This statement seemed very familiar to me. So I did a little digging and found that the first two paragraphs of the last post were lifted right off of Maitreya's website at this page:
http://www.shareintl.org/media/newsmedia.htm

If you look at the "last updated" date at the bottom of the page you will see that this page was last edited on 19 Oct 1999, which is about when I last remember seeing this. This is not exactly news, folks.

Also, regarding the Art Bell show, Art recently said (on the Kathleen Keeting show, I think) that he was offered the interview, but that there was no way he was going to interview him.

I'm not here to knock the idea that he is the Antichrist (I think that it's a possibility), but you all should know that this "major network" interview has not materialized in the last year and a half, as was stated on the Share Intl. page.

: A major American television network has requested an interview
: with Maitreya, which he has accepted. This interview will
: take place at the earliest possible moment, to be
: determined by Maitreya. It is believed that the timing is
: relative to the global financial collapse Maitreya

: predicted and which is now coming to pass.

: It is unlikely that Share International or any of its
: affiliated groups worldwide will have any prior
: notification of the time of this interview. However, once
: it has taken place, all pertinent details will be posted to
: this web site. This interview is expected to be followed by
: major network interviews in Japan and most probably in the
: UK, which will lead to an international press conference
: and, ultimately, Maitreya's 'Day of Declaration.'

: The above post came from another e-Group to which I belong.

: Last July, I heard Benjamin Creme announced this on the Art
: Bell Show, and so it appears it may come to pass. Recently,
: Art Bell was suppose to have the Maitreya on his show too,
: but the date has not yet been set. On the Maitrey's
: website, he promised "to come soon."