Smithsonian Video and Unapix Entertainment announce major distribution agreement

Business Wire, Feb 8, 1995

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 1995--Unapix Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ:UPIX) announced today that it has signed a letter of intent for a wide-ranging agreement with Smithsonian Video, a division of the Smithsonian Institution Press in Washington D.C., for worldwide promotion and distribution of video programs.

Under the terms of the agreement, Unapix Entertainment would have extensive domestic and international distribution rights to existing programs in the Smithsonian Video Library and to new Smithsonian documentaries to be produced in coming years. Unapix Entertainment also reported that it expects to begin selling 11 Smithsonian programs at the television market in Monte Carlo later this month.

Commenting on the agreement, David M. Fox, president and chief executive officer of Unapix Entertainment said, "The name `Smithsonian' denotes the highest quality in documentary flimmaking and will be a welcome addition to our fast growing library of critically acclaimed programming. Joining forces with Smithsonian Video reflects the leadership position that Unapix Entertainment has established in television and home-video sales of niche programming in the United States and in foreign markets."

In a joint statement for the Smithsonian, Andrew B. Ferguson Jr., Director of Smithsonian Video, and Paul B. Johnson, Director of the Office of Telecommunications, the Institution's production arm noted that "the prospect of working with Unapix Entertainment in promoting and distributing our programs worldwide is exciting. This relationship will help us reach the largest possible audience for Smithsonian documentaries and original productions."

Fox indicated that the 11 existing Smithsonian Video programs which Unapix Entertainment plans to begin marketing this month include:

"Dinosaurs," an examination of the recent explosion of new and often controversial scientific ideas that question the most basic, long-accepted beliefs about dinosaurs.

"Insects," a look at the miniature menageries that mark the microscopic end of the zoological spectrum.

"Fire, Ice and Sea Collection," a three-part series, which includes: "Inside Hawaiian Volcanoes," a chronicle of the tempestuous volcanic history of this tropical island paradise, narrated by Roger Mudd; "The Magnificent Whales and other Marine Mammals of North America," a whale-watching voyage created from some of the best surface and underwater footage ever taken of some 22 species of whales, dolphins and other marine mammals of the waters adjacent to North America and Hawaii; "Penguin World," showing the fascinating range of penguin varieties from the four-pound Fairies to the 90 pound Emperors.

Six documentaries comprising the Library of Congress Collection on American film-making: "The African American Cinema; Origins of The Gangster Film"; "Origins of American Animation (1900-1921), a showcase of the best of the Library of Congress' collection of early animated cartoons; "Origins of the Fantasy Feature";"The African American Cinema II," containing a rare surviving silent example of what the industry once labeled "race movies" and an early experimental musical short featuring the remarkable team of Noble Sissle Eubie Blake; and "America's First Women Filmmakers," showcasing four complex works from the silent era's two most accomplished and successful women directors.

Unapix Entertainment expects to gain rights to an expanding roster of Smithsonian programs as further domestic and overseas rights become available and as new titles enter the library.

The Smithsonian Institution, founded in 1846 "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge," is the world's largest complex of museums and research centers in the arts, sciences and history.

Unapix Entertainment Inc. owns a growing library of recently produced television programs and feature films, which it licenses to the worldwide television, home-video and educational markets.

CONTACT: Sylvia A. Dresner, 212/575-7070