| TWEC.COM is the Charter Music Retailer for Launch of RealNetworks' Shopping Section of RealGuide 
 ALBANY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 1999--
 
 REALGUIDE(TM) Shopping Page to Feature Five Top Weekly
 Picks from TWEC.COM, "The Web's Entertainment Center"
 
 Trans World Entertainment Corporation (Nasdaq National Market: TWMC), today announced
 that its website, The Web's Entertainment Center, www.twec.com, will be the charter music
 retailer for the launch of RealNetworks'(R) (Nasdaq: RNWK) RealGuide Shopping Section,
 www.realguide.real.com. RealNetworks' RealGuides is the most comprehensive source to
 high-quality streaming media programming available on the Internet.
 As part of the agreement, each week www.realguide.real.com will feature five products
 that are currently available for purchase at www.twec.com, including three music
 selections, one movie selection and one video game selection. Users wishing to purchase
 the selections will be linked directly to the site, where they can browse or purchase
 additional music, movies or games from the 500,000-title inventory offered on
 www.twec.com. In addition, www.twec.com will continue to use RealNetworks' RealAudio and
 RealVideo for distributing live and pre-recorded streaming audio and video events in
 www.twec.com's On Stage area.
 "We have utilized RealNetworks' streaming technology to deliver realtime concerts and
 multimedia presentations in our Backstage Pass area ever since the www.twec.com launch in
 November and have been very confident with their product and professionalism," said
 Robert J. Higgins, chairman and chief executive officer of Trans World Entertainment. "We
 see great value in partnering with RealNetworks as their built-in user base of music and
 movie customers closely matches our demographic. A retail relationship was the logical
 next step."
 The new RealGuide, located www.realguide.real.com, provides viewers with one-click
 access to the day's top stories and programming from nearly 200 RealChannels(TM) and
 RealStations, as well as access to more than 1700 television and radio stations
 broadcasting on the Internet and over 3000 sites featuring RealAudio(R) and RealVideo(R)
 programming.
 
 About Trans World Entertainment
 
 Trans World Entertainment is the leading music retailer in the United States,
 operating retail stores in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as well as
 an e-commerce site, www.twec.com. Mall locations include Record Town, Camelot Music, The
 Wall, Saturday Matinee and F.Y.E. Freestanding locations include Coconuts Music and
 Movies, Strawberries Music, Spec's and Planet Music.
 
 About The Web's Entertainment Center (TWEC.com)
 
 TWEC.com is the online hub for Trans World Entertainment's retail stores. With
 worldwide distribution spanning 16 countries in addition to the United States, the site
 features all of the music CDs and cassettes, video games, DVD and VHS (PAL and NTSC) home
 videos that are available at its retail stores, plus so much more! TWEC.com is home to
 Trans World's "On Stage" series, featuring live concerts, online chats, in-store artist
 appearance schedules, in-studio performances and entertainment media that is on-demand
 and easily downloaded.
 
 Certain statements in this report set forth management's intentions, plans, beliefs,
 expectations or predictions of the future based on current facts and analyses. Actual
 results may differ materially from those indicated in such statements. Additional
 information on factors that may affect the business and financial results of the Company
 can be found in filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 RealNetworks, RealGuide, RealPlayer, RealAudio, and RealVideo are trademarks or
 registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other companies or products listed herein
 are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
 
 CONTACT:  Trans World Entertainment Corporation
 Jim Litwak, 518/452-1248, Ext. 240
 or
 The MWW Group
 201/507-9500
 Media Relations -- Charlotte Ostor (costor@mww.com)
 Investor Relations -- Robert Ferris (rferris@mww.com)
 08:39 EDT   AUGUST  4, 1999
 |