NEWS ROUNDUP 1995-12-04

Sony to Offer $5 "Treasure" Rebate

is the latest addition to Sony Wonder's direct-to-video "Enchanted Tales" series. It will be released Jan. 30 at a suggested retail of $12.98. Prebook is Jan. 4.

Sony will support the new title with a $5 mail-in rebate offer to consumers who purchase "Treasure Island" and any other "Enchanted Tales" video. A storybook and audiotape format, each selling at a suggested retail of $6.98, also will be offered.

In addition, Sony Wonder will launch its new "Sesame Street" home video line on Feb. 6. The collection includes a new series, "Kids Guide To Life," original direct-to-video titles and re-releases of classic "Sesame Street" home video titles. Prebook is Jan. 18.

Additionally, Sony Wonder's Ice Capades performance "Cinderella: Frozen in Time," starring Dorothy Hamill, will come to video on Dec. 26. Prebook is Dec. 7. Adapted for television from a North American tour, the title will sell at a suggested retail of $12.98.

Orion Pitching 1995 Baseball Tape

LOS ANGELES -- Orion Home Video here and Major League Baseball Home Video, Hackensack, N.J., have released "The Official 1995 World Series Video."

The sports documentary includes all the games in this year's Fall Classic between the Cleveland Indians and the Atlanta Braves. It also includes interviews with players on both teams and exclusive footage. It carries a suggested retail of $19.98. Orion is the exclusive sales agent for Major League Baseball Home Video.

Orion and Major League Baseball Home Video also have released "Cleveland Rocks," which shows the 1995 season highlights of the Cleveland Indians. It sells at a suggested retail of $19.98.

New "Timmy the Tooth" Titles Out

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- MCA/Universal here will unveil three new episodes of "The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth" on Jan. 30. The titles will carry a suggested retail of $12.98. Prebook is Jan. 16.

The episodes -- "Rainy Day Adventure," "The Brush in the Stone" and "An Eye for a Tooth" -- will be cross-promoted with Lifetouch Portrait Studios and Minolta cameras. Lifetouch will offer consumers a free 8 X 10 portrait when they present a coupon enclosed in each new release. Additionally, each new "Timmy" episode will contain a rebate coupon offering savings up to $10 off the purchase of 35mm Minolta cameras. Consumers also can receive a $3 mail-in rebate when they purchase "The Land Before Time III" and any one of the nine "Timmy" videos. Rebate forms are located inside "The Land Before Time III" videos. A "Timmy the Tooth Adventure Backpack" will be offered to consumers who mail in cash register receipts from any two "Timmy the Tooth" videos plus $4.99. The offer expires July 9, 1996. Each "Timmy" title will have a Feb. 2 national advertised availability date.

"Felix the Cat" Comes to Video

NEW YORK -- BMG Video here will offer the first three titles from "The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat" next year. They will be released Jan. 16 at a suggested retail price of $12.98. BMG will support the titles with a Kids' Meal promotion with Wendy's restaurants beginning in January. Also, 20 million special Felix Kids' Meal bags featuring toys and coupons will be distributed. BMG also will launch an extensive television advertising campaign in January and will offer a rebate inside videos as well. Prebook is December 22, 1995.