Contact Information: Contact: Loree Potash OverDrive, Inc. (216) 573-6886 x202 Email Contact
Magnolia Pictures and HDNet Join OverDrive Library Channel
Film and TV Studios Join A & E and Image Entertainment to Offer Video Downloads Through Library Websites
| Source: OverDrive, Inc.
CLEVELAND, OH -- (MARKET WIRE) -- November 14, 2006 -- Leading digital media vendor OverDrive, Inc.
announced today that Magnolia Pictures, HDNet, Weston Woods, Nano Network,
Music Sales Group, Naxos, Hart Sharp Video, Davenport Films, Mill Creek
Entertainment, Magic Lamp Productions, Associated Television International,
MPS Multimedia, Sounds True, Tai Seng Entertainment, and Venevision
International have entered into distribution agreements with OverDrive to
download film and video titles through public library websites. Magnolia
Pictures, specializes in unique and eclectic films including Academy Award
nominated documentaries, and HDNet, which broadcasts sports, entertainment,
and news in high definition. Both companies are owned by Marc Cuban.
OverDrive, which provides digital audiobooks to over 4,000 U.S. and foreign
public libraries, expanded its service earlier this year to include
download film and video in its library media catalog. Libraries in New
York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Denver, Seattle, Cleveland,
Baltimore, and Singapore already offer patrons OverDrive Video. To use the
service, a patron browses the library website or catalog, enters their
library card, and checks out and downloads movies and TV shows in Windows
Media Video format (.WMV). At the end of the lending period, the video
title expires and checks itself back into the library catalog. Patrons can
view the library videos on PCs, notebooks, and portable media players that
support copy protected .WMV.
"Magnolia Pictures titles added to our service include 'Enron: Smartest
Guys in the Room,' 'World's Fastest Indian,' and 'Bubble' by Steven
Soderbergh," stated Erica Lazzaro, Licensing Manager for OverDrive. "These
award-winning titles join a growing list of IMAX films, HBO stand up
comedies, concert videos, classic TV and westerns, and how-to films
available in download format from OverDrive. Earlier this year we
announced agreements with A&E Television Networks to distribute titles such
as 'Biography: Vincent Van Gogh' and 'Modern Marvels: Mount Rushmore' and
in negotiations with numerous other studios and suppliers," Ms. Lazzaro
added.
New OverDrive suppliers also include: Davenport Films, provider of live
action fairy tales such as "Hansel and Gretel" and "Rapunzel"; Weston
Woods, with children's films including "Corduroy," "Curious George Rides a
Bike," and "Wheels on the Bus"; Tai Seng Entertainment providing martial
arts titles; Sounds True offering spiritual and self-help videos such as
"Meditation for Beginners"; Hart Sharp Video offering feature films like
"Supersize Me," and Nano Network, a leading short film supplier with titles
including "Hello" starring Eric Stoltz as well as films starring Felicity
Huffman, Janeane Garafalo, David Hyde Pierce, Jim Belushi, Amy Adams,
Coolio, and Taye Diggs.
Mill Creek Entertainment is providing OverDrive with classic movies, TV
shows and cartoons including John Wayne film collections. Associated
Television International has licensed their top-selling special interest
videos including "Unlocking Da Vinci's Code" and "Angels and Demons
Revealed." MPS Multimedia is a producer of educational and instructional
videos on cooking, sports, crafts and more. The Music Sales Group, from
their New York office, is supplying OverDrive with the complete Hot Licks
line of presently 50 personality music instructional DVDs such as "George
Benson - The Art Of Jazz Guitar" in addition to the Rock House complete
line of 40 music instructional DVDs including titles such as "Learn Rock
Acoustic Guitar."