He-Man is finally coming to DVD

[dtemplar]

If you didn't check it out early, its announced that Filmation's He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is coming to DVD.

The UK's Entertainment Rights PLC has struck a deal to distribute Filmation's He-Man cartoons to DVD in North America, Ireland On-line reports. Entertainment Rights plans to release previously unavailable He-Man cartoons to the United States in 2005. Entertainment Rights acquired the episodes from Hallmark.

He-Man hikes shares in Entertainment Rights
17/01/2005 - 13:48:15

Cartoon strongman He-Man beefed up shares in Entertainment Rights today after the firm struck a deal to launch DVDs featuring the character in North America.

Shares in the UK media group lifted 12% following the agreement with distributor BCI Eclipse to target a potential market of 100 million homes.

Entertainment, which also has Basil Brush and Postman Pat in its portfolio, picked up the rights to He-Man: Masters of the Universe following a deal in March to buy the Filmation library of cartoons from Hallmark.

The deal gave Entertainment control of She-Ra, Ghostbusters, The Lone Ranger and other characters it hopes to return to television screens.

In a separate move, Entertainment said it had agreed for Postman Pat to air on the Nickelodeon channel in Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. The popular postman is now appearing in 65 countries around the world.

Entertainment added that current trading had been in line with expectations and that it anticipated an “extremely successful” 2005.

Since 1999, when Entertainment owned rights to just 50 hours of programming, the company’s library has grown to more than 1,800 hours of children’s and family characters and brands.

Annual revenues have increased from £1.8m (€2.56m) in 1999 to £29.5m (€41.9m) in 2003, with analysts at Collins Stewart expecting profits for the current financial year of £5.6m (€7.96m), against £1.5m (€2.13m) a year earlier.

Entertainment said He-Man titles previously unavailable to the American public were planned for release in 2005 and will be supported by a major marketing campaign. He-Man’s profile will be further boosted by a film from Mission Impossible 2 director John Woo.

Entertainment’s chief executive Mike Heap said: “Coupled with the continued success of Postman Pat and our growing presence in the US market, 2004 has been a banner year for ER.”

BCI Eclipse will be the distributers.

[PaQ]

woo! Now that is some good news. I can't wait to see the DVDs. I was just saying the other day how some of those 80's cartoons needed to get released, and this is a step in the right direction.

Time for some good ol' nostalgia filled goodness.

[BlackoutCreature]

Finally, thank goodness. I was half ready to get a region 2 DVD player and import some He-Man DVD's in from the UK.

[DisneyBoy]

Bummer is that there are presently no plans to release She-Ra. So you He-fans had better buy every DVD they throw at you, cause the rest of us are dying to see some Princess of Power action

[Michael24]

This is great news! Glad to see more of my favorite '80s cartoons coming to DVD. This will make my mom happey. I used to drive her crazy running around the house with a plastic sword yelling, "I have the power!" lol!! I hope the sales are good, because I'd also love to have SHE-RA on DVD.

[Lord Dalek]

Unfortunetly, I fear bad PAL to NTSC problems from this news.

[Elven Moon]

Hey, what about She-Ra? Where's the She-Ra love?

[Spider-Man]

TVShowsonDVD.com just put up the press release:

NAVARRE'S BCI SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT REGARDING ENTERTAINMENT RIGHTS' HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE TV SERIES

Minneapolis, MN. - March 7, 2005 - Navarre Corporation (NASDAQ: NAVR) a leading publisher and distributor of a broad range of home entertainment and multimedia software products, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, BCI Eclipse Company, LLC ("BCI"), has acquired certain exclusive distribution rights to Entertainment Rights' classic animation series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and The New Adventures of He-Man.

Under the terms of this agreement, BCI will exclusively promote and distribute both classic animated series on DVD throughout the U.S. and Canada. The first release will be a "10 Best Episode" 2 DVD set from the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series which is scheduled to be launched at retail in July 2005 in conjunction with the 2005 San Diego Comic-Con International convention. This release will be followed later in the fall of 2005 with the first of multiple DVD box sets of the complete series in "season" format, plus comprehensive and generous special features.

