Back in mid-February, we
posted exciting news that
A Different World - Season 1 was coming to DVD in late August, per a pre-order listing
at DVDPlanet.com. At the time we expected to have more info later in the week, but now more than a month's passed with no news.
The other day, though, word started spreading that UrbanWorks and parent Ventura were now talking about a
January 2006 release timeframe for this box set. Various online sites were saying this, including hard-to-impeach sources such as
Video Business and
Billboard Biz. It was obvious that they were basing this information on a formal press release, and we've worked with the distirbutor and studio Carsey-Werner to obtain that exact press release for you. It also covers the confirmed-for-August release of
The Cosby Show, which we talk about further
in a separate news story. Artwork is courtesy of Carsey-Werner, but it is a publicity photo and may not represent the cover of the DVD release (the cast line-up isn't correct for the first season).
For Immediate Release
CARSEY-WERNER DISTRIBUTION AND VENTURA ENTERTAINMENT
ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO BRING "THE COSBY SHOW" TO DVD
Agreement includes "A Different World" -- Both To Be
Released Through Ventura's UrbanWorks Entertainment
March 21, 2005 - Thousand Oaks, CA - Ventura Entertainment and Carsey-Werner distribution, the pre-eminent independent studio in the television industry, announced today an agreement to bring "
The Cosby Show" and "
A Different World" to DVD. The inaugural release will be "
The Cosby Show - Season 1" slated for an
August 2, 2005 street date followed by "
A Different World - Season 1" in
January, 2006. Under the terms of the multi-year, multi-title agreement, Ventura has licensed the rights to all eight seasons of "
The Cosby Show," as well as all six seasons of "
A Different World." Both shows will be released through Ventura's in-house label, UrbanWorks.
"The opportunity to be in business with Carsey-Werner, the leaders in independent television production, and bringing two of television's most beloved shows to DVD, is truly exciting," said Eric Doctorow, chief operating officer of Ventura Entertainment Enterprises. "This agreement highlights Ventura's ongoing commitment to develop key relationships with premiere content partners."
"It goes without saying how important '
The Cosby Show' and '
A Different World' are to this company," said Robert Dubelko, co-president/COO, Carsey-Werner. "These were our first two hit series and their impact on the fans and the business can still be felt today--which is why we wanted to make sure we had the right company to distribute and market these beloved programs on DVD. The expertise and creativity Ventura and UrbanWorks bring assures us that these history making shows will get the proper treatment they deserve and will be a wonderful keepsake for all the fans who have been waiting for their release."
The Emmy award-winning "
The Cosby Show" was the #1 new show in its first season and ranked as the #1 network program for five consecutive seasons pulling in the highest household season rating of any program in more than 30 years.
The Emmy-nominated "
A Different World" debuted as the #1 new show of the season, staying at #1 in its time period for the first five seasons of a six-season run, achieving the highest first-season household rating in the 1980s and 1990s.
"We are extremely excited to work with Carsey-Werner to bring these classic TV properties to DVD," said Jeff Clanagan, president, UrbanWorks Entertainment. "By combining UrbanWorks' expertise in marketing and distribution, along with each of the show's tremendous fan appeal, we are certain that the two series will be extremely successful."
With this acquisition, Ventura Entertainment continues its strategy and ongoing commitment to strengthen its broad portfolio of product offerings by bringing high-value product to their core labels: UrbanWorks, StudioWorks, Studio Latino and Ventura Select.
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show, which dominated Thursday evenings from 1984 to 1992 turned out to be one of the biggest and longest running hits in American television history. The show revolved around the day-to-day situations faced by Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Claire Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) and their five children. The Huxtables, an upper-middle-class family, were unlike any other African-American family previously seen on television. Their everyday adventures, which helped revive the situation comedy, centered around Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf), their eldest daughter, Theo (Malcolm Jamal-Warner) their somewhat of an underachiever son, Denise (Lisa Bonet), their eccentric daughter, and the two younger siblings, Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) and Ruby (Keisha Knight Pulliam).
A Different World
Originally planned to be a spin-off to
The Cosby Show,
A Different World made its debut in 1987 and ended production in 1993. Starring Jasmine Guy (Whitley), Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne), Dawn Lewis (Jaleesa), Lisa Bonet (Denise), and others,
A Different World was set at the historically black Hillman College and chronicled the struggles to make it through college.
About Ventura Entertainment
Ventura Entertainment Enterprises, a dynamic 12-year old home entertainment company, is the parent company of Ventura Distribution and Ventura Entertainment. Ventura is a leading provider of sales, distribution, marketing and financing services for independent producers and studios in the home entertainment marketplace. The company owns several specialty labels: UrbanWorks Entertainment, the premiere label for urban home entertainment, StudioWorks Entertainment, which handles the fast-growing demand for extreme youth videos and branded entertainment, Studio Latino, which acquires Spanish-language films from around the world and the cult, specialty film label Ventura Select as well as the international label, Ventura International. Distributed labels include 19 Entertainment, Associated TV, BET Home Video, Clear Channel Entertainment, Entertainment Rights, Fox Television, Kadaokawa Pictures, Lolafilms, Showtime, SkourasFilms, Slamdance Films, Toei, TokyoPop, Venevision, and Viz.
About Carsey-Werner
Carsey-Werner has been known globally for over 20 years as one of the leading independent studios in the business. With current hit, "
That '70s Show," classics such as, "
The Cosby Show," "
Roseanne," "
3rd Rock From The Sun," and a library of enviable hits that include "
Grounded For Life," "
A Different World," "
Grace Under Fire," "
Cybill," and "
Cosby," Carsey-Werner programs are seen and heard in over 175 countries and 50 different languages.
