Bally Total Fitness Teams with Jackson Hewitt to Make the 2005 Tax Sea

Bally Total Fitness Teams with Jackson Hewitt to Make the 2005 Tax Season Less 'Taxing'

    Business Editors

    CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 2005--Bally Total Fitness (NYSE: BFT)

--	Leading Tax Preparation Company is the Latest Addition To Bally's "Best-in-Class" Team of Corporate Partners
--	Bally To Provide As Many As One Million Jackson Hewitt Customers With Free Trial Memberships To Help Fight Tax-Day Stress

    Bally Total Fitness (NYSE: BFT), the nation's leader in health and fitness, announced today that it is partnering with leading tax preparation service company, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, to help its customers work off the stress associated with tax day. Now through April 14, Jackson Hewitt will be offering one million Bally Total Fitness six-week trial memberships to customers who have their taxes prepared at one of the nearly 3,000 tax offices located near a Bally Total Fitness. Additionally, members who join Bally Total Fitness as a result of this promotion, and are in good standing through January 31, 2006, will have their Jackson Hewitt 2006 tax preparation fee (up to $50) paid for by Bally Total Fitness. Current Bally Total Fitness customers can take advantage of money-saving coupons for tax preparation services at their local Jackson Hewitt office. The coupons are available at Bally Total Fitness locations nationwide.
    "We're very excited to provide Jackson Hewitt customers with this unique, stress-relieving benefit," said Peter Tahinos, Senior Vice President of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. "In addition to ensuring Jackson Hewitt customers are 'fiscally fit' from a tax perspective, we can now provide the opportunity for physical fitness with the help of Bally Total Fitness."
    "Our relationship with Jackson Hewitt offers an opportunity to spread the important message of health and fitness to as many as one million Americans, just in time to fight tax-day stress," said Paul Toback, chairman, president and CEO of Bally Total Fitness. "As one of the nation's leading tax preparation companies, Jackson Hewitt is the latest addition to Bally's team of 'Best-in-Class' corporate partners, which includes such companies as Hilton Hotels, 1-800-FLOWERS.com and YUM!. These innovative partnerships have enabled us to re-introduce the importance of fitness through new channels, as we continue our mission to help America get back in shape."
    "Many studies have shown that tax season can be one of the most stressful times of the year and we all know that stress can lead to a variety of dangerous health conditions," said Nikki Kimbrough, personal trainer and national spokesperson for Bally Total Fitness. "Your body needs regular exercise, especially during times of stress like tax day. It is no secret that a good fitness program will help you look and feel good as well as better cope with stress and anxiety."

    About Bally Total Fitness

    Bally Total Fitness is the largest and only nationwide commercial operator of fitness centers, with approximately four million members and nearly 440 facilities located in 29 states, Mexico, Canada, China, Korea and the Caribbean under the Bally Total Fitness(R), Crunch Fitness(SM), Gorilla Sports(SM), Pinnacle Fitness(R), Bally Sports Clubs(R) and Sports Clubs of Canada(R) brands. With an estimated 150 million annual visits to its clubs, Bally offers a unique platform for distribution of a wide range of products and services targeted to active, fitness-conscious adult consumers. For more information, visit http://www.ballyfitness.com.

    About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

    Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX) is the second largest tax preparation service company in the United States, with over 5,400 franchised and company-owned offices in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Specializing in electronic filing (IRS e-file), the Company provides full service, individual federal and state income tax preparation and facilitates related financial products. Most Jackson Hewitt offices are independently owned and operated. Jackson Hewitt is based in Parsippany, New Jersey. More information about the Company may be obtained by visiting the Company's Web site at http://www.jacksonhewitt.com.

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CONTACT: Bally Total Fitness, Chicago Sara Matheu - Tel. (773) 864-6822 www.Ballyfitness.com or MWW Group Public Relations Lindsey Winkler - Tel. (201) 964-2374 lwinkler@mww.com or Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. Allison Jackson, Sr. Communications Manager 973-496-7536, Allison.jackson@jtax.com

KEYWORD: ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SPORTS MEDICAL SOURCE: BALLY TOTAL FITNESS

Copyright Business Wire 2005