BCI has retained the services of two prominent consultants, Andy Mangels and Val Staples, for the release of these series and the production of the DVD added collectible features. Entertainment writer Andy Mangels is the best-selling novelist and author of Animation on DVD - the Ultimate Guide. Val Staples, is the owner of www.he-man.org, the internet's largest portal for the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe fan community, and owner of MVCreations graphic design company and publisher of the new Masters of the Universe comic. Both will supervise the sequencing and packaging of the original episodes, as well as the wide array of extra content and collectible inserts that will be added to the DVD releases.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is a landmark in children's television history, being the first nationally syndicated television program based on a successful toy line. Originally produced from 1983-1985 by world renowned Filmation studios and syndicated until 1990, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has experienced consistent popularity over the years, demonstrated by its two subsequent animated series which aired in 1990-1991 and 2002-2004 as well as its multi-year run as an exceptionally successful toy and merchandising line for Mattel.

Greg Glass, Sr. VP at BCI, stated, "BCI is thrilled with the opportunity to bring these classic animated series to DVD for the first time in North America. Our acquisitions team has been focused on this property for quite some time based on its 25+ year history of being one of the strongest and most collectible toy and animation properties ever produced. BCI intends to give each DVD release the historical treatment it deserves."

Glass continued, "With He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, we build on our reputation for bringing classic and collectible programming to DVD, but we expand that focus to an even larger and more valuable licensed property. We are excited about this new added focus towards truly frontline collectible releases."

Mike Heap, CEO, Entertainment Rights, added, "We are extremely pleased to be partnering with BCI, who are recognized for their expertise in the marketing and distribution of home entertainment properties. He-Man is the second significant agreement Entertainment Rights has concluded since acquiring the Filmation library and we look forward to a rewarding partnership with BCI on He-Man and Masters of the Universe."

About Navarre Corporation

Navarre Corporation (NASDAQ: NAVR) provides distribution and related services to leading developers and retailers of home entertainment content. The company operates under two business segments; Distribution which includes PC software, video games, CD audio and DVD video; Publishing which includes Encore and BCI Eclipse. Based in California, Encore is a majority-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation (NASDAQ: NAVR), and a leading interactive publisher in the PC CD-ROM and videogame markets. As a result of strategic relationships, the company publishes PC titles or compilations in major software categories from productivity to education. BCI Eclipse, based in California, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, provides niche DVD video and audio products. Navarre's client-specific delivery systems allow its product lines to be seamlessly distributed to over 18,000 retail locations throughout North America. The Company provides such value-added services as inventory management, Web-based ordering, fulfillment and marketing and EDI customer and vendor interface. Since its founding in 1983, Navarre has built a base of distribution partnerships with a broad base of leading retailers across the mass merchant, music, computer and office specialty, wholesale club and military PX channels, as well as software content developers from all categories of the industry and independent record labels encompassing all musical genres. For more information, please visit the Company's Web site at www.navarre.com.

About Entertainment Rights

Entertainment Rights Plc ("ER") is one of the UK's leading specialist media groups focused on the ownership of high quality children's and family programming, characters and brands.

-ER owns or controls the rights to many classic characters including Basil Brush®, Postman Pat®, Little Red TractorT, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Fat Albert and the Cosby kids, She-Ra, Ghostbusters, Zorro and The Lone Ranger.
-Since 1999, when ER owned rights to just 50 hours of programming, ER's library has grown to over 1,800 hours of high quality children's and family characters and brands. This includes selected rights to global brands such as Mattel's BarbieT, Scholastic's CliffordTM, Hasbro's TransformersT, Harveytoons Casper the Friendly Ghost and Classic Media's Felix the Cat.
-In September 2004 ER acquired Tell-Tale Productions, creators and producers of The Tweenies and added a significant development and production slate to the ER portfolio including Fun Song Factory, BB3B and Boo!
-ER has grown rapidly. Annual revenues have increased from £1.8m in 1999 to £29.5m in 2003, the last reported financial year.

