FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Corporate Communications 214/854-3190   SURVEY BY BLOCKBUSTER® CONFIRMS TOP TREATS PEOPLE EAT WHEN WATCHING MOVIES AT HOME Popcorn and Soft Drinks Top the Menu DALLAS, May 7, 1998 -- - Hold the pepperoni! According to a recent national survey commissioned by Blockbuster, popcorn and soft drinks top the list of favorite foods and drinks people consume when watching videos at home. Following popcorn as the favorite movie-watching snack (which was the top pick of almost 50 percent of those polled) were potato chips, pizza, candy, ice cream, cookies and pretzels. More than 50 percent opted for soft drinks, with water, beer, juice, coffee and iced tea trailing behind. "We're not surprised that popcorn came out as the food of choice. It's the number one snack at movie theaters," said Allen Klose, vice president of market research for Blockbuster. "And when people sit down to watch a video, they are creating their own movie theater experience." Most of the items Blockbuster sells--with the exception of popcorn--are eaten immediately upon purchase. The majority of the concession-style treats, including Twizzlers®, Milk Duds® and Raisinets®, to name a few, are not bought with the intention of being eaten while watching a movie. "When people stop by Blockbuster to pick up their favorite movie video, we've found that they are not necessarily in the mood to grocery shop. Most often, our members merely want a quick treat that lasts about as long as the car ride home," said Klose. "We at Blockbuster believe that one can burn thousands of calories as part of the video-renting experience. It requires wallking, reaching and in some cases, a bit of weight liftingÖso go ahead..indulge!" Gum balls top the list of popular snacks members pick up along with their latest movie video selections at Blockbuster. "We sold about 10 million gum balls in 1997," said Kuterbach. "And, we anticipate selling 14 to 16 million gum balls in 1998." Blockbuster operates approximately 6,000 Blockbuster Video and 400 Blockbuster Music neighborhood entertainment stores in the United States, its territories and 26 other countries and may be accessed internationally at www.blockbuster.com. Blockbuster is a unit of Viacom Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and publishing companies and a leading force in nearly every segment of the international media marketplace. ### |  Current Releases   |  Archives   | BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. © 1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.