ONHEALTH NETWORK CO
424B3, 1999-05-07
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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                                               Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                                            File No. 333-75657





                                   PROSPECTUS

                                 152,561 Shares



                            OnHealth Network Company



                     Common Stock, $.01 par value per share



         We are offering on behalf of the selling  shareholders listed below and
on page 14 of this prospectus, a total of 152,561 shares of common stock that we
are obligated to issue on their exercise of warrants.

         Our common  stock is listed on the  Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market  under the
ticker symbol "ONHN". On May 4, 1999, the closing price of one share of OnHealth
common stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap  Market was $14.25.  We will receive none of
the  proceeds  from  the sale of the  Shares,  but  will  receive  approximately
$821,300 if all of the warrants are exercised.

         THIS  INVESTMENT  INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.  YOU SHOULD  PURCHASE
SHARES ONLY IF YOU CAN AFFORD A COMPLETE LOSS.  SEE "RISK FACTORS"  BEGINNING ON
PAGE 4.

         NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE SHARES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY
OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.




                   The date of this prospectus is May 7, 1999


<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



About OnHealth Network Company.................................................3

Recent Developments............................................................3

Risk Factors...................................................................4

Use of Proceeds...............................................................13

Description of Our Securities.................................................13

Selling Shareholders..........................................................13

Plan of Distribution..........................................................14

Legal Matters.................................................................15

Experts.......................................................................15

Where You Can Find More Information...........................................16



         YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE  INFORMATION  CONTAINED OR  INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN ANY ACCOMPANYING  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.  NO
ONE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION.


         THE SHARES OF COMMON  STOCK ARE NOT BEING  OFFERED IN ANY  JURISDICTION
WHERE THE OFFER IS NOT PERMITTED.


         YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE  INFORMATION  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS OR ANY
PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT  IS  ACCURATE  AS OF ANY DATE  OTHER THAN THE DATE ON THE
FRONT OF THE DOCUMENTS.

                                       2
<PAGE>



                         ABOUT ONHEALTH NETWORK COMPANY

         We intend to become the premier source of health-related information on
the  world  wide web.  In the past,  under  the name IVI  Publishing,  Inc.,  we
published in CD-ROM and other formats  health  related  information  for some of
America's  best-known   health-care  facilities  in  partnership  with  some  of
America's most  prestigious  media firms.  Historically,  our business  revolved
around the cable television, CD-ROM and online interactive media markets.

         With the rapid  rise of the  internet  as a source of  information  for
consumers,  we have  re-focused  our  business  into  creating  a web  site  for
consumers of health information that is:

         o  easy to use;

         o  provides custom features for users; and

         o  encourages frequent usage.

         Our flagship web site, located at www.onhealth.com, opened in July 1997
and was re-released in July of 1998.

         We hope to  distinguish  ourselves by "cutting  through the clutter" of
the internet becoming the source for health-related  information by locating and
packaging up-to-date and reliable information.  By doing so, we hope to attain a
large number of consumers visiting our web site, which is essential to obtaining
advertising revenues.

         We were originally incorporated in 1990 in the State of Minnesota under
the name  Interactive  Television,  Inc.  We  changed  our  name to  Interactive
Ventures, Inc. in 1991, IVI Publishing, Inc. in 1993, and in connection with our
move to Washington and re-incorporation  there, OnHealth Network Company in June
of 1998. Our principal executive offices are located at:

808 Howell Street, Suite 400
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 583-0100

                               RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

         On October 30, 1998, we sold 1,000,898  shares of our common stock.  On
December 14, 1998, we sold an additional 542,419 shares of our common stock. The
shares of common  stock  issued on October 30, 1998 and  December  14, 1998 were
issued to two different accredited  investors.  In connection with issuing these
shares, we entered into agreements that could have obligated us, if the price of
the common stock declined below certain levels,  to issue  additional  shares of
common  stock.  Such  "reset"  provisions  only relate to those shares that were
purchased by the two  investors on October 30, 1998 and December 14, 1998. As of
March 31, 1999, all shares of common stock subject to the reset  provisions have
been sold and no such reset  provisions  apply to any of our outstanding  common
stock.

