Turner Broadcasting Acquires Runaway Bride, Deep Impact, The Truman Show, Forrest Gump and Others in Film Deal With Paramount.

Entertainment Editors & Technology Writers

ATLANTA--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 6, 2000

Continuing its unparalleled pursuit of contemporary motion pictures for premieres on Turner Network Television and TBS Superstation, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) has secured television rights to 19 theatrical titles from Paramount Pictures, it was announced today by Brad Siegel, president of general entertainment networks, TBS, Inc.

Titles in the multi-year agreement include the multiple-Academy Award(R)-winning Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks; Jim Carrey's tour-de-force performance in The Truman Show; Julia Roberts and Richard Gere's re-teaming in Gary Marshall's Runaway Bride; the blockbuster Deep Impact; Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon in Election; John Travolta starring in The General's Daughter; an all-star cast led by Ben Affleck in 200 Cigarettes; Billy Bob Thornton's acclaimed A Simple Plan; and Varsity Blues.

In an innovative arrangement, TBS Inc., has licensed the syndication window of all 19 theatrical titles and bought into the traditional network window immediately following the broadcast airings of at least ten and possibly as many as fifteen. Those ten titles are: The Truman Show, The General's Daughter, 200 Cigarettes, Snake Eyes, Start Treck Insurrection, Neil Simon's Odd Couple II, Sliding Doors, The Wood, A Night at the Roxbury and Payback. The other five titles are A Simple Plan, Hard Rain, The Out-of-Towners, Deep Impact and Runaway Bride.

The Paramount titles will air primarily on TNT and TBS Superstation, with Turner South and Turner Classic Movies also gaining access.

"Titles like these continue to reinforce TNT and TBS Superstation's position as the leading presenters of contemporary movies on commercial television," said Siegel.

TNT and TBS Superstation together have acquired the broadcast network window rights to more than 175 of today's top theatrical motion pictures, including Boiler Room, The Mummy, As Good As It Gets, both Austin Powers pictures, L.A. Confidential, Payback, Wag The Dog, Pleasantville, Deep Blue Sea, The Mask of Zorro, Contact, A Perfect Murder, Rush Hour, Lost In Space and The Negotiator. Among the hundreds of titles the two networks have licensed in the syndication window are Men In Black, Twister, Air Force One, Ransom, The Rock and The Peacemaker.

TBS Superstation, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s flagship entertainment network seen in more than 78.6 million households, is watched by more people than any other cable network and has been for 23 consecutive years. The Superstation features popular movies; original programming; outstanding sports, including action from the Atlanta Braves, the NBA and NASCAR; and favorite comedies. The Superstation's Web site is located at TBSsuperstation.com.

Turner Network Television, currently seen in 77.1 million homes, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s 24-hour, advertiser-supported service offering original motion pictures and miniseries; original series, non-fiction specials and live events; contemporary films from the world's largest film library, the combined Turner and Warner Bros. film libraries; exciting NBA sports action; exclusive coverage of both the 2000 Winter and 2001 Summer Goodwill Games; and popular television series.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.