MBT International FinalizesTechnical Specifications
And Revenue Models For High-Speed
InteractiveAgricultural Channel To Be Offered By
EchoStar
August 12, 1999 09:05 AM
CASTLE ROCK, Colo.--(Business Wire)--August 12, 1999--MBT International
MBTI , owner of the premier Internet web sites focused on business to business
e-commerce and auctions for the agricultural industry, today announced the
completion of the revenue models and framework for the high-speed interactive
broadcast service to be launched by EchoStar Communications Corporation DISH
.
According to Andy McKinnon, Chairman and CEO of MBTI, "We are excited to be
a leader in the field of convergence of two incredible technologies: satellite
television and Internet e-commerce. This could only happen with the opportunity
presented to us by the EchoStar team.
"We now have a functional narrative for the AgriMall.com portal, and have enlisted
the services of a leading Internet developer to finalize construction of the site
which will be featured on EchoStar's interactive channel."
MBTI, via the AgriMall portal, will receive a percentage of sales transactions
conducted over the interactive channel, as well as a portion of the monthly
subscription rate charged for this "a la carte" service.
Advertising revenue opportunities will include multimedia rich banners and text
with full motion thirty-second commercial spots to be positioned between featured
stories, live events and entertainment features. Live event coverage will include
everything from rodeos and horse racing to livestock shows. Entertainment
features will be target specific to the agricultural and equestrian community.
MBTI services and entertainment to be delivered to EchoStar subscribers through
the interactive channel include:
-- Content pulled directly from the MBTI web sites including
existing advertisers and products for sale from specific portals
as well as the MBTI horse, cattle, farm and heavy equipment
databases.
-- Content derived from the previously announced InfoSpace.com
format will be delivered through the AgriMall Channel, including
instantaneous transmission of customized interactive agricultural
news information, such as video news on demand and Interactive
Weather.
-- Live video broadcasts of cattle, horse and equipment auctions
with full motion video. This will include text and video driven
statistical information. MBTI will meet the buyer's needs by
including video of the cattle and horses in their natural
environment, enabling the buyer access to all the information
necessary to make an enlightened judgment with respect to his or
her purchase.
-- All of these videos will be provided to participants in advance
of the auction through the AgriMall.com web site. Participation
in the auction will require an access fee. These items for
auction will not only be derived from items within the MBTI
databases which are already online at AgriMall.com, but also via
MBTI's aggressive pursuit of broadcast auctions, particularly
cattle auctions, from across North America.
MBTI's home shopping channel, targeting an agricultural and rural audience
numbering sixteen to seventeen million, will also be launched over the interactive
channel with a full programming lineup featuring essential products and services
for business and home.
About MBT International
MBT International Inc. is engaged in the development of industry specific Internet
portal sites, which encompass auctions, broker-assisted buy and sell programs,
searchable databases and graphic-intense display of products. The Company
currently has over 400,000 users and is the parent company of AgriMall.com
(www.agrimall.com), Horsenet.com (www.horsenet.com), BookStable.com
(www.bookstable.com), and the recently launched LifeatHome.com
(www.lifeathome.com), a vertical portal targeted at the home improvement and
real estate markets, as well as its latest acquisition of IMall Global and its
properties (www.equestrianmall.com), (www.horsechat.com),
(www.equiseek.com), and (www.equiauction.com).
MBT International, Inc. has an agreement to work with EchoStar Communications
Corporation DISH , the nation's fastest growing direct broadcast satellite (DBS)
provider with over 2.7 million customers, whereby MBTI programming and online
purchasing capabilities will be offered over a high speed interactive channel. In
addition, the Company has signed agreements with the following: Triplus, a
Trimac Company, to handle the freight component of certain sales transactions;
Texas Equipment, which is in the process of establishing a large storefront
featuring John Deere equipment in AgriMall.com; and Silicon Graphics, Inc for
technological development. MBT International Inc. is presently viewing possible
strategic alliances with other companies in the communications industry.
Certain statements in this release are forward looking. Although MBTI believes its
expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its
knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual
results will not differ materially from its expectations. For factors that may cause
actual results to differ materially from expectations and underlying assumptions,
see reports by MBTI filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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