Reel.com Teams Up With PlanetOut; Partnership Creates the Definitive Source for Gay and Lesbian Films

Business Wire, Nov 13, 1998

EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1998--Reel.com Inc., (http://www.reel.com), the leading online movie store and subsidiary of Hollywood Entertainment Corp. (Nasdaq:HLYW), dba Hollywood Video, today announced an exclusive commerce partnership with PlanetOut (http://www.planetout.com), the leading worldwide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender online community.

Fans of PlanetOut's PopcornQ movie guide will now be one click away from online shopping and access to Reel.com's large selection, unbeatable prices, and expert movie advice.

"PlanetOut is the esteemed and celebrated online destination for the worldwide gay, lesbian, and transgender community," stated Julie Wainwright, chief executive officer of Reel.com. "PlanetOut's PopcornQ has grown to be an important, trusted, and indispensable movie resource for this community. Reel.com is thrilled to add its vast selection of titles, great prices, and movie expertise to PopcornQ."

According to the partnership agreement, links to Reel.com will be integrated into PlanetOut's PopcornQ area, the acclaimed film and video section that features a host of movie reviews, allowing easy access to the online movie store's vast selection and additional services. PlanetOut users will also be able to access Reel.com from the PlanetOut home page, the shopping area of the site, banner advertising, and prominent logo positioning throughout the site.

Reel.com will be included in the PlanetOut Direct weekly e-newsletter sent to over 85,000 subscribers and on PNOradio (PlanetOut's Internet radio channel). In addition, PlanetOut will feature special offers from Reel.com on promotional fliers distributed at PlanetOut sponsored off-line events, such as Gay & Lesbian community events and live Webcastings/cybercasts from a variety of events, including Sundance Film Festival, as well as other film festivals and music awards.

"PopcornQ is one of the most popular areas on the PlanetOut site, so we had to be very careful selecting an e-commerce partner that would not only compliment our valued editorial coverage but also meet the high editorial standards of our readers," stated Megan Smith, president and chief executive officer of PlanetOut.

"We chose Reel.com because they excel in each of those areas, in addition to their terrific customer service record and capacity for rapid growth. Bottom line, they're the leading online video store with an incredible selection of movie titles at extremely competitive prices."

PlanetOut shoppers who enter through the electronic doors of Reel.com's online video store are just a click away from 100,000 VHS movie titles and 2,200 DVDs, with the guaranteed best prices on the Internet. Reel.com also offers its visitors a wealth of movie information, such as complete director, actor and actress filmographies, as well as cast and credit information.

In addition, all movie references are linked to overview pages that are developed by Reel.com's staff of more than 40 writers whose expertise and knowledge of film extends to all film genres. The movie overview pages include "Reel Snapshots," 30-word descriptions crafted to touch on the film's theme and overall look-and-feel, and "Movies at a Glance," a chart that scores the movie's basic anatomy such as how much suspense, violence, and action in a particular film.

The writers also provide "Movie Matches," a listing of films that share similar profiles and themes with the movie selected.

About Reel.com Inc.

Reel.com (http://www.reel.com) is the leading Internet-based movie store offering over 100,000 VHS and 2,200 DVD titles for sale. Reel.com also features proprietary editorial content to help customers select movies. The staff of writers for the site includes film school graduates, video store veterans, screen writers, and scores of other film experts.

Reel.com's current Internet partners include Excite, @Home Network, Celebsite, Chicago Sun Times, E! Online, Film.com, Movieline, Mr. Showbiz, Turner Home Entertainment, TV Guide Entertainment Network, and Yahoo!

Reel.com is a subsidiary of Hollywood Entertainment Corp. (Nasdaq:HLYW), dba Hollywood Video, the second largest video store chain in the United States, with over 1,100 stores in 42 states.

Note to Editors: For more information on Reel.com, please contact Pamela Coddington at 510/549-3333 ext. 221 or pamelac@reel.com.

For more information on PlanetOut.com, please contact Megan Smith or Tom Rielly at 415/547-2800 ext. 329 or 360, or megan@planetout.com or tom@planetout.com.