News & Events

Political Junkies Transforming Internet into TV with Election-Themed Video Sites

Online Users Heading to Political Sites for Videos of Speeches, Campaign Ads and Even Gaffes

Mountain View, CA – May 20, 2008 – Internet-savvy voters are turning off their TV sets and heading online for video content that is increasingly shaping their political views.  As part of a growing reliance on video-rich Web destinations for more than just entertainment, political junkies are using the Internet to view and share the speeches, debates, campaign ads and gaffes that are defining one of the most competitive presidential races in recent history.

While many well known political videos can be found on YouTube’s You Choose channel, an increasing number of videos are being created and posted on .tv domain name Web sites, signaling to Internet users that the Web site offers videos and other rich media content.  VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world, operates the .tv registry (www.tv) in addition to the .com and .net domain name registries.

With the increasing popularity of .tv domain names and its connection to rich media content, anyone with an Internet connection now has the power to educate, inform and possibly sway fellow voters by uploading and sharing videos of their favorite candidate, commentaries or even spoofs captured from television shows. As a result, specialized political Web sites with a .tv domain name have cropped up attempting to educate and represent a vast range of candidates, views and issues.  Among them: www.election.tv, www.Politicallunch.blip.tv, www.Moblogic.tv, www.Fora.tv, www.bloggingheads.tv, www.60secondguide.tv, www.politicalvideo.tv,  www.presidentialelection08.tv. 

“An emerging generation of consumers are watching video on computers and wireless devices – and to them, that’s television,” said Jill McNabb, Director at VeriSign. “Without question, TV universally stands for television and the “dot” in .TV synonymously represents the Internet.  We are moving into an era of personalized channels in which individuals can establish their own programming with a .tv domain name and share video content with others who have similar interests.”

Millions already “watch TV” on computers, mobile phones and other devices. According to research by eMarketer, 52 percent of Internet users aged 13-24 watch TV shows online, as do 48 percent of those aged 25-41. Meanwhile, 77 percent of all Internet users – from youths to senior citizens – watch some kind of video content online.

Through domain name registrars such as www.godaddy.tv and www.channelme.tv, companies and individuals can easily register their own .tv domain name and create their rich media Web site for online video, music, and other forms of communications.

About VeriSign   
VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) is the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world. Billions of times each day, VeriSign helps companies and consumers all over the world engage in communications and commerce with confidence. Additional news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.

Contacts 
VeriSign Media Relations: Rufus Manning, rmanning@verisign.com, 703.948.4126 
VeriSign Investor Relations: Nancy Fazioli, nfazioli@verisign.com, 650.426.5416

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability; potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as the risk that VeriSign's announcements may not result in additional products, services, customers, profits or revenues; and increased competition and pricing pressures. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

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