NEWS RELEASE

THE TRIAL OF OLD DRUM TO OPEN ON ANIMAL PLANET THIS SUMMER
-- Ron Perlman, Randy Travis and Scott Bakula star in world premiere movie --

On Friday, June 9, 2000 at 8 PM (ET), Animal Planet will continue its ambitious efforts to air high-quality primetime dramatic programming with the world television premiere of the original movie, THE TRIAL OF OLD DRUM. The film is one of several full-length original movies slated to premiere on Animal Planet in 2000.
This movie recounts the true story of the powerful bond between young Charlie Burden and his maligned dog, Old Drum. Featuring Randy Travis as the current-day Charlie Burden; Ron Perlman as Charles Burden Sr. (Charlie's father); Scott Bakula as defense attorney George Vest and Bobby Edner as young Charlie Burden, THE TRIAL OF OLD DRUM will transport viewers to 1955 where, in the rolling hills of Western Missouri, 12-year-old Charlie Burden and his faithful golden retriever Old Drum take part on a series of summertime adventures. From encounters with rattlesnakes to a near-drowning, Old Drum is always there to keep Charlie out of harm's way. All in all, a pretty normal life for a boy and his dog on a Missouri farm; that is, until a pack of wild dogs begin to terrorize their town.
While out on one of their adventures, Charlie and Old Drum are accosted by the wild pack, and only Old Drum's instincts and courage can save Charlie. Though nearly killed, Old Drum saves Charlie's life, and gains instant fame throughout the region. However, his celebrity status is short-lived when a sheep is killed and Old Drum is wrongly accused of the crime. Old Drum is forced to stand trial, his life hanging in the balance, and Charlie realizes that he is the only one who can restore his faithful companion's reputation, and save his life, restoring peace to his family and his hometown.

THE TRIAL OF OLD DRUM also features John Schuck as Uncle Lon; Dick Martin as Mayor Meyers; David Graf as Judge Henry; Alia Shwkat as Dee; Alexis O'Keefe as Ann and Kathy Garver as Aunt Katey.
THE TRIAL OF OLD DRUM is a production of Porchlight Entertainment for Animal Planet. For Porchlight, Bruce D. Johnson is executive producer, Joe Broido and David Brookwell are producers and Sean McNamara is director. For Animal Planet, Ross Hammer is executive producer, and David E. Gerber is vice president of production.
THE TRIAL OF OLD DRUM will make its world television premiere on Animal Planet on Friday, June 9, 2000 at 8 PM (ET), with encore presentations at 10 PM (ET) and midnight.
Launched in October 1996, and now available in 57 million homes, Animal Planet offers a wide range of television entertainment including dramatic reality-based series, talk shows, original fictional programming, high-quality children's shows, documentaries, and more. Discovery Networks, U.S., a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., operates and manages Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery People, Discovery Kids Channel, Discovery Science Channel, Discovery Home & Leisure Channel, Discovery Civilization Channel, Discovery Wings Channel, and Discovery en Español. The unit also markets and distributes BBC America. Animal Planet's Web site address is http://www.animalplanet.com