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- NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Netter Digital Entertainment,
- Inc. (Nasdaq: NETT) today announced that, pursuant to a news release issued by
- Turner Network Television (TNT) and Bradley J. Siegel, president of TNT and
- Turner Classic Movies, TNT has ordered the production of two all-new original
- Babylon 5 made-for-television movies.
- It was announced by TNT that the entire 88 one-hour episodes of the multi-
- year story of the award winning science fiction series Babylon 5 kicks off in
- January 1998 with a two-hour, original film "prequel." "Babylon 5: In The
- Beginning," featuring the cast of Babylon 5 will film early this summer for
- premiere at the January 1998 launch of Babylon 5, with a second two-hour
- original film scheduled for production later this summer. TNT acquired the
- exclusive cable rights to the series from Warner Bros. Domestic Pay-TV, Cable
- & Network Features. The Babylon 5 films are being produced for TNT by series
- creator, J. Michael Straczynski, in conjunction with Netter Digital's Douglas
- Netter and John Copeland.
- In the release by TNT, Mr. Siegel said "TNT's acquisition of Babylon 5
- offers its millions of fans a unique opportunity to see the show's original
- dramatic arc through to its conclusion. Babylon 5 represents the type of
- contemporary high quality programming we are now producing and acquiring at
- TNT." He went on to say, "The series' young, loyal viewers will now have a
- national home where they can watch their favorite series as a community,
- rather than the fragmented viewing that syndication provides. We think this
- helps make TNT very valuable to an important audience for us." TNT is the
- number one-rated cable network in primetime and currently seen in more than 70
- million homes.
- A statement was included in TNT's release from Eric Frankel, Executive
- Vice-President, Marketing, Warner Bros. Domestic Pay-TV, Cable & Network
- Features, as follows: "Babylon 5 is a unique series with an incredible
- following. Its current popularity and critical acclaim, along with these
- world-premiere movies, will provide TNT with a great opportunity to launch the
- series on its network."
- Douglas Netter, Chairman, President and CEO of Netter Digital, said, "We
- are very pleased with Babylon 5's new home at TNT and look forward to our on-
- going relationship with TNT. This order for two Babylon 5 television movies
- validates the Company's strategy to build programming franchises with its
- production properties." He went on to say, "The response from Babylon 5 fans
- around the world is expected to be very favorable."
- Babylon 5, the two-time Emmy award winner earned its place in science-
- fiction history last year when it beat out Apollo 13, Toy Story, 12 Monkeys
- and Deep Space Nine for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, the
- most prestigious honor in the science fiction field. Babylon 5's victory
- marked the first time in the 43-year history of the Hugo Award that a
- television series other than Star Trek and Twilight Zone was honored.
- Netter Digital Entertainment, Inc. is a digital entertainment and
- production company which utilizes high technology in creating television
- series, movies, documentaries and multimedia productions. The Company
- specializes in creating science fiction programming which combines live action
- with computer graphics and is presently expanding its capabilities from being
- primarily a production company into a broader-based, technology-driven
- entertainment company. The Company currently produces the Hugo Award-winning
- science fiction television series "Babylon 5" with creator and executive
- producer, J. Michael Straczynski.
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- SOURCE Netter Digital Entertainment, Inc.
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