SHOWTIME Presents Britney Spears Live In High Definition Sunday, March 28 at 9 PM ET/

[Gregg Lengling]

The First Concert in Showtime History Broadcast in HD and Dolby Digital 5.1


NEW YORK, March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- When multi-platinum superstar Britney Spears takes the stage on SHOWTIME Sunday, March 28th at *9 PM ET/PT, SHOWTIME viewers won't have to miss a single detail. The full-length concert will be presented in High Definition television in the highest quality format -- 1080i. The concert will also have the distinction of being the first live event broadcast on SHOWTIME in Dolby Digital Surround Sound 5.1.

 
 
The SHOWTIME concert event will take place at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, just one of the stops on the first leg of Britney's World Tour 2004.

Known for her elaborate productions, Spears and her high-octane team will create an exciting, extravagant television production, with award-winning director Hamish Hamilton and producer Ian Stewart on board and shooting the action in HD. Showtime Networks has hired a fully-equipped High Definition mobile truck unit that can simultaneously broadcast Standard Definition and High Definition signals. Showtime's Jay Larkin will serve as executive producer of the event with Jock McLean serving as executive in charge of production. Britney Spears and Larry Rudolph also serve as executive producers of the show.

"The new technology allows the dual signals to be broadcast from one truck at the event 'live' making HD production easier and more cost effective," said Showtime VP of Production Gordon Hall. "We are fortunate that this technology allows us to keep up with the increasing demands of our HD audience. We can offer our viewers the highest quality production available, which is critical during a concert of this caliber that is sure to create a high level of expectation and excitement."

"In The Zone," Britney's 4th Jive Records release, includes hits such as "Me Against The Music," "Toxic," "Everytime" "The Hook Up," "Shadow," and "Early Mornin'." Britney is the first female recording artist in Soundscan history to have four #1 albums in a row.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO(TM), SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC xtra. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD®, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV. Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME EXTREME® is available in Spain through a joint venture with Media Park and the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.

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