HDNet Licenses Its First-Ever Feature Film Package In Deal With Warner Bros. Domestic

[Gregg Lengling]

DALLAS – Dec. 18, 2002 – HDNet has licensed the high-definition television (HDTV) rights to an extensive selection of Warner Bros. feature films in a long-term deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution (WBDCD). The deal represents HDNet's first-ever acquisition of a feature film package.

Under the terms of the agreement, WBDCD will provide HDNet with some 30 features films each month, which have been converted to high-definition format for broadcast on HDNet via satellite and cable distribution.

HDNet viewers will enjoy a diverse slate of popular films that will attract a wide audience. The list of titles from Warner Bros., which spans all decades of the company's extensive 75-year library, includes Stanley Kubrick 's four-time Oscar winner "Barry Lyndon," "A Clockwork Orange" and "Full Metal Jacket"; Martin Scorsese's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"; Clint Eastwood's "Thelonious Monk: Straight No Chaser"; "A Chorus Line," starring Michael Douglas; "The Main Event" and "Nuts" starring Barbra Streisand and five-time Academy Award winner "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe" starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

"We couldn't be more pleased than to serve as a major supplier of programming to this exciting new network, devoted to showing our great films in a high-quality that has never before been seen by television viewers," said Eric Frankel, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. "It is our hope that by broadening its programming line-up to include world-class films, shown in HDTV, we can help HDNet grow its channel distribution and subscriber base exponentially and that this will truly be the beginning of a long-term, mutually-beneficial relationship."

"As a leading entertainment company, Warner Bros. is a great partner to help HDNet expand our schedule of high-quality HDTV programming for our viewers," said Mark Cuban, co-founder and president of HDNet. "Feature films have always served as a driver in emerging media – be it pay television, cable networks, pay-per-view or VOD. We believe that by offering our viewers a slate of first-rate films, we will continue to expand HDNet's audience and availability."