DVD-rental kiosk brand redbox today announced two-year distribution agreements with NCircle Entertainment, a children's entertainment distributor, and Summit Entertainment, a full-service, worldwide film studio. Redbox says the deals will allow its customers increased access to NCircle and Summit titles at all of its locations nationwide. NCircle's titles have won Parent's Choice and Emmy awards and include brands such as The Jim Henson Company's "Sid the Science Kid" and Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About That," among many others. Summit's titles include feature films such as the popular "Twilight" series and the hit film "Knowing."
Unlike some Hollywood movie studios, Summit will make its new release titles available to redbox customers on their street dates, says redbox president Mitch Lowe:
We are very pleased to enter into this agreement with Summit, as it underscores our commitment to creating winning relationships for our customers and studio partners. This agreement ensures that we will continue to deliver engaging and popular Summit movie titles to consumers at our kiosks when they are first released at an affordable price.
Debbie Ries, NCircle's senior vice president and general manager, believes the deal with redbox will help increase DVD sales for the company, a topic that also has been contentious in redbox' dealings with some major movie studios:
We will increase the visibility and reach of our titles nationwide through this two-year distribution agreement with redbox. Redbox rentals allow the consumer to try before they buy. We are confident that the positive rental experience at redbox, coupled with the quality and appeal of our content, will translate into increased DVD sales at retail. This agreement is an exciting opportunity for NCircle, redbox and the consumer.
Redbox did not disclose terms of either deal, but did say the Summit agreement will begin Jan. 1, 2010.
