HIT & Sprout Team for Preschool DVDs

NEW YORK: HIT Entertainment has partnered with the preschool channel Sprout to launch a line of DVDs, Let’s Grow, which focus on life skills and lessons for 2- to 5-year-olds.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release the first DVD in the series, "Lend a Helping Hand," on January 12, 2010, with the next title scheduled for the second quarter of 2010. Each DVD in the Let’s Grow series is themed and the content will focus on different areas like safety, expressing feelings, manners and other preschool topics. The DVDs will feature episodes from HIT Entertainment’s library of programs such as Barney, Bob the Builder and Thomas & Friends. The episodes are linked together by segments that feature the hosts from Sprout’s original Sunny Side Up Show, along with their puppet friend Chica the Chicken.

“We are thrilled to join with our broadcast partner, Sprout, to launch this new DVD line,” said Jeff Deverett, the senior VP of home entertainment for 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,” added Tom Alexander, the senior VP of marketing at 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.”