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Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video Introduce PowerPlay(TM) to Deliver Extraordinary Rental Value and Convenience

Posted on: Monday, 16 March 2009, 08:38 CDT

WILSONVILLE, Ore., March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Existing movie rental plans simply aren't cutting it -- according to a recent survey by Movie Gallery, Inc., Americans expect more from movie and video game rental subscription services. In response, Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video are introducing PowerPlay(TM), a convenient movie and video game subscription service that offers the least expensive rentals in the industry, with no due dates or late fees. PowerPlay makes it easy for customers to rent what they want, when they want it, from an enormous selection of titles - an experience that online services and kiosks just can't provide.

The survey revealed a number of interesting home-based entertainment insights:

• More than 40 percent of respondents who subscribe to an existing movie subscription service have complaints, including: there are too many rules, they forget they have the movie at home, the service is not convenient, or they don't see the value.
• Half of all adults indicate that their entertainment budget has decreased due to the economy. However, people plan to increase spending on activities such as family nights at home, playing board games, renting movies, and playing video games.
• People don't always get around to watching movies immediately: 53 percent of movie and video rental subscribers would like to have credit for extended periods when they don't watch or rent a movie.

"PowerPlay is the most significant in-store customer offering in the movie and game rental industry since the introduction of 5-day rentals in the late '90's," said Clifford Torng, chief marketing officer, Movie Gallery, Inc. "Kiosks and online services have a place in our industry, but our new subscription service offers unprecedented pricing, convenience and selection that can only be delivered in-store. Many people still crave the immediate availability of the newest releases, or being able to choose just the right film from a wide selection and take it home right away. Often, they count on the knowledge of our associates to simplify that experience."

PowerPlay Overview

With PowerPlay, customers save money on all types of rentals including library movies for just $2.00, $3.00 new releases, Blu-ray DVDs for $4.00, and $5.00 video games. There are no late fees or due dates on any movie rentals, which makes PowerPlay a better value than any other service in the marketplace. Another unique feature of PowerPlay is that customers can carry over unused points from one month to the next, ensuring that they get maximum value from their membership plan.

Movie and video game enthusiasts can take advantage of PowerPlay by signing up at their local Movie Gallery or Hollywood Video store, which feature thousands of titles. Customers simply select the plan that works best for them. They receive a monthly allotment of points for movie and video game rentals based on the plan they join. There is no membership card required - points are automatically redeemed at the register the same as cash for any rentals. PowerPlay members also receive discounts on other items throughout the store such as concessions.

Additional Survey Findings

I Want to Rent a Movie and a Video Game ... and I Want Them Now

For many people, there is nothing like going to a store, browsing movie titles and video games and walking out with that night's entertainment. According to the survey, of the 74 percent of respondents who rent movies, almost half prefer going to the store and actually interacting with a human being. Among people who have "On Demand" television service, about four out of five indicate it does not always have what they are looking for.

They Aren't Giving Me What I Expect

One in three movie rental service subscribers surveyed say they have wanted to watch a movie in their queue, but couldn't because it was delayed in the mail. For those companies who tout the convenience of having movies delivered right to the home, this is a major problem. Additional issues cited by other movie rental service subscribers include getting a video that was not at the top of their queue or getting a video they did not order.

Survey Methodology

The Affordable Entertainment Survey was conducted by telephone interviews February 12-15, 2009 by Opinion Research Corporation, among a sample of 1,006 adults 18 and older. The margin of error is 95% confidence level and is +/- 3% for the entire sample.

About Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video

Movie Gallery is the second largest North American video and game rental company with 3,789 stores located in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, operating under the brands Movie Gallery, Hollywood Video and Game Crazy. Since Movie Gallery's initial public offering in August 1994, the Company has grown from 97 stores to its present size through acquisitions and new store openings. For more information about the Company, please visit our website: www.moviegallery.com.

Media Contacts: Jenn DeBarge Goonan, jgoonan@coneinc.com/617.939.8383 Jennifer Newberg, jnewberg@coneinc.com/617.939.8359

SOURCE Movie Gallery, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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