Genius Brands International (NASDAQ:GNUS) announces the launch of
its new free digital Kartoon Channel! on June 15, to be available
in over 100 million U.S. television households and over 200 million
mobile devices, across multiple AVOD, OTT and cable platforms,
including Amazon Prime, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Apple IOS, Android,
Roku, DISH, Sling TV, Comcast’s Xfinity on Demand, Cox, Tubi, Xumo,
SelectTV, Redbox, Plex, and YouTube.
Kartoon Channel!’s best in class executive team, Margaret Loesch
(Executive Chairman), David Neuman (Chief Creative Officer), and
Caroline Tyre (General Manager), will spearhead the launch efforts,
which will feature throughout the summer themed programming events
such as ‘Friday Family Fun Film’™ series marathons, on-air talent
interviews with viewer participation, holiday-themed specials, and
more.
As part of the initial launch phase, Kartoon Channel! will offer
1,000 episodes of family-friendly content with an additional 3,000
episodes of premium content, contracted for and being produced,
rolling out in the rest of June and July.
“Described as like a ‘Netflix for kids, but free,’ Kartoon
Channel! will have many of the world’s most recognized children’s
brands, from many of the world’s most successful creators of
children’s and family content. With content coming from the
late Stan Lee, for example; distribution through the likes of
Amazon Prime/Amazon Fire, Apple TV/Apple IOS, Android, Roku and
DISH, among others; and proven value building programmers…like
Margaret, David, and Caroline, this is like putting rocket fuel in
a Ferrari and having the Championship Formula 1 driving team at the
wheel,” said Genius Brands’ Chairman & CEO, Andy Heyward.
“Margaret founded and built Fox Kids Network, a product that was
eventually sold to the Walt Disney Company for $5.5 billion. David
Neuman was President of Walt Disney Television. Caroline Tyre
was part of the team that brought Cartoon Network, Teletoon Retro,
and Adult Swim to Canada. This is a team that knows how to build
value.”
Heyward added: “Unlike other subscription services, Kartoon
Channel! is an ad-supported service and will be 100% free, making
it available to all. We believe that is particularly
meaningful in these times where many kids are home from school and
summer camps, viewership is up, and parents are looking to find
cost effective ways to provide positive entertainment. [The channel
will go live on Monday with immediate access to the services and
more rolling out.]”*
Kartoon Channel! content has been curated through a program code
developed in consultation with Stanford University Professor
Emeritus Don Roberts, one of the world’s leading researchers of
children’s media, to ensure the delivery of positive and purposeful
content that parents can always know will provide safe viewing for
their children. The Kartoon Channel! Content Code, under the
leadership of Professor Roberts, ensures among other things, there
will be no violence, no negative stereotypes, no inappropriate
language, no degradation of the environment, and no excess
commercialization.
“We serve a very special audience and our role is not just to
entertain, but whenever possible to enrich the young viewers with
programs from which they can come away smarter,” said Heyward.
“Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club teaches kids lessons in
business. Llama Llama, for example, is a metaphor for a
single mom raising her kids, imparting strong values of
self-confidence and responsibility. The series is based on the very
successful franchise book series by the late Anna Dewdney and with
Jennifer Garner starring in the role of Mama Llama.”
“We are thrilled to provide a smart and safe destination for
kids and their families with the launch of Kartoon Channel!,” said
Margaret Loesch, Executive Chairman of Kartoon Channel! “David
Neuman, who oversees creative, and myself, working with General
Manager Caroline Tyre, will be seeking ways to grow the channel to
deliver a unique viewing experience that offers the very best in
kids and family entertainment.”
*[Program schedule and lineup of content will be
released Monday morning.]
About Genius Brands InternationalGenius Brands
International, Inc. (Nasdaq: GNUS) is a leading global kids media
company developing, producing, marketing and licensing branded
children’s entertainment properties and consumer products for
media and retail distribution. The Company’s award-winning
‘content with a purpose’ portfolio includes Stan Lee’s
Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold
Schwarzenegger; Rainbow Rangers for Nick Jr.; Llama
Llama, starring Jennifer Garner, for Netflix; award-winning
toddler brand Baby Genius; adventure comedy STEM
series Thomas Edison's Secret Lab; entrepreneurship
series Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club;
and Stan Lee's Cosmic Crusaders, created with Stan Lee's
Pow! Entertainment. Through licensing agreements with leading
partners, characters from Genius Brands’ IP also appear on a wide
range of consumer products for the worldwide retail marketplace.
The Company’s new Kartoon Channel! is available in over 100
million U.S. television households via a broad range of
distribution platforms, including Comcast, Cox, DISH, Amazon
Prime, Sling TV, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire
and more. For additional information, please
visit www.gnusbrands.com.
Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements in
this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may,"
"might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate,"
"estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan,"
"intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent,
belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements.
While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are
reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such
forward-looking statements, which are based on information
available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking
statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are
subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without
limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), not limited to Risk
Factors relating to its patent business contained therein. Thus,
actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly
disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by law.
MEDIA CONTACT:Michelle
OrsiThree.Sixty Marketing & CommunicationsTel: (310)
418-6430michelle@360-comm.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:Dan
Zacchei / Joe GermaniSloane & Companydzacchei@sloanepr.com /
jgermani@sloanepr.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3ef9640e-83d7-4ec9-b984-30f7b91ec055
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