Playskool Announces VIDEONOW JR.

[Collector's Connection]

October 08, 2004 09:15 AM US Eastern Timezone

Playskool Announces VIDEONOW JR. - The First Personal Color Video Player Made Just for Preschoolers

PAWTUCKET, RI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2004--
VIDEONOW JR. Provides "On-the-Go" Preschoolers with Incredible Entertainment Content Featuring Dora the Explorer, The Wiggles, Sesame Street, and Other Favorites





Following in the footsteps of the enormously successful VIDEONOW player - the first-ever portable, personal video player for tweens introduced last year, Hasbro, Inc.'s (NYSE: HAS) PLAYSKOOL division launches VIDEONOW JR. this fall. VIDEONOW JR. is the first full-color personal video player designed specifically for preschoolers, and it features acclaimed early learning programming from some of the biggest names in kids' television: Nick Jr., HIT Entertainment and Sesame Workshop.

"VIDEONOW JR. is a perfect match for today's busy families with young children," said toy and children's lifestyle industry expert Chris Byrne. "It combines innovative product, mom-approved programming and total portability, making VIDEONOW JR. one of this year's 'must-have' items."

The VIDEONOW JR. library of content features top-notch programming including: Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues, Max & Ruby, Little Bill and Oswald from Nick Jr.; The Wiggles(R), Barney(R) and Bob the Builder(TM) from HIT Entertainment; and Sesame Street from Sesame Workshop. The VIDEONOW JR. proprietary color video discs will be available for approximately $9.99 each and $19.99 for three-packs this fall.

"Over 1.2 million tweens own VIDEONOW players, prompting little brothers and sisters everywhere to ask, 'where's my VIDEONOW?'" said Brian Goldner, Hasbro's president, U.S. Toys group. "With the introduction of VIDEONOW JR., preschoolers ages 3 to 6 now have a portable media player of their very own - just like their older siblings. The VIDEONOW JR. player provides preschoolers with the characters and TV shows they love - and parents with the educational programming they trust - anytime, anywhere."

"Hasbro has the personal video business figured out for tweens with VIDEONOW COLOR and now preschoolers will have a chance to get in on the fun with VIDEONOW JR.," said Steve Youngwood, senior vice president, Media Products, Nickelodeon. "At Nickelodeon we like to be everywhere that kids are and look forward to being part of this new platform and the success of VIDEONOW JR."

"We are thrilled to be working with Playskool on the launch of this unique new platform," said Jamie Cygielman, senior vice president, consumer products for HIT Entertainment. "The player's portability and ease of use, along with HIT's child-requested/mom-approved content, is a winning combination for today's active families."

"Just as television allowed us to launch educational and engaging content 35 years ago, today Playskool is offering children a chance to learn through another innovative medium," said Ann Kearns, vice president, Global Toys at Sesame Workshop. "We're pleased to be involved with a product that encourages children to laugh, learn and reach their highest potential."

Easy to use with colorful, chunky buttons that are perfect for little hands, the VIDEONOW JR. player is designed for the active child. The player features a colorful housing that is built tough enough to withstand the bumps of daily preschool use.

For approximately $85, preschoolers ages 3 to 6 years can have their very own VIDEONOW JR. portable full-color personal video player to take with them anytime, anywhere.

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[Collector's Connection]

About VIDEONOW JR.

VIDEONOW JR. is a portable, personal, full-color video player designed specially for preschoolers. It measures approximately five by six inches and is outfitted with chunky buttons, making it perfect for little hands on the go. The backlit, full-color LCD screen features a special combination of frame rate and color level making VIDEONOW JR. one of the highest quality, color personal video players on the market.

To use the VIDEONOW JR. player, children simply pop in a VIDEONOW Jr. personal video disc and press play. To conserve battery power when the player reaches the last track on the disc, the unit will automatically go into sleep mode. Similarly, if the player is paused it will go into sleep mode after five minutes. To wake up the player, simply press play. VIDEONOW JR. also features fast-forward and fast-rewind video scanning.

All discs in the VIDEONOW Disc Library feature a special proprietary format and will not play on other media players. VIDEONOW COLOR and VIDEONOW JR. personal video discs are interchangeable but will not play on the black and white VIDEONOW player.

VIDEONOW JR. (for ages 3 years and up) players are scheduled to be available at leading national retailers in the fall of 2004 for an approximate retail price of $85. The VIDEONOW JR. personal video player will be available in two fun styles: yellow and purple, and purple and green. Additional software titles and a VIDEONOW JR. carrying case with easy grip handle and a compartment that holds five personal video discs, will be available this fall.

About Hasbro, Inc.

Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

About Nick Jr.

Nick Jr. is a specially designed programming block airing on Nickelodeon weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (ET/PT) and weekends on CBS (check local listings). Completely dedicated to preschoolers ages 2-5, Nick Jr.'s Emmy, Peabody and Parents' Choice Award-winning programs are curriculum-based, fun and commercial free. At Nick Jr., kids play to learn with innovative, original shows created just for them.

About HIT Entertainment

Established in 1989, HIT Entertainment PLC is a fully integrated global studio, with divisions in the U.K., U.S., Canada, Germany and Japan, including broadcast production and distribution, video and audio sales, consumer products licensing, and marketing. A world leader in quality family entertainment, the company controls all rights for such acclaimed children's properties as Angelina Ballerina(TM), Barney(R), Bob the Builder(TM), Kipper(TM), Pingu(TM), Rubbadubbers(TM) and Thomas & Friends(TM). In the U.S., UK and Canada, HIT Entertainment also acts as the representative for the popular preschool property, The Wiggles(R). In spring 2004, HIT entered into an agreement with The Jim Henson Company to act as worldwide representative for its library of classic family brands, including Fraggle Rock(TM), Emmet Otter(TM)'s Jugband Christmas and Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories, and also to partner in the production of new programming.

About Sesame Workshop

Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in children's lives around the world. Founded in 1968, the Workshop changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. Today, the Workshop continues to innovate on behalf of children in 120 countries, using its proprietary research methodology to ensure its programs and products are engaging and enriching. Sesame Workshop is behind award-winning programs like Dragon Tales and Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat and ground breaking multi-media productions in South Africa, Egypt and Russia. These are among many Workshop endeavors recognized for their deep understanding of children's developmental needs and the most effective ways to address them. As a nonprofit, Sesame Workshop puts the proceeds it receives from sales of Sesame Street, Dragon Tales and Sagwa products right back into its educational projects for children around the world. Find the Workshop online at www.sesameworkshop.org.