Following the June 15 launch of its new free digital Kartoon
Channel! across multiple AVOD and OTT platforms, and the
subsequent debut of its first COPPA-compliant Apple iOS app to
5-star ratings, Genius Brands International (NASDAQ:GNUS) continues
to build its premium offering of entertaining and enriching
family-friendly content on Kartoon Channel! with the acquisition of
approximately 230 new episodes of programming, including the #1
rated anime phenomenon,
Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V, based on
the trading card game from Konami.
“Led by Yu-Gi-Oh, these new program acquisitions
truly showcase the quality and diversity of content we are striving
to bring to young audiences discovering the Kartoon Channel! and
offer opportunities for a wide range of ad partners to drive
revenue for the channel,” said Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. “We
are extremely proud of the rapid expansion of Kartoon Channel! and
the positive responses we are receiving from kids and especially
parents, who feel we are providing a safe destination for their
kids’ entertainment. Our reach now extends to over 100M U.S.
television households and over 200M mobile devices; we have our
first iOS app which has thousands of positive reviews and 5-star
ratings, and we have new apps launching on Android, Roku and Amazon
Fire, with the same interface as on iOS. And, we are continually
looking for unique ways to fill our offering with the best
children’s programming in the marketplace, with titles such as
Yu-Gi-Oh!, Babar, Angry Birds, Roblox, and our upcoming Stan Lee’s
Superhero Kindergarten. This is just the beginning of our mission
to build what I like to call the FREE ‘Netflix for Kids.”
In addition to the 148x22’ episodes of
Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V now being offered on Kartoon
Channel!, Genius Brands has also licensed the English language
rights to 25x4’ episodes and Spanish language rights to 5x30’
episodes of YouTube sensation My Dog Chocolo,
from Productora Atiempo Ltda., which has over four million
subscribers and more than three million daily views and a total of
over two billion views. The Company has also acquired 52x11’
episodes of the 3-D comedy series Invention Story
from Mondo TV, which follows a quirky fox inventor who tries
to fit into Carrot Town, a place full of rabbits—hopefully winning
them over with his big heart and his amazing gadgets; and
26x22’ episodes of Mysteries of Alfred Hedgehog
from Muse Entertainment, a series which encourages science
exploration and teamwork—by thinking, linking and deducing, kids
can be entertained and learn while solving the puzzles and problems
of Alfred's mysterious world!
The Kartoon Channel! and the new
complementary iOS app offer access to a wide variety of Genius
Brands original and acquired family-friendly content, with more
added daily, including Babar, Angry Birds, Stan Lee’s Mighty7,
Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab, Baby Einstein, Baby Genius, Llama Llama
shorts Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club, and
more. Additionally, Genius Brands is adding more
family-friendly gaming content, including Minecraft’s Journey
to the End and Fairy Horse Quest, Octodad, PixArk,
and Big B Roblox Challenge, from Tankee. Genius Brands will
also premiere on Kartoon Channel! the upcoming
comedy-adventure series, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten,
currently in pre-production and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger,
on Kartoon Channel! in Q1 2021.
In addition to the iOS mobile app, Kartoon
Channel! can be accessed via Apple TV Devices, Android (mobile
devices), Android TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku Devices, Xumo,
Comcast, Cox, Dish, and Sling. The iOS app will be the model for
the other platforms and will be rolled out across them. For more
information on where to watch Kartoon Channel!, please
visit https://www.kartoonchannel.com/where-to-watch
About Yu-Gi-OhYU-GI-OH! is a
$2-billion-dollar global entertainment franchise and is the leading
trading card game in the world. The popular property has spawned a
wide array of top rated TV anime series, including Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V,
as well as trading cards, action figures, video games, magazines,
apparel and other consumer products. In North America, the
Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise is currently in its
12th consecutive year of broadcast in the U.S. and most major
markets worldwide. The series and brand continue to captivate
children through its best-selling trading card game, animated
series and motion picture releases.
Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V introduces fans to Action Duels,
where characters and monsters interact for the first time ever. The
newest star, Yuya, is a 14-year-old boy learning to become an
“entertainment duelist” at one of the many Preparatory Schools
children attend to hone their skills and become professional
duelists. Yuya duels using the Pendulum Summon, which provides
access to many high-level monsters.
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 and in partnership with Alibaba; 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; and entrepreneurship series
Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club. 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:pr@gnusbrands.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS
CONTACT:
ir@gnusbrands.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61ab6912-f3ae-4475-bc07-2dbbde489a83
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