Genius to deliver Discovery Kids

Kenny the Shark, Flight 29 Down among titles coming to DVD

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 10/26/2006

OCT. 26 | In the latest in a string of output deals, Genius Products has pacted with Discovery Kids to exclusively distribute a minimum of 16 family DVD titles a year.

This marks the first time Discovery Kids content will be released on DVD.

Starting in February, Genius is set to deliver to retail such Discovery Kids series as Kenny the Shark, Tutenstein, Flight 29 Down, Paz and Save-ums. Street dates and pricing have not yet been determined.

“We have been waiting,” Discovery Kids general manager-executive VP Marjorie Kaplan said. “But we wanted [Discovery Kids on DVD] to be a success. Everything we have to do has to be at the top of our game. And we wanted to be with a partner that could help us be successful.”

Discovery Kids Channel programming is seen in 50 million homes, and the content also runs on sister cable channel TLC. NBC has run a Discovery Kids weekend programming block for the last four years.

Genius signed on to distribute TV properties ESPN and World Wrestling Entertainment over the last few months and has family product, including Brandissimo and The Big Comfy Couch. On Nov. 14, the supplier will bow on DVD Lassie, a new theatrical installment of the classic franchise.

“We find that ESPN and WWE are premiere brands in sports, and we think Discovery Kids will be a premiere brand in family entertainment,” Genius CEO Trevor Drinkwater said. “Discovery talks to kids of different ages and in different ways, so that will help us talk to a lot of different retailers.”

Discovery Kids parent Discovery Communications recently signed Image Entertainment to distribute DVD content from many of Discovery’s other networks, including Discovery Channel and Travel Channel.