing  committees,  the
Audit Committee and the  Compensation  and Stock Option  Committee.  The Company
does not have a nominating committee.

         The Audit Committee, consisting of Messrs. Brochu and Thompson, reviews
the scope of the work and fees of the Company's  independent  auditors and meets
with the Company's financial officers and independent auditors to review matters
concerning the Company's  financial  statements and internal controls.  During a
portion of 1998, the Audit  Committee was comprised of Ronald  Eibensteiner  and
Timothy Maudlin,  former directors of the Company.  Messrs.  Brochu and Thompson
were appointed to the Audit  Committee in January 1999. The Audit Committee held
two meetings during 1998.

         The  Compensation   and  Stock  Option  Committee  (the   "Compensation
Committee"),  consisting  of Messrs.  Shriram,  Goodman and Brochu,  reviews and
determines the compensation,  including base salary and bonus incentives for the
executive  officers,  and  administers  and awards stock option grants under the
Company's  stock  option  plans.  During a  portion  of 1998,  the  Compensation
Committee  was  comprised  of Ronald  Eibensteiner,  Alan  Frazier  and  Timothy
Maudlin,  former  directors  of the  Company.  Messrs.  Shriram and Goodman were
appointed  to the  Compensation  Committee  in January  1999.  The  Compensation
Committee held one meeting during 1998.


       APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                  (PROPOSAL #2)

         On  April  5,  1999,  the  Company's  Board of  Directors  approved  an
amendment  to the  Company's  Articles  of  Incorporation  that,  subject to the
approval of the shareholders, would authorize the Company to increase the number
of shares of the Company's  Common Stock authorized for issuance from 29,000,000
shares as currently authorized to 100,000,000 shares.



                                       3
<PAGE>

         The  amendment  will  increase  the number of  authorized  and unissued
shares of Common Stock which may be used by the Company for any proper corporate
purpose. Such purpose might include,  without limitation,  issuance of shares in
public or private offerings,  issuance of securities  convertible into shares of
Common Stock for cash as a means of obtaining  additional capital for use in the
Company's business and operations, or issuance of shares of Common Stock as part
or  all  of  the  consideration  required  to be  paid  by  the  Company  in the
acquisition of other businesses or properties.  With this increase, the Board of
Directors  believes that the Company will have sufficient shares of Common Stock
available for corporate  purposes or opportunities as are likely to arise in the
reasonably foreseeable future. There are at present no firm plans,  arrangements
or  understandings  relating to the issuance of any of the currently  authorized
and unissued shares of Common Stock or the additional shares of the Common Stock
proposed to be authorized.

   
         As of May __,  1999,  based on the  number of  shares  of Common  Stock
currently  outstanding  and the number of shares eligible for issuance under the
Company's  stock option plans,  there are currently  ________________  shares of
Common Stock either  outstanding  or reserved and  _____________  authorized but
unissued and  unreserved  shares of Common Stock  available for other  corporate
purposes or opportunities.
    

         If the  amendment is approved,  the newly  authorized  shares of Common
Stock would have all of the rights and  privileges as the shares of Common Stock
presently authorized.  Once shares of Common Stock are authorized,  the Board of
Directors can issue shares of Common Stock without shareholder approval,  except
as may be required by law or  regulations  or by the rules of any stock exchange
on which the Company's securities may then be listed.

         The  issuance of the  additional  shares of Common  Stock,  may,  under
certain  circumstances,  make  attempts to acquire  control of the Company  more
difficult.  For example,  an issuance of  additional  shares of Common Stock may
make it more difficult to obtain shareholder approval of actions such as removal
of directors or  amendments  to the Bylaws.  In addition,  although the Board of
Directors  has no current plans to do so, shares of Common Stock could be issued
in other  transactions  that could make a change in control of the Company  more
difficult.  The  Company  is not aware of any  effort to obtain  control  of the
Company by a tender offer, proxy contest,  or otherwise,  and the Company has no
present  intention to use the additional  shares of authorized  Common Stock for
antitakeover purposes.

         Although the Board of Directors would issue additional shares of Common
Stock  based on its  judgment  as to the best  interests  of the Company and its
shareholders,  the issuance of additional  shares of Common Stock would have the
effect of  diluting  the  voting  power per share and could  have the  effect of
diluting the book value per share of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

         If the  amendment  to the  Articles  of  Incorporation  is  authorized,
Article IV of the  Company's  Articles  of  Incorporation  will be  amended,  in
pertinent part, to read as follows:

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                 CAPITAL SHARES

                  4.1 AUTHORIZED  SHARES.  The  authorized  capital stock of the
Company consists of 100,000,000  shares of common stock $.01 par value per share
("Common Stock") and 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock.


