HDNet Smallville

[Gregg Lengling]

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 2004--HDNet announced today a multi-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution for the acclaimed series "Smallville." The first season of the series begins its exclusive cable HD run on HDNet in the fall of 2004.


"'Smallville' is an outstanding show with a great concept and exceptional cast," said Mark Cuban, Co-founder and President of HDNet. "HDNet is proud to be the only place where viewers can see all of the series' episodes in its original HD format."

"HDNet has proven to be a great outlet to showcase world-class Warner Bros. series and movies in HD," said Eric Frankel, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. "'Smallville,' with its special effects and high energy, is a great addition to this lineup."

"Smallville" is The WB's highest-rated series of all time and will begin its fourth season this fall on the network. This new interpretation of the enduring Superman mythology and its classic characters blends realism and adventure into an exciting action series. The idyllic town of Smallville, Kansas, never seemed the same after the meteor shower that rained down 12 years ago -- the day Clark Kent arrived on Earth and the day strange things started happening in Smallville.

Now, Clark is a teenager, and his growing pains are amplified by the burden of his emerging superpowers and his longing for Lana Lang, the beautiful girl next door. When the charismatic Lex Luthor arrives in town, he befriends Clark and without an inkling of their destinies, becomes the older brother Clark never had. The show stars Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Annette O'Toole ("Superman III") as Martha Kent, Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), and John Schneider (Jonathan Kent).

Reinterpreting the Superman mythology from its roots, Smallville was written and developed by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Shanghai Noon, Spiderman 2), based on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive producers, along with Greg Beeman, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Ken Horton. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.

About Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution

Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution is one of the leading suppliers of programming to the pay television and basic cable marketplaces. WBDCD is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of already-produced product from the Studio's vast library, including feature films, television series, mini-series, television movies and specials to basic cable and pay television. WBDCD is also a major licensor of feature films to the broadcast networks.

About HDNet

HDNet provides viewers with exciting and topical news, sports, music and entertainment programming. The network features up to 20 hours of original features per week, all produced in the highest quality 1080i HDTV format -- more original high-definition programming than any other network. Original HDNet series include the groundbreaking "HDNet World Report," "Across America," "Face to Face with Roy Firestone," "Hollywood HD," "True Music," "HDNet Concert Series," "Bikini Destinations," "Get Out," and "Higher Definition." Licensed programming includes series from Paramount, Warner Brothers and Sony. Live HDNet sports productions include National Hockey League games, Major League Soccer games, NASCAR and Champ Car auto racing, the HDNet Horse Racing Challenge, boxing, and college football, basketball and baseball games. HDNet Movies, the company's second network, offers a wide selection of popular theatrical releases from Warner Bros, New Line, Paramount, MGM, Buena Vista, Lions Gate, Artisan and Sony Pictures Television, as well as features produced and finished in true 1080i high-definition. All HDNet Movies are uncut, unedited, and appear in their Original Aspect Ratio. Co-founded by Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on Adelphia Communications, Charter Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight Communications, Mediacom Communications, Time Warner Cable and several NCTC cable affiliate companies.

//www.hd.net