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<PAGE>

         On January 29, 1999,  we completed  the private  placement of 2,596,000
shares of Common Stock, at a negotiated price of $5.50 per share, to the selling
shareholders listed in the selling shareholder table in the amounts set forth in
such table.


                                  RISK FACTORS

         An investment in the shares of common stock offered in this  prospectus
involves  a high  degree of risk.  Before  purchasing  any  shares,  you  should
consider the following  discussion of risks as well as all other  information in
this prospectus.

SINCE WE RECENTLY  CHANGED OUR BUSINESS  FOCUS, WE ESSENTIALLY ARE A NEW COMPANY
AND ACCORDINGLY ARE SUBJECT TO THOSE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A NEW COMPANY.

         Even though we were  founded in 1990,  we have only been active  online
since 1996 and the onhealth.com  web site was not actually  "launched" until the
summer of 1998. As a result, our company is essentially a new venture.

     Our ability to generate profits, if ever, will rely on our ability:

         o  to attract consumers to our web site;

         o  to attract advertisers to our web site;

         o  to succeed  in  creating  an  e-commerce  solution  as a part of the
            onhealth.com web site; and

         o  to control costs.

         We anticipate continued  significant  operating losses at least through
1999, as the OnHealth web site is improved and marketed and the OnHealth network
is enhanced. We make no assurances that profitability will ever be attained.

OUR  BUSINESS  MODEL IN THE SHORT TERM RELIES TO A LARGE  EXTENT ON  ADVERTISING
REVENUES FROM THE INTERNET.  INTERNET  ADVERTISING IS NOT AN ESTABLISHED MODE OF
ADVERTISING.

         We anticipate that a substantial portion of our revenues will come from
the sale of advertisements on our web pages. While we are in the early stages of
implementing  our  advertising  program,  to  generate  significant  advertising
revenues, several things need to happen:

         o  Advertisers  must  accept the  internet  as an  attractive  place to
            advertise;

         o  We need to attract a large number of consumers to our web site; and

         o  Those consumers need to have demographic  characteristics attractive
            to advertisers.


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<PAGE>

OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS IN LARGE PART ON THE CONTINUING EFFORTS OF TWO INDIVIDUALS.

         Our  development  and  operation  is  substantially  dependent  on  the
services of our President and Chief Executive Officer,  Robert N. Goodman and on
our General  Manager,  Rebecca  Farwell.  If we lost the  services of either Mr.
Goodman or Ms. Farwell, our business would be severely affected. In addition, to
a lesser  extent,  we are  dependent on the  continued  service of certain other
people in management and our software engineering  personnel.  Losing any of our
management  team  could  have a  significant  negative  effect on our  business.
Qualified replacements could be difficult or impossible to find or retain.

THE  INTERNET  ADVERTISING  MARKET  IS  IMMATURE  AND WE  DEPEND  ON THE  USE OF
IMPRESSIONS TO MEASURE TRAFFIC TO ONHEALTH.COM.

         Advertising  sales on the internet is an extremely  competitive  market
that is constantly changing.  Advertising rates quoted by different vendors vary
widely,  and  that  makes  it  difficult  for us to  project  future  levels  of
advertising  revenues.  To date,  advertisers have not, by their actions,  shown
that they believe in the internet as a legitimate advertising medium compared to
traditional  advertising media like television,  radio, newspapers or magazines.
Since the industry is in its infancy,  universally  accepted standards measuring
how effective a particular  internet  advertisement is have not been established
or widely embraced.

         Internet  advertising rates are based in part on third-party  estimates
of an  individual's  use of an internet site.  These estimates of use are called
impressions.  Such  estimates  are often based on sampling  techniques  or other
imprecise measures, and may materially differ from our own estimates.  We do not
know  if  advertisers  will  accept  our  or  other  parties'   measurements  of
impressions.

SINCE OUR  ADVERTISING  CONTRACTS  ARE FOR SHORT  TERMS  AND OFTEN  GUARANTEE  A
MINIMUM  NUMBER OF  IMPRESSIONS,  WE CANNOT BE SURE IN THE  FUTURE  THAT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ATTRACT INTERNET ADVERTISERS.

