The Anime Network has announced a nationwide in-store signage promotion with Waldenbooks, America's largest mall based book retailer. Starting August 1, 2003, Waldenbooks will promote the Anime Network with signs placed in the manga section of its stores. The deal is an extension of the partnership between Waldenbooks and the networks parent company A. D. Vision, Inc., which brings home-entertainment anime products in Waldenbooks locations.
John Ledford, president/founder/ceo of A.D. Vision, said, "For years A. D. Vision has had extremely successful relationships with retailers across the country in supplying popular anime DVD and home video titles. These alliances give us a great opportunity and a distinct advantage to market our new cable network on a grass roots level, directly to the consumers."
"The Anime Network is extremely dedicated to our Demand your Anime campaign," adds Kevin Corcoran, president of the Anime Network. "The promotional support we are receiving from our retail friends, like Waldenbooks and Suncoast, helps us to deliver our campaign across the country in over 1,100 retail stores nationwide, with enormous reach to the consumer."
This deal is the second such agreement for the Anime Network the first being with Suncoast, the nation's leading specialty retailer of videos and DVDs.
Launched in late 2002, the Anime Network is the first cable channel in North America dedicated to anime. The network is being marketed to multi-system operators (MSOs) from coast-to-coast as both a stand-alone 24-hour digital network and as a VOD programming offer. More information about the Anime Network is available at www.theanimenetwork.com.
Waldenbooks is owned by Borders Group, Inc., a leading global retailer of books, music, video and other information and entertainment items. It has stores in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Puerto Rico. Teamed with Amazon.com, the company also offers online shopping through Borders.com and Waldenbooks.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
