Exhibit 99.3
TV Guide Inks New Licensing Deal; Falcon Picture Group To License
TV Guide Brand for Collection of DVDs Featuring Classic Television
Programming To Be Distributed by Genius Products
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2004--
First DVD Collection to Hit Retail Stores in September 2004
TV Guide Publishing Group Inc., the worldwide leader in
television entertainment news and information for more than 50 years,
announced today it signed a new licensing deal with Falcon Picture
Group, bringing its powerful brand and expertise in on-screen
entertainment to the fast-growing genre of TV shows on DVD.
Under the multi-year deal with Falcon Picture Group, the
Schaumburg, Ill.-based maker of DVDs, TV Guide will license a variety
of TV Guide brand assets for use in the products and packaging of
Falcon Picture Group's newest line, TV Guide brand classic television
shows on DVD. Targeting all ages, these DVDs will utilize TV Guide's
brand leadership and expertise for a line of digitally remastered
classic television shows.
Through its exclusive distribution agreement with Genius Products
(OTCBB:GNPI), Falcon Picture Group is developing the first collection
of 12 TV Guide brand DVDs, which will include "digitally remastered"
classic television programming featuring The Andy Griffith Show, The
Dick Van Dyke Show, The Lucy Show, The Milton Berle Show, The Burns &
Allen Show, You Bet Your Life, The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, The
Red Skelton Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, Bonanza and others. TV
Guide brand DVDs will also feature famous Christmas episodes from a
variety of series; Unaired Pilot episodes from series including The
Munsters, Sea Hunt and others; the best in Sci-Fi and Western
programming; and others to be determined. Genius Products will work
with major retail outlets to distribute the first collection of 12
DVDs to retail stores in September 2004.
"This deal marks another step in the evolution of the TV Guide
brand, one of America's most recognized entertainment icons, as the
licensing program continues to build on the nostalgia of the brand,
while moving forward with natural, on-strategy product extensions,"
said Steve Scebelo, senior vice president, TV Guide Licensing. "Falcon
Picture Group is an outstanding partner to create a collection of the
highest-quality classic television programming on DVD and to establish
the TV Guide brand's position in an industry expected to top $10
billion in sales this year."
Falcon Picture Group will license television programs and work
with public domain series to generate the content and package the DVD
collections, using TV Guide's logo and magazine cover design art as
part of the packaging. The DVDs will also contain an enormous amount
of "Value Added Material" including TV Guide crossword puzzles, trivia
questions, nostalgic advertisements, related feature articles from the
magazine and commentary from TV Guide Magazine's Editorial team.
Carl Amari, president of Falcon Picture Group said, "Classic
television on DVD is a huge category at retail and having this
relationship with TV Guide gives us an opportunity to be at the
forefront. We're all very committed to developing a first-class
product line that consumers will want to buy again and again."
"We're excited to be working with TV Guide -- their brand is one
of the most recognized icons in America. Now classic television fans
will be able to watch their favorite programs digitally remastered on
DVD anytime they want," said Klaus Moeller, CEO of Genius Products.
"The TV Guide brand reaches over 100 million people on a weekly basis
- -- that's an audience larger than any prime-time television show. This
agreement furthers Genius Product's mission to become a leading
entertainment company, focused on creating, developing and acquiring
rights to popular properties and brands."
The deal was negotiated by SloaneVision Unlimited Inc., TV
Guide's licensing agency. SloaneVision will continue to work with TV
Guide, Falcon Picture Group and Genius Products in the development and
retail launch of the DVDs featuring television classics.
"Each DVD collection will contain two disks with six television
programs on each disk -- a total of 12 classic television programs in
each collection with a suggested retail of $9.99. We plan to bring the
line to retail in September in time for holiday gift-giving," said
Mike Meader, president of Genius Products. "At a retail of under 10
dollars for 12 television programs -- six hours of programming -- we
expect this to be a huge success. Future TV Guide collections will
include The Lone Ranger, Dragnet, The Jack Benny Program, The Cisco
Kid, One Step Beyond, Gangbusters and many, many others."
