HDNet Licenses Its First-ever Feature Film Package in Deal with Warner Bros.

HDNet has licensed the high-definition television (HDTV) rights toan extensive selection of Warner Bros. feature films in a long-termdeal with Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution (WBDCD). The dealrepresents HDNet's first-ever acquisition of a feature filmpackage.

Under the terms of the agreement, WBDCD will provide HDNet with some30 features films each month, which have been converted tohigh-definition format for broadcast on HDNet via satellite and cabledistribution.

HDNet viewers will enjoy a diverse slate of popular films that willattract a wide audience. The list of titles from Warner Bros., whichspans all decades of the company's extensive 75-year library, includesStanley Kubrick 's four-time Oscar winner Barry Lyndon, AClockwork Orange, and Full Metal Jacket; Martin Scorsese'sAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore; Clint Eastwood's TheloniousMonk: Straight No Chaser; A Chorus Line, starring MichaelDouglas; The Main Event and Nuts starring BarbraStreisand and five-time Academy Award winner Who's Afraid ofVirginia Wolfe starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

"We couldn't be more pleased than to serve as a major supplier ofprogramming to this exciting new network, devoted to showing our greatfilms in a high-quality that has never before been seen by televisionviewers," says Eric Frankel, president, Warner Bros. Domestic CableDistribution. "It is our hope that by broadening its programmingline-up to include world-class films, shown in HDTV, we can help HDNetgrow its channel distribution and subscriber base exponentially andthat this will truly be the beginning of a long-term,mutually-beneficial relationship."

"As a leading entertainment company, Warner Bros. is a greatpartner to help HDNet expand our schedule of high-quality HDTVprogramming for our viewers," says Mark Cuban, co-founder and presidentof HDNet. "Feature films have always served as a driver in emergingmedia—be it pay television, cable networks, pay-per-view or VOD.We believe that by offering our viewers a slate of first-rate films, wewill continue to expand HDNet's audience and availability."