Telepictures President Jim Paratore Adds Oversight Of Station Sales For Warner Bros.’ Syndication Division

(March 21, 2002 - Burbank, CA) - Jim Paratore, President, Telepictures Productions will expand his responsibilities to include day-to-day oversight of the station sales operations of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution and Telepictures Distribution, it was announced today by Dick Robertson, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD). In his new role, Paratore will add the title Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution reporting to Robertson, and maintain his current title as President, Telepictures Productions, where he will continue to report to Bruce Rosenblum, Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Television Group. “Jim and I have worked together for 15 years and have a great deal of personal and professional respect for one another,” said Robertson. “This new structure formalizes our long-standing practice of having Jim highly involved in the sales process--from producing sales tapes to assisting in making station pitches and presentations to having frequent contact with our station and advertising clients. His production and sales interaction in the marketing process is a primary reason why we have more first-run shows on the air than any other distributor without the benefit of owning a single television station.” “This collaboration is something Dick and I have worked toward for a long time,” said Paratore. “Dick has assembled the best sales and marketing team in the business and I look forward to all of us working together under this new structure in our rapidly changing industry.” Paratore was named President of Telepictures Productions in February 1992, having served as the company’s Senior Vice President since January 1990. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President, First-run Development, Lorimar Telepictures from 1988-1990 and Vice President, Production, Lorimar Telepictures from 1987-1988. Before joining Lorimar Telepictures in 1987, Paratore was Director of Programming and Production at WTVJ-TV (Miami); Program Director at WPLG-TV (Miami); Advertising and Promotion Manager at WJXT-TV (Jacksonville, FL); and at KALB-TV (Alexandria, LA). Since its inception 11 years ago, Telepictures has concentrated on the development and production of programming for the first-run syndication marketplace and, while continuing to specialize in reality and reality-based series and specials, the company has expanded its activities to include network and cable production for all day parts. Telepictures also produces programs as part of a venture with Time Inc. under the Time Telepictures Television (TTT) banner. The company’s current first-run roster includes “ElimiDate,” “Street Smarts,” “Judge Mathis,” “Change of Heart,” “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Extra” and “Jenny Jones.” Telepictures’ midseason series include “The Bachelor” for ABC, “USU - Smashzone” for TNN and “High School Reunion” and “America’s Most Talented People” for The WB. For the 2002-03 season, Telepictures Productions will produce two new syndicated first-run series: “The Caroline Rhea Show” (the continuation of the talk/variety franchise created and established by Rosie O’Donnell) and “Celebrity Justice,” a half-hour newsmagazine strip that covers the trials and legal tribulations of the rich and famous. WBDTD currently distributes five first-run series: “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Jenny Jones,” “Extra,” “The People’s Court” and “Judge Mathis.” In fall 2002, “The Caroline Rhea Show” takes over for Rosie. The extensive list of off-network comedies currently in syndication via WBDTD includes “Friends,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “Suddenly Susan,” “Martin,” “Step by Step,” “Wayans Bros.” and “The Parent ‘Hood.” Premiering in off-net in fall 2002 is “Will & Grace,” from NBC Studios. Telepictures Distribution currently handles the first-run distribution of “Change of Heart,” “Street Smarts” and “ElimiDate,” with “Celebrity Justice” joining the line-up in fall 2002. The division’s off-network sales include such series as “The West Wing” (weekend broadcast window, available fall 2003), “ER” (weekend broadcast window), numerous sitcoms and major feature film packages from the extensive Warner Bros. library. # # #