These articles from Kidscreen and Lion Gate Studios’ website.
Kidscreen reports:
…DIC has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Lions Gate Home Entertainment (a division of Lions Gate Studios) to distribute its library of programming in North America. For DIC, the multiyear deal represents its first step back into the home entertainment realm since Heyward, newly named DIC president Brad Brooks and investment company Bain Capital bought the company back from Disney in November. Though DIC had planned to start releasing its shows on video and DVD in the spring, the process of choosing a distribution partner took longer than expected, says Don Gold, executive VP of home entertainment. Ultimately, though, selecting Lions Gate became a no-brainer. “Lions Gate was the most enthusiastic about our shows, and put together a plan that would allow DIC to be the focal point for all of its children’s programming,” says Gold. As per the agreement, Lions Gate will release DIC’s catalog, which includes some 2,500 half hours of programming, on VHS and DVD through its Trimark Home Entertainment division. Starting in August, Trimark will bow with best-of episodic collections for Sabrina: The Animated Series and the Ivan Reitman-produced Mummies Alive! on VHS and DVD, and will follow up with releases for Madeline in September. Gold says the two companies will work closely to aggressively market DIC’s titles, and the partners plan to tie in promotionally with The Learning Company for video releases of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and with Sega for Sonic the Hedgehog, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Though DIC’s agreement with Lions Gate covers North America only, Gold says the company has begun negotiating separate deals with a number of distributors outside the U.S. to distribute DIC’s shows on DVD/VHS internationally.
This from Lion Gate Studios’ Website news page:
June 6, 2001 DIC ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS WITH LIONS GATE IN NORTH AMERICAN HOME ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTION DEAL (Burbank, CA. – June 6, 2001) – DIC Entertainment has inked an exclusive North American distribution deal for its extensive library of award-winning animation with Lions Gate Home Entertainment, it was announced today by Don Gold, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Home Entertainment at DIC, and Peter Block, President of Home Entertainment, Acquisitions and New Media at Lions Gate. Under the deal, Lions Gate will distribute the diverse library of properties within the DIC catalog, which is the second largest library of American animation in the world. The deal marks an important step in the growth of both companies. For DIC, it is the first distribution deal for the Worldwide Home Entertainment division since DIC CEO Andy Heyward, along with Bain Capital, purchased DIC back from Disney in November, 2000. For Lions Gate, the partnership represents a giant step into the business of distributing children?s programming. By virtue of the deal, DIC will become the primary supplier of animation titles to Lions Gate. While Lions Gate will oversee the distribution of DIC?s extensive catalog of programs, the artwork, packaging and marketing of all releases will be a cooperative effort between both companies. The first releases on VHS and DVD slated for August are ?Sabrina, The Animated Series,? based on the hugely popular WB series starring Melissa Joan Hart, and ?Mummies Alive!,? the Ivan Reitman-produced animated series. The planned DIC releases over the next several months include ?Madeline,? ?Sonic The Hedgehog,? ?Carmen Sandiego,? ?Inspector Gadget,? ?Action Man,? as well as numerous other titles. ?Home Entertainment represents a significant source of revenue for any entertainment company, and I could not be more pleased that Lions Gate aggressively and enthusiastically pursued this distribution agreement. They have an exceptional sales staff, an innovative marketing team and a management staff marked by integrity and trust,? said Don Gold. Peter Block said, ?DIC has an extensive catalog of animated titles that have tremendous recognition and brand awareness across all generations, and we are honored that DIC has chosen Lions Gate as its distributor. DIC has a fantastic management team in place and has been a Company that continues to re-invent itself, and these factors were extremely important in our decision to distribute DIC titles. This is a key acquisition in building our sell-through catalog to the heights we believe it can soar to, and we look forward to our continuing relationship with DIC.? Lions Gate Executive Vice President, North American Home Video Sales and Operations, Ron Schwartz added, ?This acquisition will provide the powerful boost in our sell-through business that we?ve been looking for. As a home video company, we?ve had much success in the sell-through arena, but we?ve never had the opportunity to distribute such a wide array of quality children?s product. We are extremely pleased that DIC has placed their confidence in our hands.? The deal was brought to Lions Gate by Guy Stodel, Lions Gate?s Vice President of Acquisitions. The deal was brokered on Lions Gate?s behalf by Peter Block and Ron Schwartz. Negotiating the deal on behalf of DIC were Don Gold and Matthew Erramouspe of O?Melveny & Myers LLP. Lions Gate develops, produces and distributes a broad range of motion picture, television and other filmed entertainment content through its four operating divisions ? Motion Pictures, Television, Animation and Studio Facilities. The distinctive Lions Gate brand is recognized as a symbol of original, cutting-edge, quality entertainment around the world. DIC Entertainment was purchased in November 2000 by Andy Heyward in partnership with Bain Capital, LLC. DIC Entertainment is a leading children?s entertainment company focused on developing, producing, distributing, and merchandising children?s animated programming worldwide. Since its founding in 1983, DIC has produced over 100 series and 3,000 episodes, averaging over 145 new half-hour episodes per year for the last ten years. With approximately 2,500 episodes, DIC?s catalog is one of the largest and most valuable libraries of children?s animation television programming in the entertainment industry, boasting beloved evergreen brands such as Inspector Gadget, Madeline, Sailor Moon, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?, Action Man, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Super Mario Bros. DIC?s programs are watched by approximately 25 million kids in the US each week.