Fall release for Family Guy DVDP

Fox to cross promote, target colleges

Scott Hettrick and Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 6/20/2005

JUNE 20 | After more than a year of speculation, Fox has announced the release of an animated DVD premiere movie version of Family Guy on Sept. 27, backed by Fox's biggest marketing campaign ever for a TV DVD.

The situation is appropriate, as the network series was the first to be resurrected for the production of new episodes--which recently premiered on Fox--based largely on robust DVD sales.

The first DVD set of Family Guy, released in April 2003, has sold nearly 3 million copies, almost as many as top-seller Chappelle's Show. And the set has generated more than $100 million, about 50% more than Chappelle's Show.

More than 4 million units of all three DVD titles related to the original Family Guy series have sold to date.

Creator Seth MacFarlane's 83-minute "unrated" movie, Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story!, finds Stewie, the maniacal baby genius, distracted from his plans for world domination when he has a near-death experience and sets out on a road trip to find his real dad.

The DVD also will include commentary, deleted scenes and other bonus features.

In addition to synergy cross-promotions across most Fox broadcast and media outlets and licensing units, the studio's multi-million dollar marketing campaign on the title will include national print and television advertising and a major grassroots college campaign targeting co-eds at bars and clubs, fraternity parties and via special screening events.

Family Guy is the first animated DVD premiere movie release by Fox since the likes of FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue and Anastasia sequel Bartok in the '90s.

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