Search Engine Giant Yahoo! Reveals the Year's Top Searches

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--Dec. 29, 2003-- Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - News), a leading global Internet company, today revealed the most popular search terms of 2003. Based on insight into searches conducted by Yahoo! Search's millions of users worldwide, the top searches of 2003 are a benchmark of consumer interests and trends this year.

Find the full list of top searches in 2003 including Top Rumors, Arnold Schwarzenegger Misspellings and more at http://search.yahoo.com/top2003.

The Yahoo! 2003 Top 10 Searches:

1. KaZaa
2. Harry Potter
3. "American Idol"
4. Britney Spears
5. 50 Cent
6. Eminem
7. WWE
8. Paris Hilton
9. NASCAR
10. Christina Aguilera

Music and multimedia continue to dominate America's online mindshare as KaZaa, the most popular peer-to-peer file-sharing program, took first place followed by a spate of pop singers. The world's favorite wizard, Harry Potter took honors as the second most popular search term for the year, whizzing up from No. 10 in 2002 and beating out heavy-hitters such as Britney Spears and "American Idol".

Erik Gunther, an editor of Yahoo! Search, points out that three of this years' top searches -- Harry Potter, Britney Spears and WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), have held spots in Yahoo!'s Top 10 for three years in a row, but notes several new entries.

"The newcomers to the Yahoo! Search Top Searches of 2003 continue to show the strength of breakouts from year to year. This year's newcomers include Paris Hilton -- buoyed by notoriety and a reality TV show -- and Christina Aguilera, who has made the list after several years in the shadow of Ms. Spears."

Shaking It up with the Movers

Unlike top searches overall, the topics that see the greatest surge in searches often give insight into the news headlines and events that captivated the public throughout the year. These search terms often come out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly.

"The top movers of the year often provide us with a picture of a particular moment in time. This year, we saw the highest spike in searches on the news of Space Shuttle Columbia, with searches surging 190,000% in February," said Gunther. "We also continue to see people flocking to search engines to find the latest news. For example, with the sudden passing of David Bloom, an NBC news anchor, and continuous online video coverage of the war in Iraq, we saw a large spike in searches for Bloom making him the top mover in April."


Yahoo! Search Top 10 Reality TV Shows

The year 2003 continued with the reality show craze. Yahoo! searchers named "American Idol" to the top spot for the second year in a row, beating out perennial favorite "Survivor" as well as the surprising strength of the cast of characters on "Paradise Hotel". And, making an appearance as the only TV show not about contests, "Trading Spaces" made the list at #7 in a strong finish for the show favored by "nesters" and other design and decorating aficionados.
1. "American Idol"
2. "Survivor"
3. "Joe Millionaire"
4. "Paradise Hotel"
5. "Bachelor"
6. "Big Brother"
7. "Trading Spaces"
8. "Bachelorette"
9. "For Love Or Money"
10. "American Juniors"

Yahoo! Search Top 10 Diets

Thanks to more research demonstrating its effectiveness, the low-carb diet gained credibility this year while helping thousands lose pounds. The granddaddy of all low-carb diets, the Atkins Diet, continues to rule online, and its popularity shows no sign of waning despite the death of Dr Robert Atkins this year.
1. Atkins Diet
2. Weight Watchers Diet
3. South Beach Diet
4. The Zone Diet
5. Jenny Craig Diet
6. Slim Fast Diet
7. Cabbage Soup Diet
8. Mayo Clinic Diet
9. Grapefruit Diet
10. Sugar Busters

Yahoo! Search Top Technologies

This year's number one technology search was on ringtones, showing the strength of the musical service that allows users to customize their mobile phone rings. Ringtones beat out digital cameras for the top spot.
1. Ringtones
2. Digital Cameras
3. Mobile Phones
4. HDTV
5. MP3 Players
6. iPod
7. TiVo
8. Plasma TV
9. DVD-R
10. Camcorders

About Yahoo!

Yahoo! Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive online products and services to consumers and businesses worldwide. Yahoo! is the No. 1 Internet brand globally and the most trafficked Internet destination worldwide. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Yahoo!'s global network includes 25 World properties and is available in 13 languages.

Yahoo! and the Yahoo! logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.