Amarillo, Texas, Dec. 1, 1998 - Hastings
Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAST - news), a leading multimedia entertainment retailer,
recently introduced its "Video 2000" rental video program to industry executives
at its annual Marketing Conference. The expanded program is focused on increased customer
satisfaction and is designed to grow revenues of its rental video at each the
company’s current 129 entertainment superstores.Hastings,
selected as the "Video Retailer of the Year" by the Video Software Dealers
Association in the large scale category, detailed the highlights of its Video 2000 rental
program for each superstore as follows:
- Five-day rentals on over 12,000 movies
- Guaranteed rentals on up to eight major video titles each month
- Expanded selection of DVD rental titles
- Rental of DVD hardware
- Expanded selection of video games for rent
- Rental rates ranging from $0.49 for 5 days on catalog titles to $2.99
on new releases
- Up to 10,000 movies with five-day rentals priced at $0.99 or less.
- Free rentals of kids’ movies
"We are committed to offering the best rental video value in
our markets," said John H. Marmaduke, chairman and chief executive officer, "and
by providing our customers with the combination of lower prices, five-day rentals and
guaranteed video rentals, we feel Hastings has the most compelling offer in the
industry."
The company’s annual Marketing Conference, which hosted a
number of authors and music acts, was held in Nashville, Tenn. and attended by more than
400 senior entertainment industry marketing and sales executives. The event featured a
gala Titanic celebration hosted by Sony Music and Paramount Pictures in commemoration of
the best-selling movie soundtrack and VHS videotape of all time.
Certain statements set forth above are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are based upon
management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and
uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described
herein. The forward-looking statements set forth above are subject to the factors and
uncertainties set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1 as filed with the SEC and declared effective on June
11, 1998.
and 