The TV Guide DVDs will be sold via major retail outlets and will
be promoted in TV Guide magazine and at www.tvguide.com. TV Guide DVDs
will also be sold through the TV Guide Store
(http://shop.tvguide.com), which provides licensees with the ability
to sell directly to TV Guide's weekly audience of 100 million
entertainment enthusiasts.
Julie Ekelund, Genius Products' executive vice president of sales
and marketing said, "We are very pleased to be working with TV Guide
- -- the most respected name in television today. We will be working
closely with their editorial staff to ensure the highest quality
programming and entertainment value available. We will also look to
partner with retailers to create unique merchandising and promotional
opportunities." Ekelund continued to say, "The addition of this TV
Guide line of DVDs furthers our goal to become a leader in the
exploding DVD market."
Reaching more than 100 million consumers on a weekly basis, the TV
Guide brand is one of the most widely recognized, trusted and valued
brands in the world. TV Guide Licensing and Merchandising extends the
power of the TV Guide brand by strategically partnering with leading
manufacturers in a number of product categories, and by marketing its
licensed products directly to users of TV Guide's various media
platforms including TV Guide(R) Magazine, TV Guide Channel(R), TV
Guide Interactive(R), and TV Guide Online(R). TV Guide Licensing and
Merchandising is represented by SloaneVision Unlimited. More
information on TV Guide Licensing and Merchandising is available at
www.tvguide.com/licensing. TV Guide Licensing and Merchandising is a
part of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.'s TV Guide Publishing
Group.
About Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.
Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. is a leading media and
technology company that develops, licenses, markets, and distributes
technologies, products and services targeted at the television
guidance and home entertainment needs of consumers worldwide. The
company's businesses include: television media and publishing
properties; interactive program guide services and products; and
technology and intellectual property licensing. Additional information
about the company can be found at www.gemstartvguide.com.
Note to Editors: Gemstar and TV Guide are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. and/or its
affiliates. The names of other companies and products used herein are
for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
About Falcon Picture Group
Falcon Picture Group LLC. is a multi-brand company that develops
audio and video entertainment products including DVDs, video, CDs and
cassettes. Falcon has license agreements to develop audio and/or video
content under the brands TV Guide, AMC, The Twilight Zone, and BOZO
the Clown. Falcon also produces the nationally syndicated radio series
"The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas," hosted by Stacy Keach, heard on 100
radio stations, XM and SIRIUS Satellite radio, The BBC and all over
the world through The American Forces Radio & Television Service. All
of Falcon Picture Group's entertainment products are distributed
exclusively through Genius Products Inc.
About Genius Products Inc.
Genius Products Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and
markets family entertainment products including DVDs, videos, CDs and
cassettes. The products are sold under various brand names including
Baby Genius, Kid Genius, AMC, Bozo the Clown, Paddington Bear, Raggedy
Ann & Andy, Guess How Much I Love You, and the Snowman. The company's
award-winning products are widely distributed at major retail stores
nationwide such as Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Borders,
Best Buy, and Shopko. The company also licenses the Baby Genius brand
to third party companies for a variety of products including, books,
apparel and infant care products. Promotional partners include
Kellogg's, The World Famous San Diego Zoo, Parents Magazine, Playtex,
Fazoli's, and Child Magazine.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical matters contained herein, the matters
discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements reflect
assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties, which may affect
Genius Products' business, forecasts, projections, prospects, and
cause results to differ from these forward-looking statements. Such
risks and uncertainties include the company's ability to grow its
business and other matters, which are described in the company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Sloanevision Unlimited Inc.
An award-winning licensing agency, SloaneVision Unlimited Inc.
(SVU) represents a select and diverse roster of global entities
looking to maximize their brand's market potential in the licensing
arena. Their client roster includes TV Guide, Cherished Teddies,
Chicken Soup for the Soul, Club Med, Dairy Queen, Little League
Baseball and ArtBeat Licensing.
CONTACT: for TV Guide/Genius Products
Shira Berk, 212-852-7336