Crutchfield - North America's electronics authority since 1974

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (May 2, 2006) — Crutchfield, one of the nation's premier direct integrated marketers of consumer electronic products, is on a full-speed breakaway toward 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP GERMANY�. Bigger than the Super Bowl� and the Winter Olympics, this year's World Cup� will be the most-watched sporting event in the world, and for the first time it will be aired in high definition in the United States. With this in mind, Crutchfield continues to develop its Spanish-language web site at www.crutchfieldenespanol.com to ensure that its Spanish-speaking customers will be able to enjoy the World Cup� games in HDTV.

With more than 40 million Spanish-speaking people living in the United States, including some of the most knowledgeable and dedicated soccer fans in the world, U. S. viewer ship of this year's World Cup� is expected to reach record numbers. Crutchfieldenespanol.com, which offers more Spanish content online than any other consumer electronics retailer, brings Spanish speakers the unique and impeccable product information and customer service Crutchfield has delivered for more than 32 years.

This year, with the games being broadcast in high-definition for the first time on ABC, ESPN HD, and ESPN2 HD, millions of soccer fans here in America will be able to watch every minute of their premier event unfold in unparalleled viewing quality. Soccer remains the world's favorite sport, played by over 240 million players on 1.4 million teams throughout the world. The FIFA World Cup� has the biggest television audience of any sports event in the world. During World Cup 2002, a cumulative audience of over 1 billion people in 215 countries watched the matches. The estimated cumulative audience for the 2006 event is expected to be in excess of 32 billion hours of television viewing. Millions of those expected viewers will be Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S.

"According to the Consumer Electronics Association, nearly 50% of HDTV buyers cite high-definition sports programming as their primary motivation for upgrading their old analog television to an HDTV," said Steve Kindig, senior home audio/video editor at Crutchfield. "Major sporting events like the Olympics and the Super Bowl� present perfect opportunities to get the latest in viewing technology, and with the upcoming World Cup� games to be broadcast in high-def for the first time, Crutchfield is stocking up on some of the best HDTVs on the market."

Shopping for a new HDTV is now even easier with Crutchfield's own TV Fit Finder�. The TV Fit Finder�, available through Crutchfield.com and Crutchfieldenespanol.com, enables consumers seeking a new television to quickly and easily identify every television that will fit within their existing entertainment center.

"Crutchfield's Spanish-speaking Sales Advisors, who are available by phone, email, and online chat, will ensure that customers buy the right HDTV for his or her needs, and that the HDTV is in their home, installed, working properly, and delivering HD-quality colors and realistic images well in advance of the June 9, 2006 start. Acting now will ensure that on game day your favorite striker will be captured in 'striking' detail," Kindig added.

World Cup matches are currently scheduled to commence on June 9, 2006 and wrap up on July 9, 2006.

About Crutchfield Corporation

Crutchfield Corporation, which celebrated its 32nd anniversary in 2006, is one of the premier direct integrated marketers (catalog, call center, and Internet) of consumer electronics products. Since its introduction in 1974, the Crutchfield catalog has been a respected authority on car and home entertainment products, winning several awards for quality, design, and usefulness. Crutchfield's Sales and Technical Advisors, the core of Crutchfield's commitment to superior customer service, are noted for their high integrity, product expertise, and technical support. They are available by phone, e-mail, and live online chat. Crutchfield.com offers a convenient, full-service shopping destination to buyers of car and home audio/video products. CrutchfieldAdvisor.com is an all-information web site that serves as a single comprehensive source about consumer electronics. Crutchfield was the first vendor-authorized audio/video retailer on the Internet and is one of only three retailers to have won BizRate's coveted "Circle of Excellence" award six times.