Thousand Oaks’ Homestore.com to Provide Content for AOL

America Online Inc. has started a new channel on its Web site, with Homestore.com Inc. of Thousand Oaks providing housing- and home-related services.

The venture is an extension of a $200-million agreement reached earlier this year between America Online and Homestore.com, which lists on its site more than 90% of all homes for sale.

The new channel will provide information on home decorating, home security, hardware, and lawn and garden issues and services.

Creating a partnership with an Internet giant like AOL is a way to retain firm footing on the Internet playing field, said Stuart Wolff, Homestore.com chairman and chief executive.

“No one is big enough to go it alone on the Internet,” he said. “You need partners. The players who are doing well all have significant relationships with other companies.”

Under terms of the five-year alliance, Homestore.com will be the exclusive provider of home-buying and moving services for AOL as part of its House & Home Channel. In addition, it will be available to CompuServe members and to the general Internet population on AOL.com, Netscape Netcenter and Digital City.