         Substantially  all of our  advertising  contracts  have  been for terms
averaging  one to three  months  in  length,  with  relatively  few  longer-term
advertising  contracts.  We cannot assure you that our current  advertisers will
continue  to  purchase   advertisements  on  our  web  site.  In  addition,  our
advertising  contracts  typically  guarantee the  advertiser a minimum number of
impressions.  To the extent that minimum  impression levels are not achieved for
any reason, we may be required to "make good" or provide additional  impressions
after the contract term. Providing  additional  impressions may adversely affect
the availability of advertising  inventory.  This may, in turn, adversely affect
our business, results of operations and financial condition.

IN ORDER TO COMPETE FOR ADVERTISING  DOLLARS WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF INTERNET
WEB SITES, WE MUST CONTINUE TO ENHANCE AND DEVELOP OUR WEB SITE.

         To remain  competitive  with other  internet  companies,  including the
numerous other internet  health-related  web sites,  we must continue to enhance
and improve the  responsiveness,  functionality and features of OnHealth.com and
develop  other  products  and  services.  We plan to develop and  introduce  new
features,  functions,  products and services, such as increased capabilities for
user  personalization  and  interactivity  and  electronic  commerce.  This will
require us to:


                                       5
<PAGE>


         o  develop or license increasingly complex technology; and

         o  create a easy to use and functional electronic commerce component to
            our web site.

         It is possible  that we may not succeed in  developing  or  introducing
such features,  functions,  products and services in order to attract consumers.
Such failure would likely have a seriously negative effect on our business.

SINCE INTERNET ADVERTISING MARKET IS NOT YET AN ESTABLISHED  ADVERTISING MEDIUM,
OUR  REVENUE  STREAMS  IN  THE  FUTURE  ARE  UNPREDICTABLE.   ALSO,  SINCE  MANY
ADVERTISERS  ADVERTISE MORE DURING THE TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY SEASON, OUR QUARTERLY
RESULTS MAY FLUCTUATE.

         Because our online  operating  history is limited and the  economics of
the internet are still  evolving,  it is difficult to forecast  future  revenues
with any accuracy.  The advertising  and retail  industries  usually  experience
their best quarter in the fourth quarter of each year, and to the extent that we
rely upon advertising  revenues,  our revenues could similarly fluctuate.  Since
our expense levels are based upon anticipated advertising and licensing revenue,
we may not be able to adjust  spending in a timely manner to compensate  for any
unexpected decline in revenue.  As a result, any significant decline in relation
to our expectations would have an immediate adverse impact on our business.

TO  SUCCESSFULLY  COMPETE IN THE  INTERNET  HEALTH  FIELD,  WE MUST  CONTINUE TO
IMPROVE  THE  PRODUCT WE OFFER OUR USERS AND THE  NUMBER OF USERS  USING OUR WEB
SITE.

     To do so, we plan to significantly increase our operating expenses to:

         o  develop new distribution channels thus increasing traffic to our web
            site;

         o  fund greater levels of research and development;

         o  add editorial content;

         o  increase our sales and marketing operations;

         o  broaden our customer support capabilities; and

         o  establish brand identity and strategic alliances.

     Based on our current cash on hand, we expect to have  sufficient  resources
 to operate  at least  through  December  31,  1999.  Such  planned  expansions,
 however,  will require  substantial  capital beyond our current  resources.  We
 cannot guarantee that such capital will be available, or if available, that the
 terms that such  capital is  available  will be  acceptable  to us. If we raise
 additional cash through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities:

         o  the percentage ownership of our shareholders will be reduced;

         o  shareholders may experience additional dilution; and

                                       6
<PAGE>


         o  such securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to
            those of the holders of common stock.

SINCE MUCH OF OUR REVENUE DEPENDS ON SHORT-TERM  RELATIONSHIPS  WITH OTHERS,  IF
SUCH RELATIONSHIPS DO NOT CONTINUE, OUR REVENUES WILL DECREASE.

         We  are  and  will  continue  to  depend  on a  number  of  third-party
relationships   to  increase  traffic  on  onhealth.com  in  order  to  generate
advertising  revenues.  We are generally  dependent on other web site  operators
that provide links to onhealth.com.

