Interactive One Names Mike Rich, Former GM of AOL Entertainment, Its Chief Product and Operating Officer

NEW YORK, July 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Interactive One, LLC the digital connection for Black America and the digital division of Radio One, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROIAK and ROIA), the largest African American multimedia company, today announced that former AOL Product and Programming Executive, Mike Rich, will join Interactive One as its Chief Product and Operating Officer.  Mr. Rich will drive the direction and strategy for Interactive One's network of sites and brands.  Additionally, he will help lead a differentiated multi-platform digital offering across radio, video and mobile in partnership with Interactive One's parent company, Radio One.  

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"We are excited to have Mike join the team and leverage his background to enhance our users' experience and to build upon our strong growth and success," said Thomas Newman, President of Interactive One.  "We have a very large and highly engaged member base and we look forward to seeing Mike apply his proven talents to build upon our existing products and to create new offerings online and across mobile, video and other platforms."

Rich comes to Interactive One from AOL, where as SVP and GM of AOL Entertainment, he oversaw interactive product strategy, management, marketing, editorial, audience development and syndication for AOL's flagship properties including AOL Music.  Under his leadership, AOL Music grew to be the #1 music destination and maintained its status from 2007-2009.  Additionally, Rich was responsible for AOL BlackVoices, Moviefone, AOL Radio, AOL Latino, and AOL Studios which produced original high quality video content for AOL's suite of sites.  Rich was honored by Hollywood Reporter as part of their 2009 Digital Power 50 list of executives leading the digital media industry.

"I am thrilled to join the Interactive One team and to further expand the opportunities for the current and future audience, so that they can enrich their lives with a compelling product and content experience," said Mike Rich.  "Radio One and Interactive One have built a truly cross-platform media company that is well-positioned to take advantage of the growth of digital on all platforms including mobile and next generation IP connected products."  

ABOUT INTERACTIVE ONE

Interactive One has over 15 million members and reaches 7 million Black Americans each month. With approximately 4 billion annual page views on its suite of sites, the Company has become the definitive social network for Black America through BlackPlanet, as well as a number of leading content sites.  These sites include: NewsOne (http://www.newsone.com), which provides up to the minute, comprehensive coverage of newsworthy events relevant to African Americans across the country and the world through syndicated news, original news reports, local content and opinion blogs from some of the most provocative minds in Black America; TheUrbanDaily (www.TheUrbanDaily.com), which serves as the eyes and ears for African Americans looking for a one-stop, comprehensive destination for entertainment news, information, gossip and opinion and original celebrity interviews; HelloBeautiful (www.HelloBeautiful.com), which celebrates the lives and style of African American women with a dynamic daily mix of fashion, beauty, entertainment and relationship content; and Elev8 (www.Elev8.com) which is a personal empowerment website dedicated to uplifting and enriching the lives of African Americans by offering services, tools, information and community.

Interactive One was launched by Radio One in 2008 to complement Radio One's existing portfolio of media companies targeting the African American community. Since its launch, Interactive One has quickly become the #1 online platform for the African American community.  Interactive One is powered by the mission to create an online community that engages and positively impacts the lives of African Americans.

ABOUT RADIO ONE

Radio One, Inc. (www.radio-one.com) is a diversified media company that primarily targets African-American and urban consumers. The Company is one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies, currently owning 53 broadcast stations located in 16 urban markets in the United States. As a part of its core broadcasting business, Radio One operates syndicated programming including the Russ Parr Morning Show, the Yolanda Adams Morning Show, the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, CoCo Brother Live, CoCo Brother's "Spirit" program, Bishop T.D. Jakes' "Empowering Moments", the Reverend Al Sharpton Show, and the Warren Ballentine Show. The Company also owns a controlling interest in Reach Media, Inc. (www.blackamericaweb.com), owner of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and other businesses associated with Tom Joyner. Beyond its core radio broadcasting business, Radio One owns Interactive One (www.interactiveone.com), an online platform serving the African-American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment, which operates a number of branded sites, including NewsOne, TheUrbanDaily, HelloBeautiful, and social networks BlackPlanet, MiGente, and AsianAvenue and an interest in TV One, LLC (www.tvoneonline.com), a cable/satellite network programming primarily to African-Americans.

SOURCE Interactive One, LLC