Genius enters the WWE ring

Company to distribute wrestling titles in exclusive agreement

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 10/17/2006

OCT. 17 | Genius Products has muscled into a multi-year, exclusive DVD output agreement with World Wrestling Entertainment.

Under the pact’s terms, Genius controls U.S. distribution of WWE’s network, cable and pay-per-view programming and its 90,000-hour wrestling video library starting Nov. 1.

Genius is set to release a minimum of 25 new titles in 2007 plus an additional 100 catalog releases.

The debut WWE title from Genius is documentary Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story on Nov. 14. The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA follows on Nov. 21, and WWE Cyber Sunday 2006 bows on Dec. 5.

WWE has enjoyed years of DVD success through its previous distributor Sony BMG. But the company opted to switch to Genius because of its growing industry clout.

Genius has been releasing its first high-profile theatrical films in 2006, such as Scary Movie 4, thanks to forging a distribution venture with The Weinstein Company. Bob and Harvey Weinstein are majority owners in the venture.

“Home entertainment is a major part of WWE’s business, and we believe we have found in Genius a company that understands our brand and will help us continue to drive our company’s growth,” said WWE chair Vince McMahon. “Bob and Harvey Weinstein have a tremendous track record. We’re excited about this partnership and its long-term potential.”

Genius gains a powerful content partner in WWE. A maturing franchise, WWE is enjoying a surge in popularity, as its Raw TV show jumped from niche channel Spike to the most-watched cable channel USA in October 2005. WWE also launched spin-off league Extreme Championship Wrestling in June on Sci Fi channel, which has extended the show into 2007.

WWE’s best-selling title to date is its most recent edition of PPV event Wrestlemania 22, which shipped about 364,000 units since its May 2006 bow. That is more than 30% above sales of Wrestlemania 21 and nearly 80% above Wrestlemania 20 sales.

Between fiscal 2005 and 2006, WWE home video sales soared 112% to more than $42.6 million. There were 2.96 million gross disc units sold, up 48% from 2005.

“We love what Vince has done in making WWE the leading sports entertainment franchise in the world, and we are very interested in expanding our relationship beyond DVD distribution to other facets of WWE’s global entertainment empire,” Bob Weinstein said. “We view our relationship with WWE as a major alliance with great growth potential.”

For Genius, WWE is another notch in its quickly expanding belt of content partners. Over the past several months, Genius has inked output agreements for ESPN programming, Tartan Video’s Asia Extreme DVD line and Seven Arts Pictures.

“The WWE has transformed sports entertainment into a cultural phenomenon,” Genius CEO Trevor Drinkwater said. “We are honored to be associated with a global brand such as WWE. The company continues to expand its presence in the marketplace through creative programming and brand-building, which in turn helps provide for unique high-quality DVD programs.”

« Back | Print