              Most of our arrangements with third-party internet sites:

         o  do not require future minimum commitments to use our services;

         o  are not exclusive; and

         o  are short-term or may be terminated at the  convenience of the other
            party.

         In addition,  we do not have  agreements  with many web site  operators
that provide links to  onhealth.com,  and such web site  operators may terminate
such links at any time without  notice.  As a result,  we cannot assure you that
our existing  relationships will result in sustained  business  relationships or
the  generation of  significant  revenues for us.  Failure of one or more of our
strategic  relationships to achieve or maintain market  acceptance or commercial
success or the  termination of one or more  successful  strategic  relationships
could have a material adverse effect on our business.

SINCE  THE  INTERNET   ADVERTISING   AND  HEALTH  CARE  MARKETS  ARE   EXTREMELY
COMPETITIVE,  IT IS IMPORTANT  THAT WE ESTABLISH OUR WEB SITE AS A LEADER IN OUR
FIELD.

         We  believe  that  the  principal  competitive  factors  in  attracting
advertisers to our site include:

         o  the amount of traffic on our web site,

         o  brand recognition,

         o  customer service,

         o  the demographics of our user base,

         o  our ability to offer targeted audiences; and

         o  the overall cost effectiveness of the advertising medium we offer.

         There are a number of competitors  delivering online health content who
will also seek such advertising revenues, and it is likely that more competitors
will emerge in the near future. Such competitors include, among others:


                                       7
<PAGE>

         o  WebMD;

         o  Mayo Health O@SIS;

         o  Dr. Koop; and

         o  IntelliHealth.

         Many of these  competitors  have more  cash  available  to spend,  have
longer  operating  histories and better brand  recognition than we do. Some have
internal  distribution or other  opportunities to support their business that we
neither have nor are able to replicate for a reasonable investment. As expressed
above,  we believe that the number of other health care internet  companies that
on  internet-based  advertising  revenue,  will  increase  substantially  in the
future.  Accordingly,  we will likely face increased  competition,  resulting in
increased  pricing  pressures  on our  advertising  rates,  which  could  have a
material adverse effect on our business.

MUCH OF OUR WEB SITE RELIES ON OWNED OR LICENSED  INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY  AND WE
CANNOT BE SURE  THAT THAT SUCH  RIGHTS  ARE  PROTECTED  FROM THE USE OF  OTHERS,
INCLUDING POTENTIAL COMPETITORS.

         We regard much of our web site and its  technology as  proprietary  and
try to protect it by relying on:

         o  Trademarks;

         o  copyrights;

         o  trade secret laws; and

         o  restrictions on disclosure and transferring title.

         In addition,  we have entered into confidentiality  agreements with our
consultants.  In connection with our license  agreements with third parties,  we
seek to control access to and distribution of our technology,  documentation and
other proprietary information.  Even with all of these precautions,  it could be
possible  for  someone  else to  either  copy or  otherwise  obtain  and use our
proprietary   information  without  our  authorization  or  to  develop  similar
technology  independently.  Effective  trademark,  copyright  and  trade  secret
protection  may not be  available  in every  country  that our services are made
available through the internet, and policing unauthorized use of our proprietary
information is difficult and expensive. We cannot be sure that the steps we have
taken will prevent misappropriation of our proprietary  information.  This could
have a material adverse effect on our business. In the future, we may need to go
to court to either  enforce our  intellectual  property  rights,  to protect our
trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of the  proprietary  rights
of others.  Such litigation  might result in substantial  costs and diversion of
resources and management attention.


                                       8
<PAGE>


         We  currently   license  from  third   parties   certain   technologies
incorporated  into  onhealth.com.  As we continue to introduce new services that
incorporate  new  technologies,   we  may  be  required  to  license  additional
technology  from  others.  We cannot be sure that these  third-party  technology
licenses will continue to be available on commercially  reasonable  terms, if at
all.

SINCE THE  INTERNET,  AND OUR WEB SITE,  ARE EASILY  ACCESSIBLE  THROUGHOUT  THE
WORLD,  IT IS POSSIBLE  THAT WE COULD FACE  LIABILITY FOR PRODUCTS SOLD OVER, OR
INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM, OUR WEB SITE.

