HBO, Asia's leading entertainment provider, has announced plans to premiere the new epic ten-part miniseries Band of Brothers in late 2001. This new $120 million miniseries is the most expensive original production by HBO to-date.

Based on Stephen Ambrose's nonfiction bestseller about a World War II US Army unit, the miniseries is slated to debut in Asia, exclusively on HBO, in the latter part of 2001.

Band of Brothers is produced by Band Of Brothers Ltd. on behalf of the Playtone Company and DreamWorks SKG. Tom Hanks (executive producer of the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon) and Steven Spielberg serve as executive producers. Tony To (co-executive producer of From the Earth to the Moon) is co-executive-producer.

"Band is the kind of exciting quality programme that makes HBO a unique provider of entertainment. Combining an epic, heroic story with the production talents of Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and HBO, it is sure to result in a stunning treat for HBO viewers. This is another part of our ongoing efforts to bring "the best" to our subscribers in Asia. We are very excited about this programme," said Dan Murrell, president and CEO, HBO Asia. 

Band Of Brothers tells the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, US Army. Starting with their rigorous training in Georgia in 1942, it recounts the achievements of the elite rifle company, which parachuted into France early on D-Day morning, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and captured Hilter's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. Drawn from hours of interviews with survivors, as well as soldiers' journals and letters, Band Of Brothers chronicles a unit that became true American heroes.

As a kick-off, HBO premiered screening of the first two parts of 'Band Of Brothers' on Wednesday 6 June, the anniversary of D-Day, on the grounds of the Utah Beach Memorial in Normandy, France.