Cartoon Network expands DVD release slate
Supplier brings out more full-season sets, original TV movies
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 3/9/2007
MARCH 9 | Cartoon Network is ramping up its DVD marketing with an expanded slate of full-season sets and more original TV movies.
“Our kids titles are reflecting more broadly what’s going on in TV DVD, where we are evolving into season sets,” said John Friend, senior VP. “The other thing going on is technology, where kids have access now to episodes in different places [TV and online]. So the DVD is more about collecting.”
Through 2007, Cartoon Network hopes to release 12 kids titles, in addition to 10 from its Adult Swim anime brand, with which it has made the biggest impact in DVD so far.
Coming up are the second season of Ed, Edd ’n Eddy, due April 24 (prebook March 20; $19.98) and movie Bill and Mandy’s Big Boogey Adventure, which will hit retail shelves April 3, just four days after it airs on the channel (order now; $14.97).
Ed, Edd ’n Eddy: The Complete First Season, out Oct. 10, 2006, was Cartoon Network’s debut full-season kids release.
“Last year, we released a couple of titles for Ed, Edd ’n Eddy, and the interesting thing is that the full set sold better than the episodic collection,” said Friend. “We’re driven by the idea of giving people better value and more depth of content.”
Released Feb. 6, Ben 10: The Complete Season 1 is the network’s best-selling kids title featuring original programming in years, according to Friend.
Through its first two weeks on shelves, Ben 10 sold through 80% of its copies, which includes retailers’ re-orders during the period. The last time Cartoon Network kids titles performed this well was in 2000 for releases featuring TV episodes of The PowerPuff Girls, Friend said, without giving further details.
Season one of The PowerPuff Girls will be released on June 19 (prebook May 15; DVD $26.99) through Warner Home Video, Cartoon Network’s long-term DVD distribution partner.In the past, Cartoon Network has normally released episodic compilations of its kids series, including PowerPuff Girls and current series Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. The network has usually reserved full-season TV DVD treatment for its more grown-up shows, including programming from its Adult Swim late-night block.
