NETZERO ANNOUNCES NEW "NETZERO PROFESSIONAL" PAY SERVICE;
KEEPS THE INTERNET FREE FOR EVERYONE

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., December 21, 2000 - NetZero, Inc. (Nasdaq: NZRO), a leading provider of Internet access services and targeted marketing solutions, announced today the launch of "NetZero Professional," a new service plan aimed at small business, professional and other members whose household usage exceeds 40 hours in a single calendar month. Beginning in January 2001, households and businesses that exceed the 40-hour threshold will have the option to pay $9.95 to allow them unlimited usage for the remainder of the calendar month.

NetZero believes the NetZero Professional service plan will impact only a small percentage of its user base. Of the NetZero members who used NetZero's free Internet access service throughout the month of November 2000, approximately 12% spent more than 40 hours online. This small percentage of users accounted for over 50% of NetZero's telecommunications costs during November. NetZero's goal is that all of its users, whether they have paid for additional access time or not, continue to receive quality services and high call-completion rates.

The plan applies only in the specific month in which a household exceeds the 40 hours of free access. Accordingly, a household who paid $9.95 in one month would not pay any fees in subsequent months if their usage stays below the 40 hours that NetZero offers free to all of its users. Also, if a household elects not to pay a fee when they reach the 40 hour limit during a month, their account will not be terminated and they can begin accessing the service for free at the beginning of the next month.

"Our introduction of the NetZero Professional service is designed to help balance the load between the typical recreational consumer and the heavy user," said Mark R. Goldston, Chairman and CEO of NetZero. "We have recently experienced phenomenal member growth as many of our competitors have closed their doors, and we remain committed to providing free Internet access to the vast majority of consumers who use the Internet recreationally and on a limited basis.

"A very small group of NetZero members - who we have designated as 'professional users' - account for an inordinately large percentage of our overall telecommunication costs," Goldston continued. "This new service plan is intended to enable us to continue to provide unlimited Internet access to these professional users without impacting our ability to provide the same high-quality, free Internet access to the other NetZero members who are online with us less than 40 hours per month."

About NetZero
NetZero, Inc. is a leading provider of targeted advertising- and commerce-supported Internet access offering a broad range of interactive marketing, research and measurement solutions. NetZero offers consumers free access to the Internet, free e-mail and customizable navigation tools that provide "speed dial" to key sites on the Internet. Through proprietary technologies, such as its zCast, NetZero offers advertisers unique targeting capabilities through numerous online advertising and sponsorship channels. The company's CyberTarget division offers marketers and advertisers mass-scale, online market research and measurement services. NetZero is a Cisco Powered Network, offering its access services to more than 7 million registered users in more than 5,000 cities across North America. For more information, please visit www.netzero.net. To obtain a CD, please call 1-800-DEFENDER.

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, NetZero's ability to scale its business and to maintain the quality of its services; potential problems or delays associated with new product introductions, including the Professional service product; its unproven business model and limited operating history; the company's ability to grow its user base, generate advertising revenues and decrease telecommunications costs; the effects of competition for users and advertisers; the loss of key customers; technological problems or developments; and governmental regulation. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in the company's Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov) including (without limitation) information under the captions "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors." NetZero™, Defenders of the Free World™, the NetZero logo, zCast™ and The ZeroPort™ are trademarks of NetZero, Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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Press Contact:
Peter Delgrosso
NetZero, Inc.
617/573-5135
pdelgrosso@corp.netzero.net

Liz Gengl
NetZero, Inc.
805/418-2076
egengl@corp.netzero.net


Investor Relations Contact:
Brent Zimmerman
NetZero, Inc.
805/418-2350
bzimmerman@corp.netzero.net