The official launch of Internet Explorer 3.0 is August 13, 1996 at 6 a.m. Pacific Time. Hollywood Online is one of a select group of high-profile companies that provide free content offers for ActiveX. Additionally, there are more than 20 new "Activated" Web sites which will feature ActiveX technologies.

"Explore Hollywood" includes five entertainment sections:

• Game Zone - users can play custom-created, entertainment themed games featuring action-adventure, sports such as golf and hockey, and cards.
  
• Explore Backstage - a behind-the-scenes look at high profile motion picture and television productions.
  
• Promotions - opportunities for users to participate in promotions and win entertainment-related prizes.
  
• Premieres - users can experience a movie premiere with candid soundbites and photos, and other "inside" coverage.
  
• Explorer Sites - links to the hottest authorized Internet Explorer 3.0 based-sites.

Game Zone and Explore Backstage will be accessible only to visitors using the Internet Explorer 3.0 browser; while Premieres and Explorer Sites will be available to all Web users. Promotions will be available to users of Internet Explorer 3.0 via the Web and to users of other browsers through a mail-in program. Hollywood Online will allow users to immediately download the Internet Explorer 3.0 Browser software.

"We are creating compelling interactive multimedia content that, in a powerful way, extols the features and capabilities of Internet Explorer 3.0 and ActiveX technology," noted Anthony Farwell, president of Hollywood Online. "The content in our 'Explore Hollywood' area reinforces the benefits of Internet Explorer 3.0 while delivering an exciting new extension of our Web site."

ActiveX components will allow Hollywood Online to create content which is capable of fully exploiting the Microsoft Win32(R) application programming interface (API) and the full capabilities of Windows(R) operating system-based computers. These interactive applications will resemble CD-ROM-based multimedia rather than the traditional text-based Web page.

"As a premier Web site for Internet Explorer 3.0, Hollywood Online will have the development support from Microsoft to design content for the latest generation of Web browsers, HTML standards and the rich features of third-party browser plug-in programs," said Bill Gates, chairman and CEO of Microsoft.

In addition to providing a comprehensive array of online entertainment information for consumers, Hollywood Online offers turnkey creative, design, production and distribution services for the world's leading motion picture studios, television networks and record labels. Hollywood Online has produced and distributed more than 100 interactive online information sites for major motion pictures. Hollywood Online received the prestigious CLIO Award for its work on "Forrest Gump" (Paramount). Some of its most popular multimedia promotions have included "Independence Day" (Twentieth Century Fox), "GoldenEye" (MGM/UA), "The Birdcage" (MGM/UA), "The American President" (Castle Rock/Columbia), "The Mask" (New Line) and "The Usual Suspects" (Gramercy).