SEATTLE, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the global leader in Internet media delivery, today announced two new studies which show commanding usage leads for both the Real format and RealPlayer(R). The first study, released by Nielsen//NetRatings, reveals that home consumption of Internet audio and video content in the Real format reached an all time high in February 2001 -- more than double that of its nearest competitor. A second report, containing recently revised data from Jupiter Media Metrix, shows use of RealPlayer far outstripping the usage of all other media players, and accounts for previously unreported RealPlayer usage through AOL.
According to Nielsen//NetRatings, the Real format was more than twice as popular as its nearest competitor in February. During that month, more than 29.6 million home users accessed content in Real formats, an increase of 1.6 million users since December 2000. Usage of the nearest competing media format over the same period lagged far behind RealNetworks, and fell to 12.5 million in February.
RealNetworks today also announced that Media Metrix has now adjusted its meter to count millions of AOL users (versions 6.0 and Plus) who have been using RealPlayer as their default, embedded media player as the result of an agreement reached last year between AOL and RealNetworks. In earlier reports, Media Metrix failed to measure this usage, resulting in a significant undercount of RealPlayer.
Based on its new, more accurate methodology, Media Metrix now reports that in January 2001, RealPlayer was used by 25.0 million Internet home users, and 10.2 million work users -- a one-year increase of 49 percent (8.2 million) among home users and 57 percent (3.5 million) among work users. Growth for Windows Media Player was slower, by comparison, increasing by only 31 percent (5.1 million) among home users during that same one-year period. Home use of QuickTime player fell by 700,000 users during the year-long period. Media Metrix earlier this week issued a news release ( http://www.jup.com/company/pressrelease.jsp?doc=pr010403 ) with this new January data, which also adjusted upward previously reported RealPlayer usage data for November and December 2000.
"No matter what yardstick you use to measure success, RealNetworks is the undisputed leader in Internet media usage," said Richard Cohen, senior vice president, Consumer Division, RealNetworks, Inc. "This latest data from Nielsen//NetRatings and Media Metrix confirms once again what we've known all along. Consumers consistently choose RealPlayer over all other media players because it provides the highest quality, most reliable access to the greatest multimedia content the web has to offer."
About RealNetworks RealNetworks, Inc is the global leader in Internet media delivery. It 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. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software on the Internet at http://www.real.com . RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located on the Internet at http://www.realnetworks.com .
NOTE: RealNetworks and RealPlayer are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.
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