Paramount Home Entertainment Announces Next-Generation HD DVD Titles

Paramount Home Entertainment Announces Next-Generation HD DVD Titles

Rich Content Ranging From 'The Manchurian Candidate' Starring Denzel Washington to Academy Award(R) Winners 'Braveheart' and 'Forrest Gump' to be Released on HD DVD

LOS ANGELES and LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Home Entertainment, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA; VIA.B) announced today at the CES HD DVD press conference that more than 20 titles from the studio's renowned library - including such new releases as "The Manchurian Candidate," starring Denzel Washington and 2005 Golden Globe nominee Meryl Streep, and the upcoming Cameron Crowe film "Elizabethtown," are planned for release on the next-generation HD DVD format beginning in Q4 2005 (see below for complete list).

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991206/PARLOGO)

Other Paramount titles to be released on HD DVD include such hits as the Tom Hanks' Academy Award winning blockbuster "Forrest Gump" and Mel Gibson's critically acclaimed "Braveheart" -- the winner of five Academy Awards including "Best Picture" and "Best Director."

"Paramount's depth of content, combined with the innovative technology of HD DVD, will introduce consumers to exciting, new ways of enjoying the action, drama, sounds and excitement of their favorite films in the comfort of their living room," said Rob Friedman, chief operating officer, Paramount Pictures and vice chairman, Motion Picture Group. "We're pleased to be at the forefront of next generation of DVD and these titles are just the beginning."

"Paramount has concluded that HD DVD has significant advantages in terms of performance, reliability and affordability that will truly benefit both the consumer and the entertainment industry," added Thomas Lesinski, president, Paramount Pictures, Worldwide Home Entertainment. "We are very excited to support the launch of HD DVD with some of the most celebrated movies from Paramount's storied library."

HD DVD is a digital video format that features such improvements over existing DVD technology as enhanced picture quality, robust content protection, advanced navigation tools and new interactive capabilities such as web connectivity. HD DVD is the only next generation DVD format endorsed by the DVD Forum which is comprised of 230 consumer, electronics, entertainment, software, IT and other companies around the world. The format also supports the Advanced Access Content System (AACS), the most secure enhanced copy protection to date.

PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT -- HD DVD LAUNCH TITLES

New/Recent Releases:
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
ELIZABETHTOWN
COACH CARTER
ITALIAN JOB
SCHOOL OF ROCK
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

Catalog Titles:
FORREST GUMP
BRAVEHEART
GHOST
GREASE
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2
BLACK RAIN
SAVE THE LAST DANCE
SLEEPY HOLLOW
U2 RATTLE & HUM
VANILLA SKY
LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER
STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT
WE WERE SOLDIERS

About Paramount Home Entertainment


Paramount Home Entertainment is part of the Paramount Motion Picture Group and is responsible for the worldwide sales, marketing, and distribution of home entertainment for Viacom including: Paramount Pictures, CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. The Paramount Motion Picture Group is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies and a leader in the production, promotion and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and music.

For further information, please contact Nancy Kirkpatrick, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Publicity, +1-323-956-5824

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991206/PARLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Paramount Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Nancy Kirkpatrick, Executive Vice President, Worldwide
Publicity of Paramount Home Entertainment, +1-323-956-5824


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