Astral Media Radio partners with Emmis Interactive to super-charge its
interactive business

Astral's 82 radio websites to benefit from industry-leading interactive platform, sales solutions

MONTREAL, March 8 /CNW Telbec/ - Astral Media Radio, a division of Astral Media Inc. (TSX: ACM.A/ACM.B), announced today it has signed a long-term agreement with Emmis Interactive, Inc., a software and consulting company. Emmis will provide its successful interactive platform and proven sales consulting services to Astral as part of Astral Media Radio's renewed emphasis on building out its Interactive business.

"Astral is proud of the work done over the last few years online and with mobile, but our deal with Emmis marks a new chapter in our commitment to capitalize on the amazing growth of digital media," said Jacques Parisien, Group President, Astral Media Radio and Astral Media Outdoor: "Partnering with Emmis will allow us to take a huge leap forward in terms of our online product, by building more robust and engaging sites for our strong radio brands. This is a critical element of our Interactive strategy; we are very focused on making Interactive a strong and important part of our business."

"The Astral Media Radio Interactive team is enthusiast by the arrival of this great news and all its employees and resources will be dedicated to make this project a great success for all our radio stations" said Philippe Patrice, Chief Digital Strategies Officer for Astral Media Radio. "In addition to all the technical benefits of this partnership, we believe that working side by side with an industry leader will be both stimulating and exciting."

"While we will continue to build on our national sales and content strategies, the Emmis platform and the associated training will empower our local markets to develop highly engaging Interactive content and offer our local advertisers an opportunity to connect with prospective clients through our sites in a meaningful way," added Deborah Beatty, Vice President of Interactive for Astral Media Inc, and head of the iMedia national online sales group.

"Everything Astral Media Radio does is with purpose and with the highest regard to broadcasting excellence," Deborah Esayian, Co-President of Emmis Interactive said. "It is an honor and privilege to serve beside them as they stretch beyond what they have already accomplished to discover more of the wonderful possibilities interactive media presents. We are excited that Astral will be using BaseStation(R) to craft their signature 'branding' magic in the digital space."

BaseStation(R), Emmis Interactive's proprietary Audience Engagement platform, includes all the features a local media brand has come to expect from a progressive website, as well as tools that increase engagement and create two-way communication possibilities between the station and the audience.

Astral Media Radio operates 82 licensed radio stations across eight Canadian provinces. Astral Media Radio is a division of Astral Media inc., a leading Canadian media company, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media. Astral Media's solid and dynamic presence in the country's major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences. For more information about Astral Media, please visit astralmedia.com.

Emmis Interactive, Inc., an award-winning global software and consulting company, provides local broadcasters and publishers with profitable, sustainable interactive businesses. Combining years of broadcast and publishing experience with cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service, Emmis Interactive empowers local media companies with a comprehensive digital strategy to maximize the value of their media brands. Services include interactive strategy for executive management, interactive sales training, content management consulting, proprietary technology platform and hosting services, custom web-site design and interactive product development. Emmis Interactive is also working with other broadcasters such as Greater Media, Lincoln Financial Media and others. Emmis Interactive Inc. is an Emmis Communications Company. For more information about Emmis Interactive, visit emmisinteractive.com.

For further information: Martin Tremblay, Interactive Content and Sales Manager, Astral Media Radio, [phone], [email protected]; Christopher Campbell, Director of Marketing, Emmis Interactive, [phone], [email protected]