RealNetworks Names Mike Lunsford Executive Vice President, Music, Media, and Technology Solutions

SEATTLE, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Digital entertainment services company RealNetworks, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK) announced today that Mike Lunsford has been named executive vice president of the Technology Products and Solutions and Media Software and Services divisions of the company.  In addition, Mr. Lunsford will continue to oversee Rhapsody America, the company's digital music joint venture with MTV Networks.  

In his prior role as executive vice president of strategic ventures, Mr. Lunsford was responsible for directing the strategy and operations for Rhapsody America.  Before joining Real in 2008, Mr. Lunsford held a number of senior roles over eight years at EarthLink, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELNK), including interim president and CEO.  Mr. Lunsford also served on the Board of Directors of Helio, a joint venture between EarthLink and SK Telecom.

"Mike is a results-oriented business leader, and we are fortunate to have him take on this expanded role during this critical time at RealNetworks," said Bob Kimball, president and acting CEO.  "With his deep and broad corporate leadership experience and significant experience in wireless and broadband communications, Mike is the ideal executive to take responsibility for managing the growth and profitability of these businesses."

"The senior management team is united in its sense of urgency to deliver profitable growth and create shareholder value," said Mr. Lunsford.  "I am excited to help Bob lead the company through this next stage.  We have a fantastic group of employees that will accomplish great things in the coming months and years."

ABOUT REALNETWORKS

RealNetworks, Inc. delivers digital entertainment services to consumers via PC, portable music player, home entertainment system or mobile phone. Real created the streaming media category in 1995 and has continued to lead the market with pioneering products and services, including: RealPlayer, the first mainstream media player to enable one-click downloading and recording of Internet video; the award-winning Rhapsody® digital music service, which delivers more than 1 billion songs per year; RealArcade®, one of the largest casual games destinations on the Web; and a variety of mobile entertainment services, such as ringback tones, offered to consumers through leading wireless carriers around the world. RealNetworks' corporate information is located at www.realnetworks.com/company.

RealNetworks, RealPlayer, Rhapsody and RealArcade are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.  

SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.