Strategic Partnership Includes a First Look on All Home Video Rights for North America
Los Angeles, CA - BCI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation (NASDAQ:NAVR), has licensed the long-term North American DVD publishing and distribution rights to programming from FremantleMedia's portfolio of award-winning diverse television series and films including popular game shows The Price Is Right and Family Feud, the hit British sitcom The IT Crowd and the multi-million dollar Impossible Pictures' series, Prehistoric Park. This appointment follows BCI's recent success as North American distributor of FremantleMedia's DVD release, The Best of Match Game. The announcement was made today by Ed Goetz, President, BCI.
"BCI is thrilled to expand our relationship with FremantleMedia to release popular British, Australian and American programming on DVD" said Goetz. "With the explosion of TV on DVD coupled with the demand for overseas content, we are confident the home video market will be ready for this outstanding lineup of classic and current programs from around the world."
"In surveying the current landscape of independent video distribution companies, we felt that BCI and parent Navarre were ideally suited for FremantleMedia's diverse content offerings" said Sam Toles, Vice President of Business Development for FremantleMedia's North American home entertainment division.
"As we look at our exciting slate of programs for 2007 and to producing content made specifically for the highly competitive video marketplace, we needed a partner with both distribution strength and a creative marketing approach. We've found that in BCI and look forward to developing a 'FremantleMedia Home Entertainment' brand in North America" added David Ellender, CEO of FremantleMedia Enterprises, the commercial arm of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories.
The agreement offers BCI DVD publishing rights to various genres including:
Current British TV series, including programs such as:
The IT Crowd, the International Emmy-nominated comedy series from FremantleMedia's UK production company, talkbackTHAMES; NBC Universal is co-producing a US pilot version of The IT Crowd with FremantleMedia North America. The Bill, the award-winning and most successful police drama series on British television; Man Stroke Woman, a hilarious sketch show focusing on relationships and Hardware, a comedy series following the day-to-day life of a local hardware shop.
Classic British TV series, including programs such as:
Callan, a unique espionage series acclaimed for its high degree of realism and pathos and Man About the House, a popular precursor to the classic American series Three's Company.
Australian TV series, including programs such as:
Neighbours, one of the world's most successful television programs and winner of 31 awards. This drama series has mass appeal as it examines real values, explores current issues and social questions and presents a positive view of family life. The series helped launch the careers of Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia and Russell Crowe.
Game Shows
Includes two of the most popular game shows ever produced, The Price Is Right starring Bob Barker and Family Feud. "Best Of" versions will be released highlighting each series' greatest and most memorable moments.
Event Documentaries, including programs such as:
Prehistoric Park, which embraces the latest CGI technology and is currently airing on Animal Planet, follows natural history expert Nigel Marven as he travels back in time to rescue some of the most amazing animals who ever roamed the earth; Battleplan examines the history of military tactics, from blitzkrieg to blockade, raiding operations to strategic bombing and on to guerilla warfare.
Feature Length Films
Mickey Rooney gives an Emmy-award winning performance in Bill, the inspiring story of a man living in New York City who suffers with mental illness. Summer of the Monkeys is a touching television movie about a young boy attempting to catch elusive monkeys that have escaped the woods in return for owning a pony.
Working alongside FremantleMedia, BCI will be implementing an innovative marketing and promotional campaign throughout 2007 and beyond, capitalizing on the popularity of these current and classic brands.
About Navarre Corporation
Navarre Corporation is a publisher and distributor of physical and digital home entertainment and multimedia products, including PC software, CD audio, DVD video, video games and accessories. Since its founding in 1983, the Company has established distribution relationships with customers across a wide spectrum of retail channels which includes mass merchants, discount, wholesale club, office and music superstores, military and e-tailers nationwide. The Company currently provides its products to over 19,000 retail and distribution center locations throughout the United States and Canada. Navarre has expanded its business to include the licensing and publishing of home entertainment and multimedia content, primarily through the acquisitions of Encore, BCI, and FUNimation. For more information, please visit the Company's web site at http://www.navarre.com.
About BCI
BCI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, is an independent entertainment video and audio supplier. BCI has continually redefined the standards and concepts of this industry, often introducing national success categories through its intuitive mass marketing skills. Its vast collection of titles represents both exclusively licensed titles from around the world, as well as in-house produced CDs and DVDs.
About FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) is the commercial arm of FremantleMedia and comprises of Fremantle International Distribution (FID), FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW) and Fremantle Home Entertainment (FHE). FID has a network of international sales offices and licenses over 19,000 hours of programmes to 150 countries worldwide. FID's programming comes from in-house UK producer, talkbackTHAMES and from an increasing number of independent producers in the UK and internationally.
FLW is the licensing division of FremantleMedia and exploits the company's many strong brands including the award winning international format, Idols and the cult children's classics, Rainbow and DangerMouse, across multiple off-screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, interactive and wireless support and music publishing. FHE is the home entertainment arm of FremantleMedia. FremantleMedia is the production business of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company. www.fremantlemedia.com