Genius Products Inc. the exclusive U.S. home entertainment distributor for The Weinstein Co., has sold its Baby Genius brand to Pacific Ent. Corp., a newly formed company headed by Klaus Moeller in a deal enabling Genius to focus its efforts on distributing its wide range of top independent and mainstream feature film titles while retaining exclusive U.S. distribution rights for the preschool brands.
The $3 million deal includes all worldwide rights and existing licensing agreements for Genius Products Baby Genius and Wee Worship preschool brands, along with a production deal for LITTLE TIKES music and DVD series. Genius Products will continue to distribute BABY GENIUS, LITTLE TIKES and WEE WORSHIP DVDs and music CDs and all new products under these brands.
Pacific Ent. will release two new BABY GENIUS DVDs and two new LITTLE TIKES DVDs this year in addition to new music CDs.
Genius Products ceo Trevor Drinkwater said, We are extremely pleased to be back in business with Klaus Moeller and look forward to distributing Pacific Ent.s upcoming releases. As creators of the Baby Genius brand, Pacific Ent. is best suited to realize the brands fullest potential through a concentrated creative effort that is certain to yield an even better preschool property for children, parents and retailers.
Genius Products transformation over the past year into a mini-major distribution company has been truly remarkable and we congratulate Trevor on taking the company to the next level, said Pacific Ent. ceo Klaus Moeller. As Genius focuses in on its new wealth of top independent and mainstream titles, we intend to develop these preschool brands across all product categories in order to capitalize on Genius Products increasing distribution capabilities and market share.
The entire library of BABY GENIUS DVD and VHS releases has earned The Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence and are approved by the Kids First! Coalition for Quality Childrens Media. FAVORITE CHILDRENS SONGS and the ULTIMATE DVD COLLECTION were named iParenting Medias Best Products of 2005. THE FOUR SEASONS was named the Kids First! 2001 Video of the Year and A TRIP TO THE SAN DIEGO ZOO earned Parenting Magazines 2002 Video of the Year award.
Genius Products produces and distributes home entertainment products including DVDs and CDs, which are sold in retail outlets nationwide under such well-known brands as NBC News, Wellspring, TV Guide, Sundance Channel Home Entertainment and Baby Genius. Upcoming films planned for release by Genius Products include films by The Weinstein Co. such as DERAILED, starring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen; HOODWINKED, an updated retelling of the classic story of Red Riding Hood with the voices of Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close and Jim Belushi; MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS, starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins; WOLF CREEK, an Australian horror film,; and THE MATADOR, starring Pierce Brosnan. Potential new releases include sequels to SIN CITY, SCARY MOVIE, KILL BILL and TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.
Established in 2006 by Moeller and Larry Balaban, creators of the Baby Genius brand, Pacific Ent. focuses on quality childrens entertainment brands and specialty music programs. Together, the company principals boast 30 years experience in childrens entertainment.
