Sony Takes Stake in GBI, Bolsters Distribution Deal

CULVER CITY: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) has taken an equity stake in Genius Brands International (GBI) and will become the company’s global distributor.

Sony and Genius Brands recently signed a multi-year agreement that sees SPHE market and distribute GBI’s Kid Genius and Baby Genius labels throughout North America. SPHE has expanded that deal to encompass the worldwide home-entertainment marketing and distribution of GBI’s properties, including SpacePOP, Baby Genius, Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaire’s Club and Stan Lee’s Cosmic Crusaders.

“The global distribution deal between Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Genius Brands provides a myriad of growth opportunities for both companies and coordinated global marketing for each of our brands as well as for our rapidly growing Kid Genius and Baby Genius channels,” said Andy Heyward, the chairman and CEO of Genius Brands. “We look forward to working with SPHE to source, develop and produce valuable commercial children’s ‘content with a purpose’ for global audiences.”

Bill Stellman, SPHE’s executive VP, chief financial officer and supply chain, added: “Genius Brands offers an incredible value to the worldwide marketplace in providing content with a purpose to children and family audiences around the globe. We are pleased to bring our global capabilities to this expanded relationship with Genius.”