         Because  any of the  materials  on our web  site may be  downloaded  or
viewed,  and such materials  could be sent to others,  potentially,  we could be
sued for:

         o  defamation;

         o  negligence;

         o  copyright or trademark infringement; or

         o  other theories based on the nature and content of such materials.

         We could also be  exposed  to  liability  with  respect to  third-party
information that may be accessible:

         o  through our web site, or

         o  through  content  and  materials  that may be posted by our users on
            discussion boards that we offer.

         Such claims might  include,  that by directly or  indirectly  providing
links to web sites  operated by third  parties,  we are liable for  copyright or
trademark  infringement or other wrongful  actions by such third parties through
such  web  sites.  It is also  possible  that,  if any  third-party  information
provided  on our web site  contains  errors,  third  parties  could make  claims
against us for  losses  they incur  relying  on such  information.  Even if such
claims  do not  result  in  liability,  we  could  incur  significant  costs  in
investigating and defending against such claims.

SINCE OUR WEB SITE  RELIES ON THE  INTERNET  AND OTHER  TECHNOLOGY,  IT WOULD BE
SUBJECT TO RISKS IF THEY FAILED OR BECAME UNRELIABLE.

         All  companies  that  rely  on the  internet  are  dependent  upon  the
continuous,  reliable  and secure  operation  of  internet  servers  and related
hardware  and  software.  If that  service is  interrupted,  consumers  would be
inconvenienced and commercial clients would suffer from a loss in advertising or
transaction delivery. This would result in a revenue loss to us. Even though our
computer and communications hardware are protected through physical and software
safeguards,  they are still vulnerable to fire,  earthquake,  flood, power loss,
telecommunications  failures, physical or software break-ins and similar events.
We do not have a complete back-up for all of our computer and telecommunications
facilities and do not carry business interruption insurance to protect us in the
event of a catastrophe. Such an event could lead to significant negative impacts
on our  business.  We also  depend on third  parties to  provide  users with web


                                       9
<PAGE>

browsers and internet and online services  necessary for access to our web site.
In the past, users have occasionally  experienced difficulties with internet and
online  services due to system  failures,  including  failures  unrelated to our
systems.  Any sustained  disruption in internet access provided by third parties
could have a material adverse effect on our business.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE MAY HAVE YEAR 2000  PROBLEMS.  AS A RESULT,  OUR COMPUTER
SYSTEMS COULD FAIL.

         The Year 2000 issue is the potential for system and processing failures
of  date-related  data and the result of  computer-controlled  systems using two
digits rather than four to define the  applicable  year.  For example,  computer
programs that have time-sensitive  software may recognize a date using 00 as the
year 1900  rather  than the year 2000.  This could  result in system  failure or
miscalculations  causing  disruptions  of  operations,  including,  among  other
things, a temporary inability to process  transactions,  send invoices or engage
in similar normal business activities.

         We could be  affected  by Year 2000  issues  related  to  non-compliant
information  technology  systems or non-IT  systems  that we operate or that are
operated by third parties.  We have  substantially  completed  assessment of our
internal and external,  or third-party,  IT systems and non-IT systems.  At this
point in our  assessment,  we are not currently  aware of any Year 2000 problems
relating to systems we operate or that are operated by third  parties that would
have a material  effect on our  business,  results of  operations  or  financial
condition, without taking into account our efforts to avoid such problems. Based
on our  assessment  to date, we do not  anticipate  that costs  associated  with
remediating  our  non-compliant  IT systems or non-IT  systems will be material,
although there can be no assurance to such effect.

         The most likely worst case Year 2000  scenario is a failure  beyond our
control,  such as a prolonged  telecommunications  or electrical failure. Such a
failure would:

         o  prevent us from operating our business;

         o  prevent users from accessing our web site; or

         o  change the behavior of  advertising  customers or persons  accessing
            our web site.

         We  believe  that the  primary  business  risks,  in the  event of such
failure, would include:

         o  lost advertising revenues;

         o  increased  operating costs,  loss of customers or persons  accessing
            our web site, or

         o  other business interruptions of a material nature, as well as claims
            of mismanagement, misrepresentation, or breach of contract.

         Any such problems would have a material adverse effect on our business.
We have not made any contingency plans to address such risks.


