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No Hibernation For Porchlight & Benjamin Bear Brand

Following its agreement with Canadas Amberwood Ent. for the U.S. broadcast, video and merchandising rights to the animated series, THE SECRET WORLD OF BENJAMIN BEAR, PorchLight Ent. has launched its branding campaign for the preschool hero by signing a home entertainment deal with Genius Products Inc. The inaugural deal grants Genius exclusive DVD and video distribution rights in the U.S. for nine half-hour episodes. The series is already an international hit throughout Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Caren Shalek, PorchLights svp, consumer products, said, We are excited about building a licensing and merchandising brand for BENJAMIN BEAR. It is a preschool series that not only captures the hearts of its viewers, it also lends itself to numerous product lines, outlets and event opportunities for both boys and girls.

Targeting kids 3-5, the series jumps into the secret world of Benjamin Bear where children watch the teddy bears lead lives full of adventures. Benjamin Bear guides Howie, an irrepressible rookie teddy bear, through escapades in their quest to bring happiness and comfort to kids. More often than once, this teddy-twosome comes dangerously close to breaking several of the Teddy Bear Rules, the most important being a teddy bear can never let people see it move.

Jonathan Wiseman, director of sales & marketing at Amberwood, added, The deal with Genius is the first step in feeding the expanding interest in the series throughout the United States. Clearly, our strategic alliance with PorchLight will quickly bring THE SECRET WORLD OF BENJAMIN BEAR to the U.S. audience as a series and a brand.

Christine Martinez, gm/evp at Genius Products, said, BENJAMIN BEAR is a heart-warming series with delightful characters that are embraced by children and parents around the globe. We are pleased to be working with PorchLight on the U.S. introduction of this wonderful preschool brand.

Produced by Amberwood Ent. and commissioned by Family Channel Canada, the series has already been licensed to over 60 territories worldwide.

PorchLight Ent. is a multi-faceted company focused on the production and distribution of family entertainment and licensing and merchandising representation for childrens and family brands and trademarks. Since its formation in 1995 by veteran entertainment executives Bruce D. Johnson and William T. Baumann, PorchLight has produced the Emmy Award-winning animated series, TUTENSTEIN, for Discovery Kids and Jetix Europe, JAY JAY THE JET PLANE for PBS, and the animated childrens series ADVENTURES FROM THE BOOK OF VIRTUES for PBS, as well as more than 30 live-action and animated movies. For more information, visit www.porchlight.com.

Genius Products Inc. produces and distributes affordable entertainment products including DVDs and CDs.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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