PLAYGIRL Expands Brand With New Business Ventures

PLAYGIRL Expands Brand With New Business Ventures

NEW YORK, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- PLAYGIRL, the leader in adult entertainment for women since 1973, has taken the brand in a new direction. Certain that women's interest in adult entertainment is growing steadily, PLAYGIRL has entered new consumer venues and partnered with established industry leaders to introduce the brand to a wider, more contemporary audience beyond the traditional newsstand.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030102/PLAYGIRLLOGO )

"PLAYGIRL is a valuable commodity so we thought strategically about how to develop each venture," said Mark Graff, President of Trans Digital Media LLC, PLAYGIRL'S parent company and founder of Spice Channel. "To sustain our reputation as a favorite among women worldwide, our goal was to expand into new media outlets and to form new partnerships that would reach as many women as possible --- in as many forms as possible. In just one year we've tapped into many new markets and predict continued expansion."

Cable TV and Home Video

In July 2004, PLAYGIRL TV launched the first adult entertainment programming for women, featuring erotic vignettes, "how-to" segments, sex advice and programs based on already popular features from the magazine. Major cable systems and hotels worldwide are already airing PLAYGIRL TV. It is available 24 hours per day in over 8 million homes and hotel rooms via video- on-demand and pay-per-view. This spring, PLAYGIRL TV will be available in Europe and South America.

PLAYGIRL TV is planning a series of pay-per-view specials for 2005. The first, PLAYGIRL TV'S CENTERFOLD SEARCH LAS VEGAS has already had a successful run on iN Demand Pay-Per-View, distributed nationally to nearly 40 million homes. Three additional specials are currently in production and will be distributed later this year.

Partnering with leaders in adult entertainment has also been a key element in PLAYGIRL's business plan. PLAYGIRL HOME VIDEO will be distributed by Wicked Pictures, one of the largest distributors of adult videos in the world. "The Playgirl brand is one of the strongest names in adult entertainment," said Steve Orenstein, President and Owner of wicked Pictures. "PLAYGIRL HOME VIDEO will satisfy the increasing demand for adult entertainment for women." Wicked will distribute feature programming from the TV channel in addition to new material shot just for this market. The DVD collection will be available worldwide in early summer.

Licensing

PLAYGIRL is partnering with Pipedream Products, the leading international manufacturer of adult toys, to create and manufacture a fun, sophisticated line of adult playthings and novelties. "The PLAYGIRL name is known worldwide," said Nick Orlandino, COO of Pipedream. "It's a natural to create a line of adult novelties under the PLAYGIRL banner." The PLAYGIRL SIGNATURE COLLECTION, available in retail outlets worldwide this summer, will offer a full range of products including massage oils, vibrators, and lubricants.

Technology

PLAYGIRL.COM re-launched this spring and features streaming video, enhanced content, shopping and an online dating service. The site's unique format and breadth of content will enable PLAYGIRL to offer women one-stop shopping for all things erotic, including products, movies, erotic fiction, and more. In addition, PLAYGIRL will utilize the site to learn more about the wants and needs of the target audience. Future plans include an expansive video vault, an erotic fiction library, weekly podcasts, and thousands of pictures of the most beautiful men in the world.

Mobile technology enters the mix with PLAYGIRL MOBILE, a package of streaming video, mobile games, wallpaper, and hot images featuring great- looking guys all designed to appeal to the PLAYGIRL woman. "Playgirl Mobile is a fantastic brand to offer mobile subscribers," says Adi McAbian, Managing Director of Waat Media, Playgirls' mobile partner. "We have seen a near complete absence of any kind of mobile content for women and Playgirl fills this niche perfectly." PLAYGIRL MOBILE is currently available throughout Europe, and will be available in the United States by the end of 2005.

Entertainment

On a grassroots level, there are plans to partner with popular hometown clubs for a series of Playgirl's NITE OUT events. This strategy is twofold; it offers PLAYGIRL the ability to showcase their range of products and services to women and helps gauge reaction from a key demographic. The first "Nite Out" debuted in February, at the iconic New York City nightclub, Webster Hall. This free weekly event features exotic male dancers, prizes and giveaways. In addition, PLAYGIRL has partnered with one of the leading nightclubs in Las Vegas, the Sapphire Club, to produce PLAYGIRL PRESENTS: THE MEN OF SAPPHIRE. In less than six months, the show has already become one of the most popular all male revues in Las Vegas.

PLAYGIRL Press

The cornerstone for all PLAYGIRL activity is the publication that has been redesigned and fine-tuned to reflect the ambitious business plan. Today's PLAYGIRL Magazine showcases the best in erotic photography, fiction and editorial features by leading writers and sex experts across the world. The new style is provocative, bold and loaded with information. Design changes call attention to a newer, crisper, contemporary look that makes a strong statement on newsstands. All together, the revamp has been a key factor for building subscription base and reaching a new readership. In addition, PLAYGIRL is publishing a series of books including erotic fiction collections and "how to" sex guides.

Trans Digital Media, LLC (TDM) is a privately held, brand management firm that develops original content for video-on-demand and pay-per-view. It aggregates and distributes content for private networks and licenses leading entertainment brands for a range of consumer products and services.

TDM licenses out partner brands to strategic partners in retail, consumer products, and services. By introducing partner brands into new mediums, TDM is able to build on existing brand affinities, while also creating additional cross promotional opportunities.

The company is headquartered in New York City.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030102/PLAYGIRLLOGO Source: PLAYGIRL TV

CONTACT: Lee Migliara or "Mike" Simons of PLAYGIRL TV, +1-646-658-7587, pr@playgirltv.com

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