Hasbro re-aqquires Sunbow rights

[GK Punk]

I didn't see this posted anywhere.

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Hasbro Inc. Wednesday said it has reacquired the worldwide distribution rights to the Sunbow Library of Hasbro Classics programming from TV-Loonland, which held the right to license the content.

Under the terms of the deal, Hasbro (nyse: HAS - news - people ) has regained ownership of nearly 1,000 episodes of television programming featuring some of the company's most established brands, including G.I. Joe and My Little Pony.

http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/05/14/afx5007719.html

We could be seeing the return to DVD of Transformers, GI Joe and possibly let's hope, Jem.

[Raphael_]

Thank frickin god. I have S1 and part of S2 of GI Joe on DVD, maybe we'll finally see the rest.

[GK Punk]

Yeah same here. I didn't pick up the TF DVDs last time, but I learned my lesson about waiting. But GI Joe is what I am most excited about here.

[DrSpengler]

I've already bought Transformers twice over: first as Rhino's sets and then as Pioneer's sets (for the Japanese dub). I'm not gonna buy it a third time.

BUT I definately want to finish up GI Joe. More importantly, though, this may lead to DVD sets of Visionaries and The Inhumanoids, two shows that are WAY superior to Hasbro's other 80's cartoons. I'm dying for those, to be sure.

[gobo]

Yo Joe! for me too. ^_^ I just hope they don't do the 'toy company' thing and market them as exclusive promos for their toys. If I'm not mistaken, TVShowsonDVD had claimed not too long ago that this was the current plan for 'Joe. :(

[Jon]

*Dr. Spengler* Well, most of Inhumanoids was put out on DVD some years ago.


*Gobo* For the toy/DVD combos-- it was doing multi-parters, that were already out on DVD, as pack-ins with figure sets.

[Drtooth]

This is great news for Transformer Fans... though I just want to add this:

TV-Loonland AG
TV-Loonland is a brand management company primarily in the children's and youth market focusing on high-quality content which it develops and produces in house as well as coproduces with third party producers and partners. With offices in key locations throughout Europe (Paris, Munich and London) and in the USA (Miami), TV-Loonland is ideally positioned to identify, produce and market top quality brands across all media including TV, Home Entertainment, Licensing & Merchandising as well as digital media. TV-Loonland's most recent successes include brands such as LITTLE PRINCESS, THE OWL and PETTSON AND FINDUS.


So, some guys that own some obscure thing called "The Owl" was one of the reasons that these DVD's were in rights purgatory? Hmmm...

Anyway, I hope this means they'll release full DVD's, and not just 2-3 episode bits that come with toys. Apparently the pilot episode came with a special Optimus Prime... but that's all I've heard so far, and it was planned way before they bought the rights back.

[GK Punk]

Yo Joe! for me too. ^_^ I just hope they don't do the 'toy company' thing and market them as exclusive promos for their toys. If I'm not mistaken, TVShowsonDVD had claimed not too long ago that this was the current plan for 'Joe. :(

That was all Hasbro could get the rights to do. It's to be part of their adventure sets due out soon. I still plan to get those, mostly because I buy anything labeled GI Joe if I can. At least now I won't have to open them to watch the DVDs! I can just hold out for a Season set! I know BCI won't get these, but how awesome would TF, GI Joe and Jem releases be by BCI?