Christian Retailing

EMI CMG to distribute 'What's in the Bible?' Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Friday, 29 July 2011 05:16 PM America/New_York
Phil Vischer and EMI Christian Music Group (EMI CMG) have announced a long-term distribution agreement for the VeggieTales co-creator's Jellyfish Labs' "What's in the Bible?" DVD series.

Besides handling ancillary, digital and music products created by Jellyfish Labs, EMI CMG Distribution will assume distribution of the DVD series from Tyndale House Publishers, which saw the launch of the 13-part "What's in the Bible?" set in March 2010 with the release of the first two volumes, In the Beginning and Let My People Go!.

Tyndale's agreement with Jellyfish Labs recently expired. "What's in the Bible?" was the best-selling new children's DVD series in the Christian retail market in the past year, selling almost 175,000 units, company officials said.

This fall, EMI CMG will re-launch the first five DVDs in the series and distribute a new music CD. On Oct. 18, the next installment in the series and a special holiday episode—Kings & Chronicles: A Nation Divided and Why Do We Call It Christmas?—will be released.

EMI CMG President and CEO Bill Hearn said that the company has worked with Vischer on past VeggieTales music and feature films projects, "making it a genuine fit for us to work together on his newest venture." "Families need 'What's in the Bible?' more now than ever before," he added.

Featuring flash animation, puppetry and catchy tunes, the series tells "the story of the Bible—about God's great rescue plan and how stories like those of Moses, Noah, David and Jesus fit together to tell one big, redemptive story."

To be released Sept. 27, the five re-launched DVDs will be repackaged and include new family study guides as well as a digital copy for computers and mobile devices. Just like before, the DVDs will retail for $14.99 each.

Vischer is no longer part of VeggieTales' owner Big Idea, but is still involved with VeggieTales projects. Click here for more information on the "What's in the Bible?" DVD series.