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<PAGE>

IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR EXPENSES  REASONABLE,  IT IS  IMPORTANT  THAT WE MANAGE OUR
GROWTH.

         To  accommodate  the  demand  of  additional   editorial   content  and
distribution  channels for the OnHealth  network,  our employee  base could grow
significantly from our December 31, 1998 level of 34 employees. The expansion of
our workforce  could place a  significant  strain on our  management,  financial
resources and infrastructure. Competition for attracting and retaining qualified
employees  is  intense.  We cannot be sure that we will be able to  attract  and
retain  employees  with the  appropriate  skill sets, or that we will be able to
manage  growth  effectively.  If we are  unable to manage  growth in the  coming
years, there could be an adverse affect on our operations.

WE ARE IN  LITIGATION  AND COULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE  PAYMENTS TO THOSE WHO HAVE
SUED US.

         In February 1996, we were sued in Hennepin County,  Minnesota  District
Court by T. Randal  Productions.  In its lawsuit, T. Randal made various claims,
including  misappropriation  of corporate  opportunities  and trade  secrets and
sought award of damages,  in excess of $10.0  million.  In November 1997, a jury
awarded T. Randal $480,000 plus interest for damages  sustained to its business.
T. Randal  moved for a new trial and for judgment  notwithstanding  the verdict.
The jury verdict was upheld by the trial court. T. Randal appealed this decision
to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. In March 1999, the Minnesota Court of Appeals
upheld the  decision  of the trial  court.  We believe T.  Randal may  request a
rehearing.

SINCE OUR WEB SITE RELIES ON SOME CONTENT THAT WE DO NOT CREATE,  IT IS POSSIBLE
THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUCH CONTENT IN THE FUTURE.

         We  produce  only a  portion  of the  editorial  content  found  on the
OnHealth network. Accordingly, we rely on third-parties that have the expertise,
technical  capability,  name  recognition,  and willingness to syndicate product
content for branding and distribution by others. As health-related content grows
on the web, there will be increasing competition for the best health information
suppliers. This may result in:

         o  a competitor acquiring a key supplier on an exclusive basis; or

         o  in significantly higher content prices.

         Such an outcome could make our web site less attractive or useful for a
user, and could reduce our profitability. Either event could have a material and
adverse impact on our business.

LAWS  RELATING TO THE  INTERNET  THAT COULD BE PASSED COULD LIMIT THE CONTENT OR
PRODUCTS WE OFFER OR PLAN TO OFFER.

         There are currently few laws or regulations that specifically  regulate
communications or commerce on the internet. However, with the growing popularity
of online usage, various new laws could be passed that could affect:

         o  privacy;

         o  intellectual property rights;


                                       11
<PAGE>

         o  marketing,

         o  content; or

         o  the distribution of health care products over the internet.

         The  adoption  of  additional  laws in this field may  reduce  consumer
demand for online  services,  or  adversely  impact our cost of doing  business.
Either outcome could have a material adverse affect on our business.

OUR NETWORK  COULD BE  PENETRATED.  THIS COULD RESULT IN A DISRUPTION IN OUR WEB
SITE.

         Experienced  programmers  or "hackers"  could  attempt to penetrate our
network security. Because a hacker who is able to penetrate our network security
could  misappropriate  proprietary  information  or cause  interruptions  in our
products and  services,  we may be required to expend  capital and  resources to
protect against or to alleviate problems caused by such parties. In addition, we
may not have a timely  remedy  against  a hacker  who is able to  penetrate  our
network  security.  Such  purposeful  security  breaches  could  have a material
adverse effect on our business,  results of operations and financial  condition.
In addition, the inadvertent transmission of computer viruses could expose us to
a risk of loss or litigation and potential liability.

IF  TODAY'S  ECONOMIC  CONDITIONS  DETERIORATE,  OUR  FUTURE  SUCCESS  WOULD  BE
IMPACTED.

