Entertainment Retailers Unveil Website And PSA To Help Parents Make Informed Decisions About Movies, Video Games, And Music For Their Families

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, DC (June 1, 2005) - A new website and a public service announcement that are designed to help parents make informed entertainment choices for their families were unveiled today by the Coalition of Entertainment Retail Trade Associations (CERTA). The website, located at www.erlam.org, provides information in multimedia formats about the motion picture rating system; the computer and video game rating system; the music labeling system; and the entertainment ratings and labeling policies of motion picture theatres, video stores, computer and video game retailers, and music retailers. The public service announcement, which will run on in-store monitors in approximately 5,000 video stores, reminds parents that the movie and video game ratings systems and music labeling systems exist to help them guide their children's entertainment consumption.

The website and public service announcement were launched in conjunction with the start of Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month. CERTA declares each June to be Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month as an annual reminder to parents to learn more about and use the ratings and labeling information available to them. CERTA also uses Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month to remind retailers to ensure that in-store educational materials are current and easily available to the public and that their employees are well-versed on their ratings and labeling policies.

On the website, parents will find the public service announcement, a PowerPoint presentation that explains the ratings and labeling systems, links to the organizations that administer the systems, and information about Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month.

According to CERTA, "While parents have the ultimate responsibility for determining which movies, computer and video games, and music recordings are appropriate for their families, entertainment retailers understand that they have a role to play in educating parents about the tools available for making informed decisions and in helping them make appropriate decisions. We believe these resources will empower parents to control their families' entertainment choices."

The website was created by CERTA, whose member trade associations collectively represent more than 2,000 retailers and exhibitors, who operate more than 40,000 theatres, video and video game stores, music stores, online music sites, and other retail establishments that offer entertainment products. CERTA members are: Digital Media Association (DiMA); Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA); National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM); National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO); and Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA).

For more information, please contact:

DiMA: Jonathan Potter - 202-775-2660; jpotter@digmedia.org

IEMA: Marie Sylla - 203-761-6185; marie@iema.org

NARM: Susan L'Ecuyer - 856-596-2221 X25; lecuyer@narm.com

NATO: MaryAnn Anderson - 202-962-0054; nato@natodc.com

VSDA: Sean Bersell - 818-385-1500 x226; sbersell@vsda.org

Association (DiMA)

Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA)

National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM)

National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO)

Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA)[their_heading]For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, DC (June 1, 2005) - A new website and a public service announcement that are designed to help parents make informed entertainment choices for their families were unveiled today by the Coalition of Entertainment Retail Trade Associations (CERTA). The website, located at www.erlam.org, provides information in multimedia formats about the motion picture rating system; the computer and video game rating system; the music labeling system; and the entertainment ratings and labeling policies of motion picture theatres, video stores, computer and video game retailers, and music retailers. The public service announcement, which will run on in-store monitors in approximately 5,000 video stores, reminds parents that the movie and video game ratings systems and music labeling systems exist to help them guide their children's entertainment consumption.

The website and public service announcement were launched in conjunction with the start of Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month. CERTA declares each June to be Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month as an annual reminder to parents to learn more about and use the ratings and labeling information available to them. CERTA also uses Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month to remind retailers to ensure that in-store educational materials are current and easily available to the public and that their employees are well-versed on their ratings and labeling policies.

On the website, parents will find the public service announcement, a PowerPoint presentation that explains the ratings and labeling systems, links to the organizations that administer the systems, and information about Entertainment Ratings & Labeling Awareness Month.

According to CERTA, "While parents have the ultimate responsibility for determining which movies, computer and video games, and music recordings are appropriate for their families, entertainment retailers understand that they have a role to play in educating parents about the tools available for making informed decisions and in helping them make appropriate decisions. We believe these resources will empower parents to control their families' entertainment choices."

The website was created by CERTA, whose member trade associations collectively represent more than 2,000 retailers and exhibitors, who operate more than 40,000 theatres, video and video game stores, music stores, online music sites, and other retail establishments that offer entertainment products. CERTA members are: Digital Media Association (DiMA); Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA); National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM); National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO); and Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA).

For more information, please contact:

DiMA: Jonathan Potter - 202-775-2660; jpotter@digmedia.org

IEMA: Marie Sylla - 203-761-6185; marie@iema.org

NARM: Susan L'Ecuyer - 856-596-2221 X25; lecuyer@narm.com

NATO: MaryAnn Anderson - 202-962-0054; nato@natodc.com

VSDA: Sean Bersell - 818-385-1500 x226; sbersell@vsda.org

Association (DiMA)

Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA)

National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM)

National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO)

Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA)