JERRY LEWIS TO STAR IN FIRST WORLDWIDE TELETHON

TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 14, 1998 -- The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon is going worldwide.

Telethon Executive Producer Robert Ross, MDA's senior vice president and executive director, announced today that MDA's 1998 Labor Day Telethon will be the first worldwide telethon ever, available to tens of millions of Internet users at home and abroad with live streaming audio and video contributed by RealNetworks Inc., the recognized leader in streaming media over the Internet.

"This is an important first for MDA's Telethon, which was the first telethon to raise a million dollars, the first to be broadcast in color, and the first to be networked, among other milestones," Ross said. "Millions of families worldwide will, for the first time, be able to join the 75 million television viewers watching our show as it's broadcast by some 200 television stations in the United States. Thanks to RealNetworks' Real Broadcast Network, these families will enjoy the Telethon and learn about the rapid progress being made in the battle against neuromuscular diseases."

To see the Telethon live online, at www.mda.org, Web enthusiasts need to use RealNetworks' free RealPlayer 5.0 or RealPlayer G2 software. Both may be downloaded prior to or during the 21½-hour Telethon, which begins at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday, Sept. 6, and originates from CBS Television City in Hollywood. The RealPlayer, with more than 28 million registered users, is one of the most popular software applications used on the Internet. RealPlayer 5.0 and the beta release of RealPlayer G2 are available immediately for download at www.real.com. The live Telethon Webcast is also being supported by AT&T, the host for MDA's Web site, www.mda.org.

"It's a real joy to take our show worldwide," said Jerry Lewis, MDA national chairman. "The hope it brings to millions of families, and the extensive help MDA makes available online, have tremendous value. We are deeply indebted to RealNetworks and AT&T for hosting our live Telethon Webcast."

Beginning today, Internet users worldwide can preview the Telethon at www.mda.org. On-demand streaming RealAudio and RealVideo selections offer Telethon Web site visitors "best of" samplings from the previous year to whet appetites for this year's live Telethon performances. MDA's special Telethon home page also offers market-specific information to help people conveniently find the U.S. television stations (call letters, channels, start times, Web site addresses) broadcasting the Telethon.

An MDA national sponsor, AT&T helped create MDA's popular Web site with a $50,000 AT&T Foundation contribution. AT&T SecureBuy Service facilitates online contributions to MDA year-round, and helped foster more than $44,000 in secure electronic Telethon credit card transactions in 1997. This year, AT&T WorldNet Services is providing interactive communication, or "chat" capabilities, between the national production team and some 200 local Telethon producers. This donated system is expediting show preparations and will enhance national-to-local programming transitions Labor Day weekend.

RealNetworks (NASDAQ "RNWK"), based in Seattle, develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. Currently, more than 85 percent of all Web pages on the Internet with streaming media use industry-leading RealAudio, RealVideo or RealFlash, and more than 200,000 hours of live RealAudio and RealVideo programming is available each week. RealNetworks can be found on the World Wide Web at www.real.com.

AT&T WorldNet Service is the largest direct Internet service provider in the United States, serving more than 1.2 million subscribers. The consumer service offers each subscriber hourly and flat-rate pricing, a free 5-megabyte personal Web page, and has received awards for both its customer care and high reliability.

AT&T WorldNet Service provides subscribers with the option of consolidating their Internet access, AT&T Long Distance and AT&T Wireless charges, where available, on a single bill. Separately, AT&T WorldNet Service enables its subscribers to electronically register for AT&T Long Distance service at a low 9-cent-a-minute rate, payable with a credit card.

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.

The Association annually expends nearly $25 million to fund some 400 research teams worldwide, and has invested more than $48 million in international investigations, including scientific initiatives in 36 countries. MDA investigators have made significant advances toward cures for several muscle-wasting disorders. They've also pioneered breakthroughs that may lead to therapies for heart disease, cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and cystic fibrosis.

MDA was the first nonprofit organization honored by the American Medical Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award "for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity." For more information about MDA and/or referrals to any of its 230 clinics, call 1-800-572-1717. Information about MDA is also available through its Web site (www.mda.org).

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