Lions Gate to be Barney
VANCOUVER–Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. will become the home to Thomas the Tank Engine and Barney the purple dinosaur as part of a home-video distribution deal for children’s programming in the United States and Canada.
The independent film distributor, which has headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., and Vancouver, has snagged the rights to HIT Entertainment’s portfolio of kid-themed products, the company said yesterday.
The portfolio includes titles from such franchises as Thomas & Friends, Barney and Bob the Builder, along with Wallace & Gromit and Jim Henson Co 24 hour payday advances. family titles including Fraggle Rock.
The deal begins in May and includes the rights to DVD distribution as well as digital sales through online portals such as Apple’s iTunes.
Lions Gate said it expects to boost its family home entertainment market share to 15 per cent from 9 per cent.
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