                                       4
<PAGE>

VOTE REQUIRED.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding  and  entitled  to vote at the  meeting is  required  to approve the
proposed  amendment  to the  Articles of  Incorporation.  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL.


                 APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                  (PROPOSAL #3)

         In June 1998, the shareholders approved the Company's 1997 Stock Option
Plan (the "1997 Plan").  The Company is presently  authorized to issue 1,750,000
shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of options granted under the 1997 Plan.
The shareholders will be requested at the Annual Meeting to approve an amendment
to the 1997 Plan which  increases by 3,000,000  shares the number of shares that
maybe issued under the 1997 Plan (to 4,750,000). The purpose of the 1997 Plan is
to promote  Company  success  by  aligning  employee  financial  interests  with
long-term  shareholder  value.  Since all  1,750,000  of the options  originally
approved  under  the 1997 Plan have been  granted,  the  Compensation  and Stock
Option  Committee  of the Board of  Directors  believes  that an increase in the
number of shares  available  for  issuance is  necessary in order to achieve the
purpose of the 1997 Plan.

         If approved, Section 6 of the 1997 Plan would be amended to provide for
the reservation of four million seven hundred fifty thousand  (4,750,000) shares
of Option Stock ("Option Stock" is defined in the 1997 Plan). A copy of the 1997
Plan as  proposed  to be amended  maybe  obtained  upon  written  request to the
Company's Investor  Relations  Department at the address listed on the last page
of this Proxy Statement.

         SUMMARY OF 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

         A general description of some of the basic features of the 1997 Plan is
presented  below, but such description is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the full  text of the 1997  Plan,  a copy of which  may be  obtained  without
charge upon written  request to Michael  Conway,  the Company's  Chief Financial
Officer and Secretary.

         TERM.  Incentive stock options may be granted pursuant to the 1997 Plan
during a period of ten (10) years from the date the 1997 Plan was adopted by the
Board of Directors (until December 11, 2007), and nonqualified stock options may
be granted  until the 1997 Plan is  discontinued  or  terminated by the Board of
Directors.

         ELIGIBILITY.  All  employees  of  the  Company  or any  subsidiary  are
eligible to receive  incentive  stock  options  pursuant  to the 1997 Plan.  All
employees, officers and directors of and consultants and advisors to the Company
or any subsidiary are eligible to receive nonqualified stock options.

   
         OPTIONS.  When an option is granted  under the 1997 Plan,  the Board of
Directors  acting as the  Administrator  of the 1997  Plan,  at its  discretion,
specifies the option price and the number of shares of Common Stock which may be
purchased upon exercise of the option.  The exercise price of an incentive stock
option  set by the  Administrator  may not be less than 100% of the fair  market
value of the Company's  Common Stock,  as that term is defined in the 1997 Plan.
Unless  otherwise  determined  by the  Administrator,  the  exercise  price of a
nonqualified  stock  option will be 100% of the fair market value on the date of
grant;  provided,  however,  that the exercise price may not be less than 85% of
the fair market value on the date of grant under any circumstances.  The closing
price of the Company's  Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market
was $_______ on May ___, 1999.
    

                                       5
<PAGE>

         The period  during  which an option may be  exercised  and  whether the
option will be exercisable  immediately,  in stages,  or otherwise is set by the
Administrator.  Generally, an incentive stock option may not be exercisable more
than ten (10) years from the date of grant.  Optionees  may pay for shares  upon
exercise of options  with cash,  certified  check or Common Stock of the Company
valued at the stock's then "fair market value" as defined in the 1997 Plan. Each
option  granted  under the 1997 Plan is  generally  nontransferable  during  the
lifetime  of  the  optionee;   however,  the  Administrator  may,  in  its  sole
discretion,  permit the  transfer of a  nonqualified  stock  option to immediate
family members or to certain family trusts or family partnerships.

         Generally,  under the form of option agreement which the  Administrator
is currently  using for options  granted under the 1997 Plan, if the  optionee's
affiliation  with the Company  terminates  before  expiration  of the option for
reasons other than death or disability, the optionee has a right to exercise the
option for three  months  after  termination  of such  affiliation  or until the
option's original  expiration date,  whichever is earlier. If the termination is
because of death or disability,  the option  typically is exercisable  until its
original stated  expiration or until the 12-month  anniversary of the optionee's
death  or  disability,  whichever  is  earlier.  The  Administrator  may  impose
additional  or  alternative  conditions  and  restrictions  on the  incentive or
nonqualified stock options granted under the 1997 Plan; however,  each incentive
option must contain such limitations and  restrictions  upon its exercise as are
necessary to ensure that the option will be an incentive stock option as defined
under the Internal Revenue Code.

