Warner Home Video And Sesame Workshop Announce An Exclusive Home Entertainment Distribution Agreement For “Sesame Street”
(October 15, 2009 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Home Video (WHV) has entered into a multi-year, exclusive home entertainment distribution deal with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind “Sesame Street.” The announcement was made today by Jeff Brown, Warner Home Video, Executive Vice President and General Manager, TV, Family & Animation and Terry Fitzpatrick, Executive Vice President of Distribution at Sesame Workshop.
Under the terms of the agreement, beginning on January 1, 2010 WHV will exclusively distribute multiple “Sesame Street” titles. The deal includes the “Sesame Street” library, new content, EST and Transactional VOD for distribution in the United States and Canada.
“Warner Bros. unique combination of physical media distribution, digital distribution and video games under one roof affords a unique opportunity for Sesame Workshop to continue its mission of educating children around the world,” said Terry Fitzpatrick. “Their dedication to excellence in the industry has paved the way for them to become a global leader in home video distribution.”
Regarding the announcement, Brown said, “The association between Warner Home Video and Sesame Workshop builds our leadership position in the family and animation segment. We look forward to the opportunity to work with this extremely popular brand and further its success in the marketplace.”
A leader in the video distribution industry, over the years Warner Home Video has successfully signed agreements with some of the world’s most renowned content providers including BBC, Dr. Seuss, Popeye, Peanuts, Hot Wheels, Viz Media ("Pokemon," "Naruto"), Lucasfilm ("Star Wars The Clone Wars"), Microsoft Game Studios – 343 Industries ("Halo Legends"), American Girl, Cartoon Network, Scholastic, The Wiggles, The NFL and NHL. Other perennial animated properties in Warner Bros. library include Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, Hanna Barbera, Scooby-Doo, Batman, Superman and all of the other DC Comics characters.
Combining education and entertainment through a research-based curriculum, featuring a multicultural cast, and giving kids honest answers to tough questions has made “Sesame Street” one of the most popular and the longest running children’s television program in the world. Today, approximately eight million viewers watch “Sesame Street” each week, while more than 77 million are “Sesame Street” ‘graduates.’ The program has received 11 Grammys and 122 Emmy Awards, more than any other television show in history.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark “Sesame Street.” The Workshop produces local “Sesame Street” programs, seen in over 140 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including “The Electric Company” and “Pinky Dinky Doo.” Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.
About Warner Home Video
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, a division of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Home Entertainment.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.
For more information on this and other titles distributed by Warner Home Video, visit www.whvdirect.com. # # #