Free Preview of HBO on StarHub Digital Cable

Tuck Into an Eclectic Buffet of Dramas and Blockbusters Galore!
Be Enthralled by a Gripping Tale of Love and Betrayal in the Premiere of the Epic Dramatic Series, “Rome”

Singapore, 15 November 2005 - StarHub will run a free preview of HBO (StarHub Channel 60) from 27 to 29 November for all StarHub Digital Cable customers! During this period, customers of StarHub Digital Cable can enjoy the programmes on HBO by simply tuning in to StarHub’s Preview Channel, Channel 01.

HBO offers viewers round-the-clock entertainment from Hollywood. The channel presents an unparalleled line-up of up to 140 programmes a month, including blockbuster hits, exclusive and award-winning HBO Original Series and movies.

This free preview coincides with the Asia premiere of “Rome”, an HBO Original Series that was produced with a budget of US$100 million - one of the largest in television history. Narrated through the lives of two Roman soldiers who were drawn into the political intrigues of the time, the story of “Rome” paints a stark and compelling picture of the rampant cruelty, energy and dynamism that is characteristic of ancient Rome.

“HBO is a very popular channel that has always premiered world-class movies and award-winning original productions. Previous HBO Original Series have proven to be immensely popular among our cable TV customers. These include “Sex in the City”, “Six Feet Under”, “Band of Brothers”, and more recently, the phenomenal Western drama, “Deadwood”, which was nominated for 11 Emmys® and two Golden Globe® Awards . We are confident of a very enthusiastic response towards “Rome”, and are delighted to present m ovie lovers with the perfect opportunity to sample the excellent Hollywood productions on HBO,” enthused Ms Sandie Lee, StarHub ' s Senior Vice President, Cable TV services.

A PREMIERE NOT TO BE MISSED!

“Rome” was filmed in Italy and is the first English-language series to be shot entirely in a non-English-speaking country. Developed and produced over a span of seven years, the epic 12-part series was created by Bruno Heller. To illustrate the grand scale of a sprawling Roman empire on film, Heller and his team spent five months to build the largest standing set in the world, which occupies an area the size of three soccer fields.

Among the actors starring in the first season are Kevin McKidd (“Kingdom of Heaven”) as Lucius Vorenus, Ray Stevenson (“King Arthur”) as Titus Pullo, Ciarán Hinds (“Road to Perdition”) as Gaius Julius Caesar, Kenneth Cranham (“Gangster No. 1”) as Pompey Magnus, Polly Walker (“Patriot Games”) as Atia of the Julii and James Purefoy (“Vanity Fair”) as Mark Antony.

“Rome” premieres for the first time in Asia on 27 November at 10pm, exclusively on HBO (StarHub Channel 60). Viewers in Singapore can catch the first three episodes every day from 27 November at 10pm. Subsequent episodes of this 12-episode series will premiere every Tuesday at 10pm. Repeats of the previous episode will be aired on Tuesdays at 9pm.

Movie buffs can enjoy HBO for just $12.60 per month (including GST), upon subscription of three ‘Basic Groups’ from StarHub Digital Cable’s subscription plan. In addition, new subscribers to HBO will enjoy 50 percent off HBO subscription rates for the first 3 months, and stand a chance to win a trip for two to Rome and iPod nano sets! This offer is valid till 31 December, and terms and conditions apply.

Other exciting blockbusters on HBO in November and December include:

• “Troy” (Starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger) - An adaptation of Homer's “Iliad”, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces and chronicles the fate of the men involved.
• “The Chronicles Of Riddick” (Starring Vin Diesel and Thandie Newton) - In this sequel to “Pitch Black”, the reluctant but charismatic anti-hero, Riddick, returns to stop an evil cult from taking over the universe.
• “Cellular” (Starring Kim Basinger, Chris Evans and William H. Macy) - A high school teacher’s only hope of rescue from a ruthless kidnapper, is a phone call to a stranger.
• “Hellboy” (Starring Ron Perlman, Selma Blair and John Hurt) - A demon, raised from infancy by the Nazis, grows up to become a defender against the forces of darkness.
• “Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow” (Starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie) - In this sci-fi adventure film, “Sky Captain” Sullivan, an intrepid self-styled adventurer, teams up with a reporter and a one-eyed pilot to save the world from an evil megalomaniac and his robots.
• “The Bourne Supremacy” (Starring Matt Damon, Julia Stiles and Joan Allen) - Expert assassin, Jason Bourne, is dragged back into the shadowy world of international espionage when he becomes the main suspect in a CIA sting gone wrong.
• “Mean Girls” (Starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel Mcadams and Tina Fey) - A sheltered, home-schooled girl enters public high school for the first time and encounters psychological warfare and the unwritten social rules among teenage girls.
• "The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King” (Starring Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Miranda Otto and Hugo Weaving) - Author J.R.R. Tolkien's epic trilogy, masterfully brought to life by Academy Award-winning New Zealand director Peter Jackson, finally draws to a close.  An even greater, cataclysmic war against Men and Elves looms as the evil Lord Sauron turns his eye on Minas Tirith, the final stronghold. Aragorn will finally discover his kingly birthright when he tries to summon the armies, both human and undead, to battle.  But he and Gandalf know that it can only be won if the ill-fated ringbearer, Frodo, is successful in destroying the ring in the fires of Mount Doom.
• “The Devil's Advocate” (Starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron) - Small town attorney Kevin Lomax makes his way to New York City with his wife to put his legalistic skills to the test at a leading Manhattan law firm run by the inscrutable John Milton. Little does he know that Milton is Satan incarnate, and he has got a destiny for Kevin to fulfill.