June 21, 2004 01:02 PM US Eastern Timezone

HDNet Gains First-Run Cable HD Rights to the WB’s ``Smallville’’; HDNet Will Be the First and Only Place Off-Network to See All First-Season Episodes in HD

DALLAS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—June 21, 2004—HDNet announced today a multi-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution for the acclaimed series "Smallville." The first season of the series begins its exclusive cable HD run on HDNet in the fall of 2004.

"’Smallville’ is an outstanding show with a great concept and exceptional cast," said Mark Cuban, Co-founder and President of HDNet. "HDNet is proud to be the only place where viewers can see all of the series’ episodes in its original HD format."

"HDNet has proven to be a great outlet to showcase world-class Warner Bros. series and movies in HD," said Eric Frankel, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. "’Smallville,’ with its special effects and high energy, is a great addition to this lineup."

"Smallville" is The WB’s highest-rated series of all time and will begin its fourth season this fall on the network. This new interpretation of the enduring Superman mythology and its classic characters blends realism and adventure into an exciting action series. The idyllic town of Smallville, Kansas, never seemed the same after the meteor shower that rained down 12 years ago — the day Clark Kent arrived on Earth and the day strange things started happening in Smallville.

Now, Clark is a teenager, and his growing pains are amplified by the burden of his emerging superpowers and his longing for Lana Lang, the beautiful girl next door. When the charismatic Lex Luthor arrives in town, he befriends Clark and without an inkling of their destinies, becomes the older brother Clark never had. The show stars Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Annette O’Toole ("Superman III") as Martha Kent, Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), and John Schneider (Jonathan Kent).

Reinterpreting the Superman mythology from its roots, Smallville was written and developed by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Shanghai Noon, Spiderman 2), based on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive producers, along with Greg Beeman, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Ken Horton. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.