The Company Significantly Expands Distribution Network to Fully Leverage Digital Content Library
Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI), announced today that the Company has signed non-exclusive rights agreements with CinemaNow, Inc., Netflix, Inc. and VUDU, Inc. to license select Genius Products digital content for distribution through their networks in the United States. The agreements significantly expand Genius Products’ ability to deliver programs to consumers. The announcement was made by Stephen K. Bannon, Chairman, and Trevor Drinkwater, President and CEO of Genius Products, Inc.
“The expansion of our interactive and digital commerce distribution will further leverage our platform and expand relationships with our many branded content partners,” said Trevor Drinkwater, President and CEO of Genius Products. “In 2008 we expect our branded content to represent over 50% of net revenue as we continue to establish relationships with leading retailers to fully leverage our owned, and licensed, film library properties.”
Under the terms of the agreements, CinemaNow, Netflix and VUDU have the non-exclusive rights to digitally deliver and distribute certain non-Weinstein Genius Products’ titles that have been mutually agreed upon by Genius Products and these licensees.
“Our agreement with Genius Products adds a whole host of diverse, quality content to our viewer offering,” said Patrick Cosson, VUDU’s VP of Marketing. “Through our relationships with every major US movie studio and key independent studios and distributors, VUDU offers our customers the ultimate in Digital content. We look forward to teaming with Genius to further expand the number of entertaining and engaging releases we offer our discerning customers.”
“These agreements are another great example of how we are executing on phase two of our aggressive growth strategy to increase revenue and expand margins through brand and content partnerships, content production, intellectual property ownership, digital rights and the acquisition of additional revenue streams,” said Stephen K. Bannon, Chairman of Genius Products. “In concert with the expansion of our content library in our four verticals of sports, family/faith, lifestyle and independent film, we continue to grow our delivery network on traditional and non-traditional distribution channels to maximize current and future revenue streams.”
About Genius Products
Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI), along with The Weinstein Company Holdings LLC, together owns Genius Products, LLC, a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company that produces, licenses and distributes a valuable library of motion pictures, television programming, family, lifestyle and trend entertainment on DVD and other emerging platforms through its expansive network of retailers throughout the U.S. Genius handles the distribution, marketing and sales for such brands as Animal Planet, Asia Extreme™, Discovery Kids, Dragon Dynasty™, Dimension Films™, Entertainment Rights group companies (Entertainment Rights, Classic Media and Big Idea), ESPN, IFC, RHI Entertainment™, Sesame Workshop, TLC, The Weinstein Company and WWE. Genius Products, Inc. is the managing member of Genius Products, LLC, in which it holds a 30% equity interest.
About Cinema Now
CinemaNow, Inc. is an innovator in digital entertainment technology, delivering high-quality Hollywood movies, TV shows and music videos to users across multiple platforms. Founded in 1999, CinemaNow has partnered with some of the biggest brands in consumer electronics and digital entertainment including ARCHOS, EchoStar Communications, Hewlett-Packard, Macrovision, Microsoft, Samsung, and Sonic Solutions to deliver thousands of video titles directly to consumers. CinemaNow works with more than 250 licensors including 20th Century Fox, ABC News, Disney, HDNet, Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax, NBC Universal, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Sundance Channel and Warner Bros. For more information, visit http://www.cinemanow.com.
About NetFlix
Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) is the world’s largest online movie rental service, providing more than seven million subscribers access to more than 90,000 DVD titles plus a growing library of more than 7,000 choices that can be watched instantly on their PCs. The company offers nine subscription plans, starting at only $4.99 per month. There are no due dates and no late fees — ever. All Netflix plans include both DVDs delivered to subscribers’ homes and, for no additional fee, movies and TV series that can be started in as little as 30 seconds on subscribers’ PCs. DVDs are delivered free to members by first class mail, with a postage-paid return envelope, from over 100 U.S. shipping points. Nearly 95 percent of Netflix subscribers live in areas that can be reached with generally one business day delivery. Netflix offers personalized movie recommendations and has two billion movie ratings. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com.
About VUDU
VUDU is dedicated to bringing instant access to video entertainment including thousands of mainstream movies, HD films and TV shows to every living room. Through relationships with every major US movie studio and more than 22 independent studios and international distributors, VUDU offers the optimal home entertainment experience for consumers. VUDU gives movie and TV fans the ultimate in flexibility and choice. Consumers can finally watch what they want, when they want–no planning needed, no computer necessary, no software downloads, and no cable TV service or satellite subscription required. For more information, visit http://www.vudu.com/.
