HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of quality children's
entertainment, is partnering with Sprout, the first 24-hour
preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for
kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, to launch a new DVD
line for preschoolers and their parents. The all-new series,
titled "Let's Grow," focuses on life skills and lessons for
preschoolers and features the most trusted preschool characters
from HIT Entertainment and Sprout. Lionsgate Home
Entertainment, longtime distributor for HIT's home entertainment,
will release the first DVD of the series on January 12, 2010, with
the next title scheduled for a second quarter 2010 date.
Each DVD in the "Let's Grow" series is uniquely themed and the
content will focus on different areas like safety, expressing
feelings, manners and other preschool topics. The "Let's
Grow" series contains episodes from HIT Entertainment's library of
programs including Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™
and many more. The episodes are woven together by live action
segments featuring hosts from Sprout's original Sunny Side Up Show,
along with their puppet friend Chica the Chicken. Together
they introduce the episodes, make crafts and play educational games
themed to each DVD release.
A printed Parent Resource Guide will accompany each DVD and
include additional information, such as tips, discussion starters
and websites tied to the DVD's theme. Content for the guide
was provided by educators, as well as experts from KidsHealth, the
largest online resource of children's health and developmental
information.
The first DVD in the series, "Lend a Helping Hand" addresses
helping friends and family and taking care of the community.
Hosts Kelly and Chica introduce each themed episode and demonstrate
how kids can be helping hands through fun activities like creating
and using a recycling bin and cleaning up after themselves.
"We are thrilled to join with our broadcast partner, Sprout, to
launch this new DVD line," said Jeff Deverett, Senior Vice
President, Home Entertainment, HIT Entertainment North America.
"With HIT's vast library of programming and Sprout's interactive
and creative format, it is natural for us to come together for this
uniquely themed DVD line for preschoolers. We are proud of this new
series that is sure to entertain children and help parents by
reinforcing lessons taught at home."
"Sprout is so excited to be making its retail market debut with
this new DVD series for preschoolers and parents," said Tom
Alexander, Sr. VP of Marketing, Sprout. "At Sprout, we
believe in inspiring interaction between parents and kids, and this
DVD series perfectly captures the spirit of our network with its
unique live-action segments featuring Sprout's own talent and
beloved preschool favorites like Barney and Bob the Builder."
About Sprout®
PBS KIDS Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available
on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and
caregivers, was created as a partnership among Comcast Corporation,
HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop. Since debuting
its video on demand (VOD) service in April 2005, Sprout has become
the #1 On Demand service for younger children, generating over half
a billion views. The 24-hour digital channel, which launched
in September 2005 along with the website (SproutOnline.com), is the
only channel that follows the day of child from breakfast to
bedtime with its distinctive programming. Currently, Sprout
is available in 48 million unique households.
The network's program lineup of gold-standard, curriculum-based
children's shows includes: Sesame Street®, Bob the Builder™,
Barney & Friends™, The Wiggles®, Thomas & Friends™,
Angelina Ballerina™, Caillou®, The Berenstain Bears™, Dragon
Tales™, Make Way For Noddy™, Fireman Sam™, Fifi and the Flowertots™
and more.
About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax
Partners, is one of the world's leading independent children's
entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes
properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas &
Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow
Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment's Fifi and the
Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America and Japan,
as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™ and
Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations. HIT also acts as
representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT's
lines of business span television and video production, content
distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing and live
events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and
Japan. HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool
channel, PBS KIDS SproutSM, and international preschool channel
JimJam, (outside of the US, UK and China). For more information,
visit www.hitentertainment.com.
To download artwork, please visit www.hitnewsonline.com.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Denielle Webb \ HIT Entertainment
T: 646.277.5216 \ dwebb@hitentertainment.com
Jenni Glenn \
Sprout
T: 215-286-2703 \ jenni_glenn@sproutonline.com
Andrea Blain \ Lionsgate
T: 847-933-9884 \ andrea@andreablainpr.com