Beliefnet.com Forms Alliance With America Online

Posted on September 11, 2000

Beliefnet.com, a multi-faith religion and spirituality website, has announced a two-year alliance with America Online, Inc. Beliefnet.com will provide religious and spiritual content and interactive features to several America Online, Inc. brands.

Under the agreement, co-branded Beliefnet sites will offer AOL, CompuServe and ICQ users, information, community applications, resources and products in the religious and spiritual arena. In addition, Beliefnet will have the opportunity to sell advertising space on the co-branded sites. The companies expect to roll out Beliefnet's content across the AOL brands this Fall.

Beliefnet.com provides religion and spirituality content and analysis written by leading thinkers and theologians. Moreover, Beliefnet has become the authoritative Internet source This year, Beliefnet's partnership with ABC for Peter Jennings's documentary, In Search of Jesus, along with their coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, were among the site's most popular features. Beliefnet, Inc. is a privately held company funded by Highland Capital Partners, Primus Venture Partners, Blue Chip Venture Company, Zero Stage Capital, and The Trump Group.

``People of all faiths and belief systems will now have even more access to Beliefnet's broad range of information resources, services, and products,'' said Tony Uphoff, President and CEO of Beliefnet.com. ``Our alliance with America Online reflects the extraordinary interest in religion and spirituality that is evident in the US and the world. We look forward to helping the users of these AOL brands explore, discuss, and nurture their beliefs.''

``We hear from our members that they are increasingly going online to find information on religion and spirituality, and companies like Beliefnet.com have been fueling this increase,'' said Mayo Stuntz, Chief Operating Officer of AOL Interactive Services. ``Our agreement with Beliefnet will allow us to provide AOL and CompuServe members, and ICQ users with the depth of information and community applications that Beliefnet has become known for.''