Spelling Television, Amazon.com and ARTISTdirect to Hold "Melrose Place" Online Auction

Fans will have the chance to own a piece of television history as "Melrose Place" completes its seventh and final season

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 3, 1999-- Proceeds to benefit American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Spelling Television Inc., Amazon.com and ARTISTdirect have announced plans for a "Melrose Place" Charity Online Auction, surrounding the series finale on FOX on May 24, 1999 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET/PT).

Featuring an extensive collection of wardrobe, props and furnishings directly from the set of the hit series, the auction will launch on May 17, 1999 at 6:00 p.m./ 9:00 p.m. (PT/ET) and will conclude on May 27, 1999 at 6:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. (PT/ET). An online preview of all auction merchandise will be accessible as of May 11, 1999 (6:00 p.m./9:00 p.m., PT/ET). Net proceeds from the auction will be divided between the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Amazon.com Auctions will be the exclusive host of the official auction, which will be accessible at http://www.amazon.com. "Melrose" auction participants can also access the auction site through the official "Melrose Place" web site (www.melroseplace.com), which was designed and developed by ARTISTdirect, and the official Fox Television web site (www.fox.com). ARTISTdirect, Spelling's partner in developing e-commerce programs, is coordinating the text and photographic images for each "Melrose" auction item, and is responsible for managing all inventory control, warehousing and fulfillment.

The 10-day auction will feature hundreds of items, including secret items from the season finale which will become available at 9:00 p.m./12:00 a.m. (PT/ET) immediately following the finale on FOX on May 24th. Reflecting the style and energy that made "Melrose Place" and its characters so popular with TV viewers, the items are expected to generate spirited bidding from ardent "Melrose" fans.

Visitors to the "Melrose" auction site will also be able to register to win the original "Melrose Place" apartment complex sign and other exciting prizes which will be raffled off at the conclusion of the auction, regardless of whether or not they enter an auction bid.

Executive Producer Aaron Spelling said, "I'm delighted that we'll be able to thank our loyal fans for seven fantastic years by making it possible for them to take home a piece of 'Melrose Place.' The tremendous interest in the show and its final season is certain to raise significant proceeds for our two beneficiaries, the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America."

Among the items to be made available will be furnishings (e.g. furniture from "Melrose" apartments, headboards, coffee tables, desks, etc.); numerous large props, including apartment doors from the "Melrose" apartment complex and a "Shooters" pool table; wardrobe and jewelry, including lingerie and wedding gowns; hand props such as engraved watches, license plates, hospital badges and office signs; production items, including set blue prints and the original model of the courtyard; and publicity items such as autographed cast photos, posters, scripts, etc.

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN - news) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer of videos, music and books. The Amazon.com store currently offers more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, as well as secure credit card payments, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. Amazon.com also operates: Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to more than 8 million Amazon.com customers; two international Web sites, www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany; PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), an address book, calendar and reminder service; and the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), a comprehensive and authoritative information source on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs, and 500,000 cast and crew members.

ARTISTdirect (www.artistdirect.com) has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with superstar artists, including the Beastie Boys (www.beastieboysdirect.com), Beck (www.beckdirect.com), Korn (www.korndirect.com), The Rolling Stones (www.stonesdirect.com), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (www.tompettydirect.com) and many others. ARTISTdirect Entertainment Division has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with Dreamworks, MGM, Studios USA, Spelling Entertainment Group Inc. and others. The ARTISTdirect network, the ultimate music destination on the Web, comprises UBL.com (the Ultimate Band List), the only music-specific search engine; iMusic, the premier music community site on the Web; and ARTISTdirect Superstores, retail centers for leading brands and entertainment properties.

Spelling Television is a division of Spelling Entertainment Group Inc. (NYSE:SP - news; PCX: SP), a leading producer and distributor of television and film entertainment. In addition to Spelling Television, the Company comprises Big Ticket Television, Worldvision Enterprises and Hamilton Projects. The Company has 11 series in production for the 1998/99 season and, through its combined libraries, controls approximately 10,000 hours of programming for worldwide distribution. Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA - news; NYSE: VIA.B - news) owns approximately 80% of Spelling's common stock.