Alan E. Bell Named Senior Vice President, Technology, Warner Bros. Technical Operations

(October 25, 2000 - Burbank, CA) - Dr. Alan E. Bell has been named Senior Vice President, Technology, Warner Bros. Technical Operations, it was announced today by Chris Cookson, Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Warner Bros. In his new position, Bell will lead a team charged with investigating, developing and integrating new technologies relating to the creation and distribution of digital media, including the implementation of digital rights management. Bell’s team will evaluate and help define those technologies which meet the specific requirements of Warner Bros.’ continued transition into digital media and actively participate in the setting of industry standards. As Warner Bros. continues to apply digital technologies that will transform its existing businesses and create new opportunities, Bell’s appointment represents a key executive addition to the technology team headed by Cookson, who said, "Alan’s vision for and invaluable leadership in the practical application of technologies has been critical to the growth of the digital distribution of entertainment products. I look forward to working with him in his new Warner Bros. post where his contribution will be vital to our future growth." Bell most recently served in the IBM Research Division as Director, Digital Media Standards and Commercialization. Throughout his 18-year tenure with IBM, Bell held a number of positions in the company’s Research, Storage and Internet Divisions, and was a key member of their digital media team, specializing in copy protection technologies. Bell was instrumental in the unification of the competing formats that resulted in the introduction of DVD, and currently serves as co-chair of the Copy Protection Technical Working Group (CPTWG). Prior to IBM, Bell served as a Senior Scientist for Exxon’s Central Research Laboratory and as member of the technical staff at the RCA/David Sarnoff Research Center. Bell is inventor or co-inventor of more than 20 U.S. patents, and was elected a Fellow of the Optical Society of America for his early contributions to optical data storage technology. He has published articles and scientific papers extensively, which have appeared in journals such as Applied Physics Letters, Nature, IEEE Spectrum and Scientific American. Bell holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and a doctorate in solid state physics from the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London. # # #