         Time spent on the internet by  individuals,  purchases of new computers
and  purchases  of  membership  subscriptions  to internet  sites are  typically
discretionary  for consumers and may be particularly  affected by adverse trends
in the general economy.  The success of our operations  depends to a significant
extent upon  discretionary  consumer  spending,  including  economic  conditions
affecting  disposable  consumer  income such as employment,  wages and salaries,
business conditions,  interest rates,  availability of credit and taxation,  for
the economy as a whole and in regional and local  markets  where we operate.  In
addition,  our business  strategy  relies on advertising by and agreements  with
other internet  companies.  Any significant  deterioration  in general  economic
conditions  that adversely  affected these  companies could also have a material
adverse effect on our business.

WE HAVE NO PLANS TO PAY CASH DIVIDENDS.

         We  intend  to  retain  all of our  earnings,  if  any,  for use in the
business and do not  anticipate  paying any cash  dividends  in the  foreseeable
future.  Pursuant to our Articles of  Incorporation  and Bylaws,  the payment of
dividends is subject to the  discretion  of our Board of Directors and any terms
and conditions imposed by law.

SINCE THIS PROSPECTUS INCLUDES FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS, WE CAUTION YOU NOT TO
PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON SUCH FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

     Certain  statements made in this prospectus,  that are summarized here, are
forward-looking  statements  that  involve  risk and  uncertainties,  and actual
results may be materially different.  Factors that could cause actual results to
differ include, but are not limited to those identified:


                                       12
<PAGE>


o  The  expectation  that we will become the leading on-line health  information
   network depends on our ability to continue to:

         o  obtain high quality editorial content,

         o  implement  effective  traffic  building  programs,  as well as other
            general market conditions; and

         o  competitive   conditions   within   the   market,   including,   the
            introduction and further development of competitive web sites.

o  The expectation that we will see a growth in revenues and positive net income
   as a result of our shift in focus to the on-line health network depends on:

         o  customer interest,

         o  the ability to obtain  successful  revenue sources from advertisers,
            and

         o  other general market and competitive  conditions within the internet
            health market.

       
                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         In  connection  with the  exercise  of the  warrants  from the  selling
shareholders,  we will  receive,  on exercise of all of the  warrants  described
herein,  $821,313.38.  We plan to use the proceeds from these warrant  exercises
for general  corporate  purposes.  All net proceeds  from the sale of the shares
covered by this  prospectus  will go to the selling  shareholders  who offer and
sell their shares.  We will not receive any proceeds from sales of Shares by the
selling shareholders.

                          DESCRIPTION OF OUR SECURITIES

COMMON STOCK

         Our articles of incorporation  authorize us to issue 29,000,000  shares
of common stock and 1,000,000  shares of preferred  stock. As of March 31, 1999,
there were 15,857,854 shares of common stock outstanding. Each holder of a share
of common  stock gets one vote per share on all matters  submitted  to a vote of
shareholders  but may not cumulate votes for the election of directors.  Holders
of common stock also are entitled to receive dividends as may be declared by the
Board  of  Directors  out  of  funds  legally  available.  In the  event  of our
dissolution,  liquidation or winding up, holders of common stock are entitled to
share in all assets.  Holders of common stock have no preemptive,  subscription,
redemption or conversion  rights. All the outstanding shares of common stock are
fully paid and nonassessable.

WARRANTS

         As of March 31, 1999, we had outstanding  warrants to purchase  341,213
shares of common stock with various  parties  with varying  exercise  prices and
termination dates.


                                       13
<PAGE>

                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS


         The  following  table  sets  forth,  as  of  March  31,  1999,  certain
information  regarding  the  beneficial  ownership  of the  common  stock by the
selling  shareholders  and as  adjusted to give effect to the sale of the shares
offered by this prospectus:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
                                                                                      AFTER OFFERING
                                                                               --------------------------
                                         SHARES
                                      BENEFICIALLY     
                                     OWNED PRIOR TO       SHARES BEING                         
       SELLING SHAREHOLDER              OFFERING             OFFERED             SHARES(3)      PERCENT
- ----------------------------        ----------------      -------------        ------------    ----------            
<S>                                    <C>                   <C>               <C>                <C> 

Medical Innovation Fund (1)                -                  83,784                2,890(4)(5)     *

Wayne W. Mills                          288,000               16,750              271,250          1.7

Ronald Eibensteiner (2)                    -                  27,027                 -              -

Stern & Company                            -                  25,000                 -              -

