Warner Home Video to Release Over 50 Titles on HD DVD

Warner Home Video (WHV), which distributes the largest film library of any studio, announced Friday 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’.”

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

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