Following the Monday launch of its new free digital Kartoon
Channel! across multiple AVOD and OTT platforms, Genius Brands
International (NASDAQ:GNUS) announced the new programming slate of
premium content for children 2 – 11 years-old and their families
set to debut on the channel.
“Kartoon Channel!,” our 24-hour, free, video on demand,
children’s program service went live this morning with
unprecedented distribution reach, and an unprecedented initial
content lineup,” said Andy Heyward, Genius Brands CEO. “In my three
decades in children’s programming, I have witnessed kid’s
television evolve from Saturday morning network with shows such as
Scooby Doo and the Smurfs, to 1st run syndication with shows like
Inspector Gadget and He Man, to dedicated cable channels (Disney
Channel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network) to digital platforms ranging
from Netflix, Hulu, and Disney +, to game platforms, mobile,
YouTube, and all of the new and emerging technologies.
Throughout the above, I am not aware of seeing another channel
launch with such a volume of content, across such a broad range of
platforms, penetrating virtually the entire United States TV
Household universe. We are loading our episodes as fast as possible
across all platforms and expect to have over 4,000 episodes
available by the end of this month. Similarly, we will expect all
of our platforms to be rolling out with full delivery in the coming
days." (‘where to watch’ link information below)
Among the initial 1,000 episodes of entertaining and enriching
content offered on Kartoon Channel! is the animated short
feature, The Pig On The Hill (see link below), narrated by
Pierce Brosnan; the hugely successful Angry Birds series, from
the billion-dollar franchise; Baby Einstein and the Baby
Einstein shorts, as well as Llama Llama shorts, and the
Minecraft-themed show, Journey to the End. The upcoming
comedy-adventure series, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten,
currently in pre-production and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger,
will debut on Kartoon Channel! in Q1 2021.
Heyward continued, “A volume of content this large is not simply
‘flipping a light switch’. That is particularly so when we
vet every single episode to make sure that it is compliant with our
programming code developed by Stanford University Professor
Emeritus Don Roberts, with whom Kartoon Channel!’s Program Code was
developed in order to ensure the delivery of positive purposeful
content that parents can always know will provide safe viewing for
their children.”
Currently, Kartoon Channel! can be accessed via Apple TV
Devices, Android (mobile devices), Android TV, Amazon Fire Stick,
Roku Devices, Xumo, Dish (AVOD + SVOD), Sling (AVOD + SVOD).
The Company’s other platforms are rolling out as fast as the
content can be loaded. (see link below for access on various
platforms)
“Having produced and broadcast thousands of children’s episodes
across a number of the kids networks, we wanted to make Kartoon
Channel! stand out as a brand, not just because it is free and
available to everyone, but by putting on shows, which tell
positive stories. That is very very important to us,” said
Kartoon Channel! Executive Chairman, Margaret Loesch.
“Kids and their parents want uplifting stories. They want
positive messages,” added Heyward. “It is also important to us that
Kartoon Channel! is free and available to everyone. It is no less
important that the stories are positive and with enriching lessons,
whenever possible.”
“Representative of the original shows that we are proud of and
which will differentiate Kartoon Channel! is ‘The Pig on a Hill’,
narrated by Pierce Brosnan. It is a fantastic story, and
without ever saying so, it is about kindness, and it is about
getting along with people different than ourselves. We are
going to be a positive channel, and not just a babysitter with a
screen on it.”
Click on the link below:https://bit.ly/2CbVIT3
Added to the above, in mid-summer Kartoon Channel! will
introduce a hosted Friday Family Fun Film, for kids and parents to
watch together every Friday night. In these times, it is
harder for parents and kids to be out at the movies together.
We will be producing and acquiring original animated family films.
I remember as a kid when Walt Disney used to do that, on the
Wonderful World of Disney. Years later, Our Chief Content
Officer, David Neuman, as President of Walt Disney
Television, was overseeing that program. Shortly, we will
have a similar product on Kartoon Channel! On the wall of my
office, I have a big sign. It says, ‘WHY must this story be
told?’ We want our audience to rest assured that we have asked and
answered that question for everything we put on Kartoon
Channel!.”
For more information on where to watch Kartoon Channel!, please
visit
https://www.kartoonchannel.com/where-to-watch
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 the upcoming 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, our ability to generate revenue or achieve
profitability; our ability to obtain additional financing on
acceptable terms, if at all; our ability to repay our outstanding
debt; the potential issuance of a significant number of shares to
our convertible note holders which will dilute our equity holders;
fluctuations in the results of our operations from period to
period; general economic and financial conditions; our ability to
anticipate changes in popular culture, media and movies, fashion
and technology; competitive pressure from other distributors of
content and within the retail market; our reliance on and
relationships with third-party production and animation studios;
our ability to market and advertise our products; our reliance on
third-parties to promote our products; our ability to keep pace
with technological advances; our ability to protect our
intellectual property and those other risk factors set forth in the
“Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report
on Form 10-K and in the Company's subsequent filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). 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
Orsi Three.Sixty
Marketing &
Communications michelle@360-comm.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS:ir@gnusbrands.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aee5b632-1fad-4733-bea9-eb534c29392d
Genius Brands (NASDAQ:GNUS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Genius Brands (NASDAQ:GNUS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024