SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PlanetOut Inc. , the leading global media and entertainment company exclusively serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, has intensified its networking tools for LGBT women looking for a partner by announcing today, flagship Web site PlanetOut.com and Showtime Networks' drama series "The L Word(R)" will provide co-branded, online personals for the millions of women who tune into this popular television show.

By leveraging the online capabilities of PlanetOut.com and the enthusiastic fan base of Showtime Networks' "The L Word(R)," PlanetOut and Showtime believe this match will build on the expansive reach of both brands into the lesbian community. The personals will premiere on PlanetOut.com but will eventually migrate to PlanetOut Inc.'s dedicated LGBT women's Web site, expected to launch in the summer of 2006.

PlanetOut.com will provide Showtime Networks' "The L Word(R)" fans with a way to connect through personals, via different links and promotional placement on Showtime Networks' official "The L Word(R)" Web site at http://www.sho.com/Lword. "L Word" fans who are interested in personals will seamlessly click-through to co-branded personals at http://www.planetout.com/lword.

Showtime Networks' "The L Word(R)," which recently began its third season as the lesbian world's most watched drama series, follows a group of friends -- both gay and straight -- through stories of career, family, inner struggle, friendship and romantic relationships.

Previously, due to the overwhelming popularity of the Showtime Networks' "The L Word(R)," PlanetOut.com created an on-going "The L Word(R)" subchannel at http://www.planetout.com/lword. The channel includes up-to-date show recaps; interviews with all cast members, interactive polls and trivia related to the show; member-generated slideshows; "The L Word(R)" fashion slideshows; soundtrack reviews; and more. Additionally, PlanetOut.com's sister site Advocate.com developed a section for fans of the show. (http://www.advocate.com/the_l_word.asp. )

"We are very excited about working with PlanetOut Inc. and being able to offer "The L Word(R)" online community an opportunity to connect with other fans," said Robert Hayes, senior vice president, new media, Showtime Networks.

Anne Moellering, vice president, U.S. marketing, PlanetOut Inc, said, "We've got your lesbian power couple right here with this match harnessing the power of 'The L Word(R)' and utilizing the resources of PlanetOut.com. Co-branded personals create another dimension for fans of the show. Personals provide a connection between Showtime Networks' official 'The L Word(R)' Web site and the popular, fan-friendly content found on the PlanetOut.com entertainment channel. We're excited about teaming up with the 'The L Word(R)' and believe we can carry and grow this partnership through the launch of our new LGBT women's brand, currently scheduled for this summer."

About PlanetOut Inc.

PlanetOut Inc. is the leading global media and entertainment company exclusively serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. PlanetOut's brands include Gay.com, PlanetOut.com, Kleptomaniac.com, and OUT&ABOUT Travel, as well as localized versions of the Gay.com site in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. PlanetOut brands also include The Advocate (http://www.advocate.com/); Out (http://www.out.com/); The Out Traveler (http://www.outtraveler.com/); and, HIVPlus (http://www.hivplusmag.com/), as well as other publishing, direct marketing and e-commerce properties, including Alyson Publications, SpecPub, Inc. and Triangle Marketing Services. PlanetOut, based in San Francisco with additional offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and Buenos Aires, offers FORTUNE 1000 and Global 500 advertisers access to what it believes to be the most extensive network of gay and lesbian people in the world. For more information, please visit http://www.planetoutinc.com/.

About Showtime

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD(TM), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(TM) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME(R) PPV. Additionally, the advertiser- supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding PlanetOut's anticipated launch of its new LGBT women's brand, as well as statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "expects," and similar words. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the company's limited operating history and variability of operating results; the timeliness and success of the launch of PlanetOut's LGBT women's brand; the company's ability to leverage its reach into the LGBT women's market to attract and retain subscribers and advertisers; competition; timing of product launches; and the company's dependence on technology infrastructure and the Internet. Additional information concerning factors that could affect PlanetOut's future business and financial results is included in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and other public filings filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/.

CONTACT: James David of PlanetOut Inc., +1-415-834-6479, or mobile,
+1-415-835-2063, or james.david@planetoutinc.com; or Stuart Zakim of Showtime
Networks Inc, +1-212-708-1590, or stuart.zakim@showtime.net

Web site: http://www.planetoutinc.com/