         CHANGE  OF  CONTROL.  In the event  that (i) the  Company  is  acquired
through the sale of substantially all of its assets or through a merger or other
transaction (a "Transaction"),  (ii) after the effective date of the 1997 Plan a
person or entity  becomes  the holder of 35% or more the  Company's  outstanding
Common Stock,  or (iii)  individuals  who constituted the Board on the effective
date of the 1997 Plan ceased for any reason  thereafter to constitute at least a
majority of the Board of Directors  (with  exceptions  for  individuals  who are
nominated  by the current  Board of  Directors),  all  outstanding  options will
become  immediately  exercisable in full and will remain  exercisable during the
remaining terms of such outstanding options,  whether or not the participants to
whom the  options  have  been  granted  remain  employees  of the  Company  or a
subsidiary. The acceleration of the exercisability of outstanding options may be
limited, however, if the acquiring party seeks to account for a Transaction on a
"pooling  of  interests"  basis  which would be  precluded  if such  options are
accelerated.  The  Board  may also  take  certain  additional  actions,  such as
terminating the 1997 Plan, providing cash or stock valued at the amount equal to
the excess of the fair market  value of the stock over the  exercise  price,  or
allowing exercise of the options for stock of the succeeding company.

         AUTOMATIC GRANTS TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS.  The 1997 Plan provides for
automatic  option  grants to each director who is not an employee of the Company
(a "Non-Employee  Director").  Each Non-Employee Director who is elected for the
first time as a  director  is  automatically  granted a  nonqualified  option to
purchase 25,000 shares of the Common Stock at an option price per share equal to
100%  of the  fair  market  value  of  the  Common  Stock  on  the  date  of the
Non-Employee  Director's initial election,  which option is exercisable,  to the
extent of 6,250 shares immediately and on each of the first three  anniversaries
of the date of grant.  All options granted  pursuant to these  provisions  shall
expire on the earlier of (i) one year after the optionee ceases to be a director
and (ii) ten (10) years after the date of grant.

         FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE 1997 PLAN. Under present law, an
optionee will not realize any taxable  income on the date a  nonqualified  stock
option is granted to the optionee  pursuant to the 1997 Plan.  Upon  exercise of
the nonqualified stock option,  however,  the optionee will realize, in the year
of exercise,  ordinary income to the extent of the difference between the option
price and the fair market  value of the  Company's  Common  Stock on the date of
exercise.  Upon the  sale of the  shares,  any  resulting  gain or loss  will be
treated as capital gain or loss. The Company will be entitled to a tax deduction


                                       6
<PAGE>

in its fiscal year in which nonqualified  stock options are exercised,  equal to
the amount of  compensation  required to be included as ordinary income by those
optionees exercising such options.

         Incentive stock options granted  pursuant to the 1997 Plan are intended
to qualify for favorable  tax treatment to the optionee  under Code Section 422.
Under  Code  Section  422,  an  employee  realizes  no taxable  income  when the
incentive  stock option is granted.  If the employee has been an employee of the
Company or any subsidiary at all times from the date of grant until three months
before the date of exercise,  the employee  will realize no taxable  income when
the option is  exercised.  If the employee  does not dispose of shares  acquired
upon exercise for a period of two years from the granting of the incentive stock
option  and one year after  receipt of the  shares,  the  employee  may sell the
shares and report any gain as capital gain.  The Company will not be entitled to
a tax deduction in connection  with either the grant or exercise of an incentive
stock  option.  If the  employee  should  dispose  of the  shares  prior  to the
expiration of the two-year or one-year  periods  described  above,  the employee
will be deemed to have received  compensation  taxable as ordinary income in the
year of the early sale in an amount  equal to the  lesser of (i) the  difference
between  the fair  market  value of the  Company's  Common  Stock on the date of
exercise and the option price of the shares, or (ii) the difference  between the
sale price of the shares and the option price of shares. In the event of such an
early sale, the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction  equal to the amount
recognized by the employee as ordinary income. The foregoing  discussion ignores
the impact of the alternative  minimum tax, which may particularly be applicable
to the year in which an incentive stock option is exercised.

         PLAN  BENEFITS.   Except  for  the  automatic  grants  to  Non-Employee
Directors,  future grants of stock options are subject to the  discretion of the
Administrator.  Therefore,  the future  benefits  under the 1997 Plan  cannot be
determined at this time.

   
         As of May __, 1999, 1,750,000 options have been granted pursuant to the
1997 Plan.
    

