Through a multi-year deal with Discovery Communications, burgeoning distribution company Genius Products LLC has become the exclusive U.S. home entertainment distributor of Discovery Kids programming. Jointly owned by Genius Products Inc. and The Weinstein Co., the division will handle upcoming DVD launches of the animated Discovery Kids Channel series Kenny The Shark and Tutenstein, as well as Paz and The Save-Ums from the Ready Set Learn! preschool block on TLC and Discovery Kids Channel.
Discovery Kids’ first-ever home entertainment distribution agreement will see Genius aggressively rolling out Discovery Kids properties beginning in February 2007, delivering a minimum of 16 titles per year. Home video release dates for the Discovery Kids titles will be announced on an ongoing basis.
Genius Products recently picked up exclusive home video distribution rights to 16 animated properties from the home entertainment arm of BKN International A.G., and acts as the U.S. distributor of animated programs from Germany’s BFC Berliner Film Companie Distribution GmbH. Other animated titles handled by Genius in the U.S. include PorchLight Ent.’s The Secret World of Benjamin Bear and Jay Jay The Jet Plane, as well as the classic properties Curious George, Paddington Bear and My Little Pony.
