Wal-Mart gets Disney exclusive
Acquired DVD premiere 3 Wise Men goes only to mass merchant
By Scott Hettrick -- Video Business, 8/26/2005
AUG. 26 | Buena Vista Home Entertainment has reached a deal with Wal-Mart to be the exclusive U.S. retailer (excluding Puerto Rico) of a new animated DVD premiere feature film, The 3 Wise Men, from Nov. 1 through the holidays.
The deal is the latest in the growing number of exclusives being struck by retailers for DVDs, CDs and other products. Best Buy frequently strikes deals for exclusive added-value content for DVDs, such as the James Bond series and an exclusive window for DVDs in recent years of major recording artists such as Elton John and The Rolling Stones. Best Buy will have an exclusive extra disc of extras for the Sept. 6 debut of the first season of Lost on DVD (also from BVHE) that includes the special ABC recap episode and additional featurettes. BVHE also struck a deal recently with Best Buy to be the exclusive retailer of the short-lived 1996 Dave Chappelle ABC TV series from Touchstone Television called Buddies. Best Buy is still the only retailer selling that title.
Wal-Mart recently made news by gaining exclusive rights to the entire catalog of Garth Brooks.
A spokeswoman for Wal-Mart said the store will be offering the English and Spanish language versions of the title priced at $19.99 SRP for less than $15.
“We believe this Disney title is one that will appeal to a variety of our customers especially during the holiday season,” she said.
Lori MacPherson, senior VP brand marketing for BVHE, said the studio is selectively looking for opportunities that make sense to capitalize on Wal-Mart customers and the more than 2,000 U.S. stores of the company, which is by far the largest seller of DVDs. The studio has no plans to put major BVHE animated films or other major titles exclusively at Wal-Mart.
The 76-minute Wise Men produced by Animagicstudio, featuring principle animators who are Disney veterans of films such as Fantasia 2000, Hercules and Tarzan. BVHE is distributing Wise Men for Latino marketing and acquisition company Arenas Ent., which acquired the movie from Spain-based Cartel.
After the movie had a theatrical release in Spain in 2003, where it grossed the equivalent of $8 million to $9 million U.S. dollars, and a run in France last year, Arenas re-dubbed the movie with new voice actors including Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.
Santiago Pozo of Arenas says the film is targeted at family, faith-based and Latino markets.
MacPherson said details of the Wal-Mart deal have not been finalized. But Pozo said Wal-Mart will help promote the movie by placing it strategically in high-visibility locations.
MacPherson says any exclusives will eventually be made available to other retailers.
The Bible story of the three kings who are guided by the Star of Bethlehem to the birthplace of Jesus Christ also features Grammy Award nominee and Christian recording artist Jaci Velasquez, Latin Grammy Award winner and Christian recording artist Marcos Witt, Gold & Platinum recording artist Lupillo Rivera, Hispanic TV star Kuno Becker and Latino theater troupe Culture Clash.
Spanish-language star Jose Rodriguez and Angélica Vale join many of the cast for the Spanish-language version of the film, available on the same DVD.
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