MUMBAI: Global diversified entertainment company Lionsgate and American Greetings Properties (AGP), the intellectual property and outbound licensing division of American Greetings, have announced a home entertainment distribution agreement for the new CGI Animated TV series ‘Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot‘.
The agreement gives Lionsgate packaged and digital rights in both the US and UK to all 26 episodes of the series, which debuted on The Hub last year. In addition, the two companies are extending their existing contract, with Lionsgate retaining its rights to the two previous ‘Care Bears’ television series and five ‘Care Bears’ movies.
Under the new agreement, Lionsgate will also distribute three additional American Greetings properties in the US through packaged and digital media. The three series are the Weta produced show ‘The WotWots‘, ‘The Twisted Whiskers Show‘ and ‘Maryoku Yummy‘. Finally, Lionsgate will acquire US digital rights to three seasons of the classic Strawberry Shortcake series.
Lionsgate senior VP of marketing Michael Rathauser said, "We have enjoyed tremendous success over the years with the Care Bears franchise and are pleased to extend our relationship with the new ‘Care Bears: Welcome to Care-A-Lot‘ series. We look forward to helping the Brand grow to new heights with the combination of new entertainment content and American Greeting‘s new Care Bears toy launch in 2013. Furthermore we are excited to have the opportunity to not only expand the Care Bears digital home entertainment footprint, but to also bring some of American Greetings‘ other quality children‘s entertainment to digital retailers for the first time; creating both new business opportunities and more awareness for these great brands."
American Greetings Properties VP of programme sales Gia DeLaney said, "We are extremely honored to continue our partnership with Lionsgate. The Care Bears‘ highly-anticipated return to U.S. television in June was a huge success and we are thrilled to continue bringing the series to fans through innovative avenues."
