Fisher Communications Launches 43 Hyperlocal Seattle Neighborhood Web Sites to Serve Local Communities and Advertisers

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - August 17, 2009) - Fisher Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSCI)
today announced that it has launched a network of 43 hyperlocal
neighborhood Web sites in the Seattle market, increasing local content
offerings and expanding advertising opportunities for local businesses.
The hyperlocal sites bring together KOMO television's valuable content and
DataSphere Technologies' new LocalNet service, an online platform that
provides technology, advertising and sales solutions.

This extensive network of Web sites will be the largest hyperlocal system
in any one region in the country. The sites are designed to provide local
communities with the best source of information about the news, events,
entertainment and personalities relevant to their day-to-day lives. The new
sites include BallardKOMO.com, BellevueKOMO.com and 41 others. A complete
list of the sites can be found at http://www.komonews.com/communities.

"These sites further integrate KOMO News into the fabric of the
neighborhoods of Seattle," said Fisher Seattle Vice President and General
Manager Jim Clayton. "They will provide KOMO News with an excellent
opportunity to build relationships with small local businesses and enhance
the timeliness and breadth of our news gathering operations."

To support its hyperlocal Web sites, KOMO will restructure its Seattle
newsroom to effectively and efficiently capture and post community news on
a real-time basis. Local stories and breaking news that KOMO reporters
cover on a daily basis will be complemented with user generated content,
and also with content provided through an innovative partnership with
Windermere Real Estate, a company with local knowledge and strong presence
in each community.

Fisher's President and CEO Colleen B. Brown explained, "As consumers are
increasingly tapping into social and digital media platforms for their news
and information, we are implementing our strategic plan and adapting
initiatives and content offerings to match these changing industry
dynamics." She added, "We are using our rich broadcast heritage as the
foundation for our 'broadcast to broadband' initiative in order to provide
cost efficient relevant information to our audience and more targeted
messaging for our advertisers."

Troy McGuire, vice president of news and general manager of Fisher
Interactive Network, said, "We believe we have differentiated our
hyperlocal program from others by developing an innovative content
development strategy and an ability to rapidly monetize our program."

The new sites are the first example of DataSphere Technologies' new
LocalNet service, which provides TV broadcasters and other local media
companies with the opportunity to take advantage of powerful existing
brands and communication channels to build relevant and valuable online
assets. LocalNet is a complete solution to address the local small
business advertising market, including not only technology but also a
seasoned, professional sales team. New clients can be up and running
within weeks.

"Fisher Communications is a true leader in the extension of traditional
media to the online world," said Satbir Khanuja, CEO of DataSphere
Technologies. "We are thrilled to be working closely with them. Our
solution provides an exciting vision for companies seeking to grow their
online revenue without a substantial technology or sales force investment."

This latest collaboration between Fisher and DataSphere builds on Fisher's
earlier adoption of DataSphere's Search and Discovery for Media. The
original implementation resulted in an increase in search driven page views
of more than 5 times and more than a 25% increase in gross Web site revenue
within the first 3 months.

Fisher expects to launch similar platforms in its other markets, beginning
with Portland later this fall. In addition, Fisher and DataSphere
anticipate distributing the technology and sales solution to other
broadcast companies looking to establish hyperlocal sites.

NOTE: KOMO has produced three 30-second videos to promote the Company's
hyperlocal Web sites. The videos can be found at
http://communities.komonews.com/content/komo-communities.

About Fisher Communications, Inc.

Fisher Communications, Inc. is a Seattle-based communications company that
owns and operates 13 full power television stations (including a 50%-owned
television station), 7 low power television stations, and 8 radio stations
(in addition to 2 radio stations not owned by the Company but for which the
Company provides programming or sales services) in the Western United
States. The Company also owns and operates Fisher Interactive Network, its
online division; Fisher Pathways, a satellite and fiber transmission
provider; and Fisher Plaza, a media, telecommunications, and data center
facility located near downtown Seattle. For more information about Fisher
Communications, Inc., go to www.fsci.com.

About DataSphere

DataSphere Technologies, Inc. (http://www.DataSphere.com) is a Software as
a Service (SaaS) Web technology and hyperlocal ad sales company focused on
generating online profits for media companies. DataSphere offers a range of
turnkey solutions to rapidly improve site monetization and experience with
minimal investment of time and money.

DataSphere is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, USA and led by a team
of Internet veterans with backgrounds from Amazon.com, IMDb, Microsoft,
RealNetworks and AltaVista.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements. We have based these
forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections
about future events. Forward-looking statements include information
preceded by, followed by, or that includes the words "guidance,"
"believes," "expects," "anticipates," or "could," or similar expressions.
For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor
for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in
this news release, concerning, among other things, changes in revenue, cash
flow and operating expenses, involve risks and uncertainties, and are
subject to change based on various important factors, including the impact
of changes in national and regional economies, our ability to service and
refinance our outstanding debt, successful integration of acquired
television stations (including achievement of synergies and cost
reductions), pricing fluctuations in local and national advertising, future
regulatory actions and conditions in the television stations' operating
areas, competition from others in the broadcast television markets served
by the Company, volatility in programming costs, the effects of
governmental regulation of broadcasting, industry consolidation,
technological developments and major world news events. Unless required by
law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the
forward-looking events discussed in this news release might not occur. You
should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date of this release. For more details on factors that
could affect these expectations, please see the risk factors in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as updated by the
risk factors contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2009, both of which we have filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.