Warner Home Video to Introduce DVD Movies Across Europe in First Quarter 1998; Dozens of Titles to Debut in all Europe's Major Markets As Part of Unified European Launch

Business Wire, August 29, 1997

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 1997--Warner Home Video (WHV), a Time Warner Entertainment company, will release its first DVD titles across Europe in the first quarter 1998.

Twenty-five titles will be introduced at launch with an additional 10 to 15 to be released each month thereafter. By the end of 1998, WHV expects to offer more than 100 titles across Europe.

DVD titles from WHV will be priced for sell-through and will carry a suggested retail price equivalent to US$25 in local currencies. New DVD titles will be released simultaneously with their VHS counterparts.

Titles scheduled during the launch period include the new releases "Contact," "Conspiracy Theory," "Mars Attacks!" and "Batman & Robin"; recent hits such as "Space Jam," "Tin Cup," "The Fugitive," "Unforgiven," "The Bridges of Madison County," "Disclosure" and "A Time to Kill"; and selections from WHV's classic catalog, including "Amadeus," "Blade Runner: The Director's Cut," "Dangerous Liaisons," "GoodFellas," "Barry Lyndon" and "The Wizard of Oz."

DVD's immense storage capacity offers a performance feature uniquely important to European movie viewers. DVD technology enables multiple language versions of the same film on a single disc -- up to eight different soundtracks, with subtitles in up to 32 languages. All WHV titles released in Europe will include both the local language and the language from the original theatrical release.

"The next-generation, state-of-the-art storage medium is here," said Warren Lieberfarb, president of Warner Home Video. "DVD has already enjoyed great success in a very short time with American consumers. We believe DVD is the future of packaged media for Europe."

Stored on a disc the same size as a music CD, DVD technology provides enormous digital capacity that delivers theater-quality images and high-quality Digital Surround Sound. In NTSC territories, Dolby Digital Surround Sound (AC-3) is the preferred standard. In PAL and SECAM territories, the preferred standard is MPEG 2 multi-channel audio.

DVD offers the experience of watching films in multiple-screen formats including the original theatrical widescreen version. Switching between multiple language tracks and/or subtitles is made easy with an interactive, on-screen menu. Viewers can also choose to watch the original theatrical trailer, as well as to explore material about the cast, director and making of the film.

Upcoming disc content may carry additional features including: running director commentary, behind-the-scenes footage, storyboards, Internet browser capability, director's cut versions, screen tests and interviews with cast and crew. -0-

                           WARNER HOME VIDEO
                         UPCOMING DVD RELEASES

"A Time to Kill"                      "Heat"
"Above the Law"                       "Interview with the Vampire"
"Amadeus"                             "JFK"
"Barry Lyndon"                        "Klute"
"Batman"                              "Magnum Force"
"Batman Forever"                      "Mars Attacks!"
"Batman & Robin"                      "Maverick"
"The Birdcage"                        "Memphis Belle"
"Blade Runner:  The Director's Cut"   "Michael Collins"
"Body Heat"                           "The Mission"
"The Bridges of Madison County"       "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
"Bullitt"                             "Outbreak"
"Citizen Kane"                        "The Outlaw Josey Wales"
"The Client"                          "Pale Rider"
"The Color Purple"                    "Pelican Brief"
"Conspiracy Theory"                   "Police Academy"
"Contact"                             "Rebel Without A Cause"
"The Cowboys"                         "The Right Stuff"
"Dangerous Liaisons"                  "The Road Warrior"
"Day for Night"                       "The Shining"
"Demolition Man"                      "Singin' in the Rain"
"Dirty Harry"                         "Space Jam"
"Disclosure"                          "The Specialist"
"Empire of the Sun"                   "Species"
"Enforcer"                            "Sudden Impact"
"Forever Young"                       "Tequila Sunrise"
"The Fugitive"                        "Tin Cup"
"Full Metal Jacket"                   "Unforgiven"
"Giant"                               "Witches of Eastwick"
"GoodFellas"                          "Wizard of Oz"
"Heartbreak Ridge"                    "Wyatt Earp"