..Gary Dretzka
..
Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington



March 6, 2003

N E W S R E L E A S E
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX
A UNIT OF TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

20th Century Fox Unveils Industry-Supported Anti-Piracy Public Service Announcement At ShoWest Convention

Ben Affleck, James Cameron, Sean Astin, Lucy Liu and a legion of behind-the-scenes craftspeople lend support to 72-second message that puts a human face on the effects of piracy

Studio Chairman Jim Gianopulos Announces Agreements with Several of the Country's Leading Exhibitors to Play PSA Nationwide

______________________

Los Angeles, CA, March 5, 2003 - 20th Century Fox Chairman Jim Gianopulos today unveiled a public service announcement produced by Fox on behalf of the motion picture industry and intended to counter the growing threat of digital piracy. The industry's first anti-piracy theatrical PSA, the 72-second film features individuals at all levels of the movie-making business - from actors Ben Affleck, Sean Astin and Lucy Liu, to director James Cameron to concession-stand workers, security guards, and animal wranglers - advocating the message that piracy costs real people real jobs.

"Piracy is the single most critical issue facing our industry today," said Gianopulos. "A generation of kids that would never steal a DVD from a store feels no compunction about downloading illegal copies from the internet. Our industry must bear some of the responsibility for educating people that stealing is stealing - regardless of the form. The PSA makes it clear that copyright theft is not a victimless crime, and affects many people whose livelihoods depend on this industry," he added. "We're gratified that so many exhibitors are embracing this message and that Americans will be able to see it soon in theaters around the country."

Gianopulos announced that Fox had reached agreements with a number of major motion picture exhibitors to play the PSA in domestic theaters, including the world's largest, the Regal Entertainment Group. Also signing on are two of the country's largest exhibitors, Loews Cineplex Entertainment and CineMark USA, Inc.; plus Century Cinemas, Cinémas Guzzo, Consolidated Theatres, and Rave Review Cinemas.

The PSA has generated support from all the studios of the Motion Picture Association of America and will become an important element of the MPAA's comprehensive piracy education campaign. It is the first in a series of anti-piracy messages that will be produced for use in theaters; on TV and cable networks; on DVDs and VHS; at industry screenings and premieres; in the classroom; and at many other venues.

Twentieth Century Fox is a unit of the Fox Entertainment Group. Fox Entertainment Group, Inc., 80.6% owned by The News Corporation Limited (NYSE: NWS), is principally engaged in the development, production and worldwide distribution of feature filmsand television programs, television broadcasting and cable network programming. Fox has total assets as of December 31, 2002 of approximately US$23 billion and total annual revenues of approximately US$10 billion. The Company's studios, production facilities and film and television library provide high-quality creative content, and the Company's broadcasting and cable networks provide extensive distribution platforms for the Company's programs.

For more information regarding the Fox Entertainment Group, please visit www.fox.com

 

 


 

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