Single Topic, Affordable "Take Charge Parenting Guides" at Target, Wal-Mart, Costco Deliver Dr. Spock Experts to Next Generation of Parents

Menlo Park, CA — July 10, 2002 - The Dr. Spock Company, the leading parenting media company, today announced the development of a new series of books with Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, the publishing arm of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA). The partnership launches a new phase of the relationship that began 59 years ago between the prominent book publisher and the late, world-renowned pediatrician. The "Take Charge Parenting Guides" will be the first book-publishing effort authored by a new group of Spock-inspired parenting experts. The series will duplicate the affordable mass-market distribution model that made Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care a monumental bestseller, selling more than 50 million copies worldwide. The new series of books will be sold across the nation in major retail stores such as Costco, Wal-Mart and Target, as well as in more traditional bookstores.

The first book to hit the shelves, in winter 2002, will be Dr. Spock's Baby Basics, by pediatrician Robert Needlman and will provide parents with the insights and practical advice they need on such fundamentals as sleeping, eating, hygiene, toilet training, and comforting. Dr. Spock's Pregnancy Guide, by obstetrician Marjorie Greenfield, which will be released in spring 2003, takes expectant parents through the exciting journey of pregnancy and birth month by month. Safety & First Aid for Babies and Toddlers, by pediatrician K. Lynn Cates, is a thorough, step-by-step handbook that parents will turn to again and again. It will be added to the series in fall 2003.

"For time-starved parents on the go, like my wife and myself, these guides are indispensable," said Doug Lee, president and CEO of The Dr. Spock Company. "The easy-to-access, expert-driven information directly addresses the needs of a younger generation of parents."

"With Dr. Spock we see a branded-content franchise, and we are thrilled to extend our legacy partnership with them," said Louise Burke, executive vice president and publisher of Pocket Books. "We are excited about this category because of the potential we see in high-volume sales for the genre."

About Pocket Books
Pocket Books is a division of Simon & Schuster, the publishing operation of Viacom Inc. Pocket Books is available on the Internet at http://www.simonsays.com.

About The Dr. Spock Company
The Dr. Spock Company is a leading parenting media and merchandising company serving active and involved parents. The Company embodies the strength and identity of world-renowned pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock, providing parents with the latest expert content from today's leading authorities in parenting and children's health, as well as a diverse line of related branded products. Expert information is delivered across a broad range of media including print, television, and online media. The Dr. Spock Company is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, and has 14 employees and a national network of 60 doctors and other experts.