Avenue Entertainment and Pearson Television International Launch Exclusive Two Year Deal with Six Hour CBS Miniseries.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 1998--Avenue Entertainment Group Inc. (AMEX:PIX) and Pearson Television International (PTI) announced today that they have signed an exclusive two year distribution agreement for movies-for-television and mini-series.

Cary Brokaw, president and CEO of Avenue Entertainment Group and Brian Harris, managing director of Pearson Television International said that the first production by Avenue Pictures, in association with Bud Schaetzle's Imprint Entertainment, is a major event six hour mini-series sold to CBS titled American Country.

One of the world's largest distributors of television programming, Pearson Television International will handle all international distribution for Avenue's long form television productions.

"We are delighted to be in business with Cary and his company," Harris said. "They are known for the quality of their films and their track record proves they have worldwide appeal." PTI Executive Vice-President Matt Loze added, "With the strength of the new Avenue slate, we are able to provide our foreign buyers with a variety of top fiction and reality-based drama product."

A three-night, six-hour script order for CBS Entertainment, American Country tells the story of four generations of an extended musical family whose lives are interwoven with the growth of country music and the events of the twentieth century. Brokaw described the mini-series as "the story of the quintessential American family against the rich backdrop of the evolution of country music from its pre-radio roots to its phenomenal current popularity."

American Country will be produced by Avenue in association with Imprint Entertainment and packaged by the William Morris Agency. Imprint CEO & President Bud Schaetzle, and accomplished director and producer of many country music specials, will serve as executive producer. Schaetzle, who co-wrote the best selling book on the Judds titled "Love Can Build a Bridge," is currently completing a non-fiction book also titled "American Country" which essays the origins and development of country music. "It's our intention to publish the book just prior to the broadcast of the mini-series," said Schaetzle. His Imprint partners, Roy Wunch and Randy Haberkamp, are attached as co-executive producers. J.J. Jamieson, president of Avenue Pictures Television, will also executive produce the project with Brokaw. "We are genuinely thrilled to be working with Bud, Roy and Randy, who bring enormous expertise to this project," said Jamieson. "We couldn't have found better partners."

The mini-series will feature many of the world's greatest country music stars in both featured and cameo roles. The producers also plan a three compact disc soundtrack featuring the music form the mini-series to be released in conjunction with the broadcast.

Pearson Television International is a division of the London based Pearson Group whose media and publishing holdings include The Financial Times, The Economist, Penguin Publishing, Thames Television and Gundy Television. Through its Avenue Pictures division, Avenues Entertainment Group has produced such acclaimed motion pictures as Robert Altman's The Player, Short Cuts, Drugstore Cowboy, The Academy Award winning Restoration and the recently completed Finding Graceland starring Harvey Keitel, Jonathon Schaech and Bridget Fonda. Avenue Pictures Television made for television and cable movies include "In the Eyes of a Stranger," "See Jane Run," "A Stranger in Town," HBO's "Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing," and TNT's "Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight."

CONTACT: Avenue Entertainment Group

Cary Brokaw, President and CEO

310/996-6800

or

Nick Veronis, Senior Vice President

212/315-2503