ER is ideally placed to extend and exploit its portfolio of quality programming with its own television distribution, licensing division, and an established home entertainment label, Right Entertainment. www.entertainmentrights.com

[Hades]

What about the new series? I do not care about the old one, I want the new one!

[Adam Tyner]

You guys can help choose what episodes are going to appear on these sets. I'll say more as I know it...

[Artimus Gigan]

Goodnews for He-Man.org and Val, the entire operation was on thin-ice after the entire seires and comic collaped

[TheEvilClown]

The New One is bad. The Old One is Better. Now we need The Real Ghostbusters to come to DVD>

[Adam Tyner]

BTW, episodes up for inclusion are:

Diamond Ray of Disappearance
Teela's Quest
The Dragon Invasion
Quest for He-Man
Dawn of Dragoon
Evilseed
Prince Adam No More
The Dragon's Gift
Double-Edged Sword
Pawns of the Game Master
Origin of the Sorceress
To Save Skeletor
The Arena
Into the Abyss
The Rainbow Warrior
Battlecat
Not So Blind
No Job Too Small
Teela's Triumph
The Problem with Power

[adoptedBatpuppy]

Bummer is that there are presently no plans to release She-Ra. So you He-fans had better buy every DVD they throw at you, cause the rest of us are dying to see some Princess of Power action

Those are Great News. More Dvd's would make me grow broke, but I'm happy that old cartoons are getting released. It has been a long time coming, and the Cartoon Studio finally saw the need to release old time classics on DVD Sets. I was also hoping that they could release She-Ra alongside the He-Man DVD. I guess you can't have everything!

[DisneyBoy]

Surprised He-Man.org doesn't have the news up on it's newspage. So when you say "we can vote" you're referring to picking the episodes on the "best of" DVD right? And that list of episodes are the ones under consideration for the "best of" DVD...right?

The season sets are going to feature every episode, not just ones chosen by fans...right?

I'm slightly confused there...

[Adam Tyner]

Surprised He-Man.org doesn't have the news up on it's newspage.

They will. I kinda...jumped the gun and announced something I apparently wasn't supposed to yet. Whoops.

So when you say "we can vote" you're referring to picking the episodes on the "best of" DVD right? And that list of episodes are the ones under consideration for the "best of" DVD...right? The season sets are going to feature every episode, not just ones chosen by fans...right?

Right on all three counts. The initial 2-disc set will be a "best of" with 10 episodes chosen by fans. Extended volumes (described to me as season sets, though I don't know if there'll be 65 episodes per set or if they'll be further divided) are slated to come out sometime in the fall.

The poll is finished being set up, so it's just a matter of an official announcement.

[DisneyBoy]

Awesome.

*If there was a MOTU-specific word to express elation I would have used it, but none come to mind*

EDIT: Hold on, the Tvshowsondvd release doesn't mention that they've got the rights to She-ra. DO THEY????

They'd better.

Or I'll be royally rageous.

RAGEOUS!!!

[silverwings]

So, just to clarify:

First we'll have a 2-disc set of Best 10 episodes as chosen by the fans.

Then we'll have season sets, with all episodes in order, of the old He-Man series?

If that's the case, count me in. Then give us the cross-over movie and She-Ra, and there will be one very happy camper.

[Cactus Gunman]

The "Best Of" DVD sounds like a great idea since the fans actually get to pick them. I'll more then likely get that since I never have enough money to buy Season sets.

[Adam Tyner]

So, just to clarify:

First we'll have a 2-disc set of Best 10 episodes as chosen by the fans.

Then we'll have season sets, with all episodes in order, of the old He-Man series?

:nods: I'm not sure about the specifics for how the season sets will be presented, but it'll be something close to that, at least.

Information on how to help select episodes for the "best of" two-disc set has been posted at he-man.org.