Message #58 From:
NewsBot Date: October 26, 2006 09:03:00 AM
GNPI News Genius Products Secures Exclusive U.S. Distribution Rights to the Highly Acclaimed Discovery Kids Programming Portfolio
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genius Products, LLC. announced today that it has entered into an
agreement with Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) to be the exclusive
home entertainment distributor of Discovery Kids programming. The
announcement was made by Genius’ President and
CEO Trevor Drinkwater and Chairman Stephen K. Bannon, and by Marjorie
Kaplan, General Manager & Executive Vice President, Discovery Kids, a
division of DCI.
Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, which marks Discovery Kids’
first ever home entertainment distribution agreement, Genius will be the
exclusive distributor in the U.S. for Discovery Kids branded television
properties, including content from the Ready Set Learn!™
block on TLC and Discovery Kids Channel.
”We continue to expand and diversify our
leading entertainment offerings by partnering with industry leading
content providers such as Discovery Kids,”
stated Trevor Drinkwater. “Discovery is a
well-respected brand whose channels and programming are synonymous with
excellence. Moreover, Marjorie Kaplan embodies that excellence, along
with stellar creativity and vision, through the programming she has
brought to life on the Discovery Kids Channel and the Ready Set Learn!
block on TLC.”
Genius plans an aggressive rollout of the Discovery Kids properties
beginning in February 2007, delivering a minimum of 16 titles per year,
which will utilize the same sales and marketing muscle that has made
Genius one of the fastest-growing suppliers in the video industry.
Properties for release on DVD include KENNY THE SHARK, TUTENSTEIN
and FLIGHT 29 DOWN, as seen on the Discovery Kids Channel and PAZ
and SAVE-UMS from Ready Set Learn!™,
the preschool block that airs on TLC and Discovery Kids Channel. Home
video release dates for the Discovery Kids titles will be announced on
an ongoing basis.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Genius
to bring our portfolio of programs into the home entertainment
marketplace,” said Marjorie Kaplan. “We
are extremely impressed with Genius’s
capabilities and creativity and we’re
confident that this relationship will only serve to strengthen the
Discovery Kids brand.”
The Discovery Kids programming further strengthens Genius’s
rapidly growing library of kid and family-friendly content. Over the
past year, the company has been strategically expanding its position in
the industry through the introduction of new brands and strategic
content provider partnerships across the Family & Faith, Sports,
Lifestyle and Independent Film product segments.
Mr. Bannon remarked, “Discovery Kids will be
an important foundational brand in the development of our Family
category in the same way that our ESPN relationship has anchored our
Sports category. We believe our retail expertise and brand strategy will
greatly expand DCI’s Discovery Kids Channel
and other branded television properties.”
About Genius Products
Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI), along with The Weinstein Company,
jointly own Genius Products, LLC, a leading independent
home-entertainment distribution company that produces, licenses, and
distributes a valuable library of motion pictures, television
programming, family, lifestyle and trend entertainment on DVD and other
emerging platforms through its expansive network of retailers throughout
the U.S. Genius handles the distribution, marketing and sales for such
brands as Asia Extreme(TM), Baby Genius®,
Dragon Dynasty™, Dimension Films, ESPN®,
IFC®, NBC News®,
Sundance Channel Home Entertainment®,
Wellspring™ and The Weinstein Company®.
Genius Products, Inc. is the managing member of Genius Products, LLC, in
which it holds a 30% equity interest.
About Discovery Communications, Inc.
Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media
company with operations in 170 countries and territories reaching 1.4
billion cumulative subscribers. DCI’s over
100 networks of distinctive programming represent 29 trusted brands
including Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. DCI’s
other properties consist of Discovery Education and COSMEO, a
revolutionary online homework help service, as well as Discovery
Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the
U.S. Discovery brings the real world to the whole world through its
global multiplatform initiatives including Discovery Travel Media,
Discovery Mobile and multiple broadband services. DCI’s
ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company
(NASDAQ:DISCA) (NASDAQ:DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc.,
Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company’s
Founder and Chairman. More information about Discovery and its
businesses can be found at www.discovery.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical matters contained herein, the matters discussed in
this press release are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking
statements reflect assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that
may affect the business, forecasts, projections and prospects of Genius
Products, Discovery Communications, Inc. and Discovery Holding Company,
and cause actual results to differ materially from those in these
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, the anticipated number of releases, timing and
financial performance of releases from Discovery Kids or Discovery
Communications, Inc., including, but not limited to titles such as “Kenny
the Shark”, “Tutenstein”,
“Flight 29 Down”, “Paz”,
and “Save-Ums”,
and any other statements relating to new or potential releases that are
not historical statements of fact. Actual results could vary for many
reasons, including but not limited to, the unpredictability of audience
demand, the effect of technological change and the availability of
alternative forms of entertainment. Other risks and uncertainties
include matters described in filings by Genius Products Inc. and
Discovery Holding Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Neither Genius Products Inc. nor Discovery Communications, Inc. or
Discovery Holding Company assumes any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring
after the date of this press release.
