TMCnet News
Warner Home Video to Release Over 50 Film Titles on HD DVD; Home Video Leader Plans Release of New and Catalog Titles Beginning Q4 2005BURBANK, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Jan. 6, 2005 -- Warner Home Video (WHV), which distributes the largest film library of any studio, will announce today at a press conference at CES 2005 that it plans to release over 50 new and catalog titles, including selections from New Line Home Entertainment and HBO Video, during the launch of HD DVD, the next generation digital video format, commencing in the fourth quarter of 2005. "We're proud to continue our longstanding tradition of innovation and leadership in home video by debuting an exciting selection of new releases on HD DVD that will be accompanied by time tested favorites from our extensive library," said Jim Cardwell, President, Warner Home Video. "HD DVD is the future of home entertainment and is the format that will lead us into the high definition entertainment era. It will create new and exciting opportunities for consumers to enjoy their favorite movies, TV series, sports programming, children's entertainment, documentaries and other specialized titles with unprecedented picture and sound quality, advanced navigation and interactivity and increased security." The press conference will feature a dazzling demonstration of HD DVD highlighted by an exclusive first look of clips from Warner Bros. Pictures pre-theatrical releases to be issued by Warner Home Video on HD DVD. These HD DVD clips will include footage of Christian Bale in Batman Begins, Keanu Reeves in Constantine and Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. "Warner Home Video's endorsement creates a deep and diverse base of content support for HD DVD," said Marsha King, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Warner Home Video. "It ensures that consumers will be able to enjoy an impressive collection of their favorite movies, TV series and other entertainment as they have never seen them before -- in high definition and with HD DVD's rich features." Planned HD DVD releases from the extensive Warner Home Video library include such recent theatrical releases as Ocean's Twelve, The Polar Express, and The Phantom of the Opera as well as titles from the hugely successful Matrix and Harry Potter franchises. New Line Home Entertainment and HBO Video, owners of such esteemed motion picture and television titles as Rush Hour series and The Sopranos respectively, also plan to issue releases in conjunction with their distribution partner Warner Home Video in support of the launch of HD DVD. "New Line Home Entertainment has always been at the forefront of industry innovation, and our involvement in the launch of HD DVD signals our continued commitment to the evolution of home entertainment," said Stephen Einhorn, President and Chief Operation Officer, New Line Entertainment. "In support of HD DVD and to provide consumers with a compelling new entertainment experience, we're planning to issue a selection of our most exciting films in the format including such titles as Se7en, Blade, Rush Hour and Austin Powers." "HD DVD represents an exciting new development that will significantly enhance the consumer's home entertainment experience," said Henry McGee, President, HBO Video. "We are backing the launch of HD DVD with a line-up of releases from HBO's highly acclaimed programming including the first season of The Sopranos and the miniseries Angels in America and From the Earth to the Moon." Warner Bros. boasts the largest library of any motion picture studio with over 6,500 feature films, 40,000 TV episodes and 14,000 animated titles (with over 1,500 classic animated shorts). The library includes such world-renowned franchises as Superman, Batman, Friends, E.R. and The West Wing, as well as such contemporary theatrical hits as Oceans Eleven, Mystic River and The Last Samurai. The studio is expected to announce the release of an increasing amount of its content on HD DVD as its involvement with the format continues. About Warner Home Video With operations in 89 international territories, Warner Home Video commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment Company, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Home Entertainment. About New Line Home Entertainment New Line Home Entertainment markets New Line Cinema and Fine Line Features theatrical films on DVD and VHS, including the premium DVD brand infinifilm(TM). The Company also distributes feature films and non-theatrical programs acquired or produced by New Line Home Entertainment and New Line Television. Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is the leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical films, such as The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy, the Blade series and the Austin Powers franchise. New Line Cinema licenses its programming to ancillary markets, including cable and broadcast television, as well as in all international markets. New Line Cinema is a Time Warner Company. About HBO Video HBO Video markets an extensive array of programs ranging from HBO's critically acclaimed and groundbreaking series The Sopranos and Sex and the City to theatrical features such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the number one romantic comedy of all time. The company catalog contains hundreds of titles including the multiple Emmy Award winning miniseries Band of Brothers, children's programs like I Spy, based on the best-selling book series, and innovative movies from HBO films including Elephant, winner of Palm D'Or, and Sundance Festival award winners American Splendor and Real Women Have Curves. -0- *T PLANNED WARNER HOME VIDEO HD DVD LAUNCH TITLES -- Above the Law -- Alexander -- Angels in America (HBO) -- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (New Line) -- Batman Begins -- Blade (New Line) -- Catwoman -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -- Constantine -- Contact -- Dark City (New Line) -- The Dukes of Hazzard -- Eraser -- Executive Decision -- Final Destination (New Line) -- Friday (New Line) -- From the Earth to the Moon (HBO) -- The Fugitive -- Gothika -- Hard to Kill -- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets -- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban -- House of Wax (2005) -- The Last Samurai -- The Mask (New Line) -- The Matrix -- The Matrix Reloaded -- The Matrix Revolutions -- Maverick -- Million Dollar Baby -- The Music Man -- Mystic River -- Next of Kin -- North by Northwest -- Ocean's Eleven -- Ocean's Twelve -- Passenger 57 -- The Perfect Storm -- The Phantom of the Opera (2004) -- The Player (New Line) -- The Polar Express -- Red Planet -- Rush Hour (New Line) -- Se7en (New Line) -- Soldier -- The Sopranos (HBO) -- Spawn (New Line) -- Swordfish -- Troy -- Under Siege -- U.S. Marshals -- Wild Wild West *T |