- ----------------
<FN>
*  Less than one percent

(1)      Timothy I. Maudlin is a general partner of Medical Innovation Fund. Mr.
         Maudlin  served on our board of directors  from August 1991 to December
         11, 1998.
(2)      Ronald  Eibensteiner  served as a member of our board of directors from
         November 1997 until June 29, 1998.
(3)      Assumes the sale of all of the shares being offered hereby.
(4)      Includes  1,211 shares owned by Timothy I Maudlin,  general  partner of
         Medical Innovation Fund.
(5)      Includes  1,679  shares  owned by Bob  Nickoloff,  general  partner  of
         Medical Innovation Fund.
</FN>
</TABLE>

         OTHER THAN AS  DESCRIBED  ABOVE,  NONE OF THE SELLING  SHAREHOLDERS  OR
THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS HAVE HELD ANY POSITIONS OR OFFICE OR HAD
ANY OTHER MATERIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF OUR AFFILIATES WITHIN
THE PAST THREE YEARS.

         We  have  agreed  with  the  Selling  Shareholders  to  file  with  the
Commission,  under the Securities Act, the Registration  Statement of which this
prospectus  forms a part,  with  respect to the resale of the  Shares,  and have
agreed to prepare and file such amendments and  supplements to the  Registration
Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective until
the earlier of

         o  January 29, 2001;

         o  the date that all of the selling  shareholders may sell all of their
            shares under Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act, or

         o  such  date  that  none of the  selling  shareholders  own any of the
            shares offered in this prospectus.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The selling  shareholders,  or their pledgees,  donees,  transferees or
others who succeed to their interest, may offer their shares at various times in
one or more of the following transactions:

         o  on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market;

         o  in the over-the-counter market;


                                       14
<PAGE>

         o  in negotiated  transactions other than the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or
            the over-the-counter market;

         o  in connection with short sales;

         o  by pledge to secure debts and other obligations;

         o  in  connection  with  the  writing  of  call  options,   in  hedging
            transactions and in settlement of other transactions in standardized
            or over-the-counter options; or

         o  in a combination of any of the above transactions.

         The selling  shareholders may sell their shares at market prices at the
time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing  market prices, at negotiated
prices or at fixed prices.

         The selling  shareholders may use  broker-dealers to sell their shares.
If this happens,  broker-dealers  will either  receive  discounts or commissions
from the selling  shareholder,  or they will receive commissions from purchasers
for whom they acted as agents.

         If the  selling  shareholders  give or pledge  their  shares to another
person,  such  person may sell such shares as a selling  shareholder  under this
prospectus.  Any shares that  qualify for sale under Rule 144 of the  Securities
Act may be sold under such rule rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         For  purposes of this  offering,  Preston  Gates & Ellis LLP,  Seattle,
Washington, is giving its opinion on the validity of the shares.

                                     EXPERTS

         The financial  statements appearing in our Annual Report (Form 10-K, as
amended)  for the year ended  December  31,  1998,  have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, independent  auditors,  as set forth in their report that is included
in the Form 10-K, as amended,  and incorporated in this prospectus by reference.
Such financial  statements are  incorporated  in this prospectus by reference in
reliance  upon such report  given upon the  authority of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.


                                       15
<PAGE>


                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

         We file annual,  quarterly and special  reports,  proxy  statements and
other  information  with the SEC. You may read and copy the documents we file at
the SEC's public  reference  rooms in  Washington,  D.C., New York, New York and
Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on the public  reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public
from the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.

         The SEC allows us to  "incorporate  by reference"  the  information  in
documents  we  file  with  them,  which  means  that we can  disclose  important
information  to you  by  referring  you  to  those  documents.  The  information
incorporated  by  reference is  considered  to be part of this  prospectus,  and
information  that we file  later  with the SEC  will  automatically  update  and
supersede this  information.  We  incorporate  by reference the document  listed
below and any  future  filings we will make with the SEC under  Sections  13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         Annual Report of OnHealth Network Company on Form 10-K, as amended, for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998;

         You may  request  a copy of this  filing or a copy of any or all of the
documents  referred  to above  which  have been or may be  incorporated  in this
Prospectus by reference, at no cost, by writing us at the following address:

Corporate Secretary
808 Howell Street, Suite 400
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 583-0100



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