         VOTE  REQUIRED.  The  affirmative  vote of holders of a majority of the
shares of common  stock  represented  at the  meeting is required to approve the
amendment  to the 1997 Plan.  THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
PROPOSAL.


                                VOTING TABULATION

         VOTE REQUIRED. Under the Washington Business Corporation Act, Proposals
1 and 3 (the election of the Company's  directors and an amendment to 1997 Plan)
each requires a plurality of the votes  represented in person or by proxy at the
meeting.  With regard to Proposal 2 (the  proposed  amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation to increase the authorized common stock),  the affirmative vote of
holders of a  majority  of the shares of common  stock  entitled  to vote at the
meeting is  required.  Votes cast by proxy or in person at the  meeting  will be
tabulated by the  Company's  transfer  agent,  American  Stock  Transfer & Trust
Company.

         EFFECT  OF AN  ABSTENTION  AND  BROKER  NON-VOTES.  A  shareholder  who
abstains from voting on any or all  proposals  will be included in the number of
shareholders  present at the meeting for the purpose of determining the presence
of a quorum.  Abstentions  will not be counted either in favor of or against the
election of the  nominees or other  proposals.  Under the rules of the  National
Association  of Securities  Dealers,  brokers  holding stock for the accounts of
their  clients  who have not been given  specific  voting  instructions  as to a
matter by their clients may vote their clients' proxies in their own discretion.


                                       7
<PAGE>

                          INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

         Ernst & Young LLP has served as  independent  auditors  for the Company
since 1992.  Representatives  of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at
the Annual  Meeting and will be given an  opportunity  to make a statement if so
desired and to respond to appropriate questions.


                           2000 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

         Proposals  of  shareholders  intended  to be  presented  at the  annual
meeting in 2000 must be submitted to the Company in appropriate  written form on
or before  February 19, 2000 to be included in the Company's proxy statement and
related proxy for the 2000 meeting.


                                 OTHER BUSINESS

         Management  is not aware of any matters to be  presented  for action at
the Annual  Meeting,  except matters  discussed in the Proxy  Statement.  If any
other matters  properly come before the meeting,  it is intended that the shares
represented  by proxies  will be voted in  accordance  with the  judgment of the
persons voting the proxies.


                         ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS

   
         A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended  December  31,  1998, as amended by the Form 10-K\A filed April 30, 1999,
accompanies this Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.
    


                                           By Order of the Board of Directors


                                           Robert N. Goodman
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

   
May __, 1999
    


                                       8
<PAGE>





                            ONHEALTH NETWORK COMPANY
                                _________________

   
                                      PROXY
                   FOR ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD JUNE 15, 1999
                                _________________

The undersigned  hereby  appoints  Robert N. Goodman and Michael A. Brochu,  and
each of them, with full power of  substitution,  his or her Proxies to represent
and vote, as designated  below,  all shares of voting stock of OnHealth  Network
Company  registered in the name of the undersigned at the 1999 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders  of the  Company  to be held at the  Hilton  Hotel,  1301 Sixth and
University,  Seattle, Washington 98101, at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), on Tuesday,
June 15, 1999, and at any adjournment  thereof.  The undersigned  hereby revokes
all proxies previously granted with respect to such Annual Meeting.
    

      The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" each proposal.
      --------------------------------------------------------------------


1.       Elect Directors.  Nominees: 

                    Robert N. Goodman    Michael A. Brochu    Ann Kirschner

                    Ram Shriram          Rick Thompson

         [ ] FOR all nominees listed above    [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote
             (except those whose names have       for all nominees listed above.
             been written on the line below)


2.       Proposal to amend the Company's  articles of  incorporation to increase
         the number of  authorized  shares of Common  Stock from  29,000,000  to
         100,000,000 shares.

         [ ]      FOR                          [ ]      AGAINST

3.       Proposal to ratify,  confirm and approve an amendment to the  Company's
         1997 Stock  Option Plan to increase  the number of shares  reserved for
         grant thereunder from 1,750,000 to 4,750,000.

         [ ]       FOR                         [ ]      AGAINST

4.       Other Matters. In their discretion,  the Proxies are authorized to vote
         upon such  other  business  as may  properly  come  before  the  Annual
         Meeting.

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY  EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION
IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH PROPOSAL SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED ABOVE.

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.


Date:   ___________________ , 1999      ________________________________________
                                       
                                        ________________________________________
                                        PLEASE  DATE AND SIGN  ABOVE  exactly as
                                        name  appears  at the left,  indicating,
                                        where  proper,   official   position  or
                                        representative  capacity. For stock held
                                        in  joint  tenancy,   each  joint  owner
                                        should sign.




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