Franklin The Turtle Stars In Direct-to-video Feature From Usa

GOOD KNIGHT: USA Home Entertainment, formerly known as PolyGram Video, is launching its biggest kid-vid promotion since the company relaunched last year.

On Oct. 10 the company will release "Franklin And The Green Knight," its first feature-length direct-to-video and DVD project. The video is the latest spinoff of the popular animated series featuring Franklin the Turtle, which USA distributes on video. The 75-minute "Franklin And The Green Knight" will retail for $19.95 VHS and $24.95 DVD.

The highly rated Nickelodeon preschool program also has been spun off as a book series that has sold more than 25 million units worldwide, according to USA. The show is part of CBS' Saturday-morning children's lineup.

USA VP of children's marketing and special projects Jacqueline Lawes says the Franklin marketing campaign is "the biggest we've done since the Barney movie, which was when we were PolyGram Video. Franklin is our best-selling kids' property." USA's other children's properties include the Richard Scarry animated line and Noddy, a character created by itsy bitsy Entertainment.

Lawes says the Franklin character has proved popular with cross-promotion partners as well. "We were looking for brand alliances or other alliances with significant market presence and ended up working with Radisson, Sears, and Applebee's, all of which have strong family identification," she says.

Purchasers of "Franklin And The Green Knight" can take advantage of a "buy one night, get one free" at Radisson Hotels across the country. Plus, Radisson is featuring the movie in its in-room magazine, Voyageur, which is available at more than 250 of its hotels in North America. Lawes says USA and Radisson designed this promotion "so families can hopefully have a nice weekend together."

Sears, which debuted Franklin licensed-merchandise boutiques in more than 850 of its stores July 1, will carry the video and feature it in its Sears Portrait Studios departments. A continuous loop of the movie trailer and two Franklin episodes—"Franklin Goes To School" and "Franklin In The Dark," are also available for retailers to play in stores, says Lawes. A Sears Franklin boutique, she notes, "will be up until March 31, 2001."

"Franklin And The Green Knight" will also be receiving additional exposure in 1,200 Applebee's restaurants around the country during October via themed place mats and collectible plastic tumblers. "The paper place mats will feature a picture of the video and a 50%-off coupon good toward a purchase at Sears Portrait Studios," says Lawes, "and Applebee's will display in-store Franklin signage."

USA is also teaming up with toy manufacturer Kidpower, which makes the Franklin plush, to promote its new "Franklin And The Green Knight" talking plush. Kidpower will also advertise the video's availability through national TV spots airing on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, E!, and Lifetime.

USA will conduct its own ad campaign encompassing TV, radio, print, and the Internet. Havas Interactive will launch Franklin CD-ROMs in October, Lawes says, and the company is "looking to do cross-promotions with them. They'll already be featuring the video in their print ads.

"If 'Franklin And The Green Knight' does well," she says, "we're hoping to do a sequel."

SAVING THE WORLD BEFORE BEDTIME: Warner Home Video and the Cartoon Network are unleashing two new video titles from the hilarious series "The Powerpuff Girls." The two titles arrive Nov. 7, along with the video debut of "Dexter's Laboratory," another Cartoon Network series.

"Birthday Bash" and "Dream Scheme" follow up the Powerpuff Girls' successful video debut earlier this year and carry the suggested retail price of $14.95. The Girls also make their DVD debut Nov. 7, with "Down 'N Dirty," running 111 minutes, and "Powerpuff Bluff" running 114 minutes. Each is priced at $19.98. "Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip" debuts at $14.95.

Each of the videos will come packed with a $3 rebate when consumers purchase two or more videos or DVDs. A Powerpuff Girls savings booklet with consumer discounts on Powerpuff merchandise is also included.

The DVD versions of the Powerpuff titles include extra episodes, such as favorites selected by the fans, interactive games, DVD-ROM access to the Powerpuff Girls Web site, bios, and trivia. The "Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip" video will feature episodes from two more Cartoon Network originals: "Dial 'M' for Monkey" and "Justice Friends."

Warner Home Video is running print and online ads supporting the titles, as well as showing trailers in Warner Bros. Studio Stores and on TV monitors at Six Flags amusement parks.

KIDBITS: "Air Bud: World Pup" is the latest installment in Walt Disney Home Video's "Air Bud" franchise. It scampers into stores Dec. 12, priced at $19.99 for VHS and $29.99 for DVD. The film features cameo appearances by U.S. women's soccer players, including Brandi Chastain and Briana Scurry.

There's a new "Baby Songs" release due Tuesday (12) from Anchor Bay Entertainment, featuring nine songs from veteran children's artist Hap Palmer. "Baby Songs Play Along Songs" contains two new Palmer tunes and seven favorites from a previous version of the video. It retails for $12.98.

Also due Tuesday is "The Miracle Maker—The Story Of Jesus" from Artisan Home Entertainment's Family Home Entertainment division. "The Miracle Maker" is priced at $19.98 for VHS and $29.99 for DVD. The Claymation version of the holiday Bible story aired last Easter Sunday night on ABC and features the voices of Ralph Fiennes, Julie Christie, Richard E. Grant, William Hurt, and Miranda Richardson.