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Non-Tech : Teletubbies -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: EPS who wrote (27)	5/30/1998 4:25:00 PM
From: EPS	Respond to of 33

"Teletubbies" Toys Say "Eh-Oh" to Children Everywhere; FAO Schwarz and Toys R Us Report Phenomenal Sales 01:26 p.m May 27, 1998 Eastern NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 27, 1998--Just over one week after the introduction of Hasbro's talking Teletubbies toys, key retailers are proclaiming a tremendous success. The toys, based on the children's television phenomenon, were introduced on May 16th at FAO Schwarz and Toys R Us nationwide, with additional distribution to Store of Knowledge, Noodle Kidoodle, Learningsmith, Imaginarium and Zainy Brainy beginning on Sunday, May 17th. "Teletubbies has greatly surpassed my expectations," said Michael Goldstein, Chairman of the Board of Toys R Us. "In fact, I haven't seen a toy launch this successful since the introduction of the Cabbage Patch dolls." "We have seen a very enthusiastic response to Teletubbies," said John Eyler, Chairman and CEO, FAO Schwarz. "Once parents and children watch the show, they fall in love with these characters - and we expect this product will be a big hit this holiday season." "I am thrilled that the Teletubbies have become a part of the fabric of life in America as quickly as they have," said Kenn Viselman, president and CEO of the itsy bitsy Entertainment Company. "The way that children and their caregivers have embraced the toys solidifies the fact that the series has proven to be a positive, fun and creative outlet." Teletubbies, produced by Ragdoll Productions (UK) Ltd., premiered on public television on April 6th. The series is both entertaining and a learning tool for its young audience. Above all else, Teletubbies is funny. Children become engaged in the humor of the program which is deliberately created for their understanding. The episodes are carefully written and directed so children can learn from each show. Teletubbies' unique format and characters were designed to nourish children's thinking skills. This innovative program encourages young viewers to listen and anticipate the characters' actions by incorporating movement, repetition and speech. Full of inventive concepts and original ideas, Teletubbies has been created to foster children's imaginations even after the television is turned off. Ragdoll Productions (UK) Limited was founded in 1985 by Anne Wood. The creator of the award-winning TOTS TV(TM), in association with Carlton Television and produced in partnership with the itsy bitsy Entertainment Company, Ragdoll Productions is committed to the development of young children, capturing their imaginations through fantasy and play and teaching life's lessons through first-hand discovery. The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company, which recently concluded a merger with Hadleman Company (NYSE:HDL), was launched to offer creators of unique properties a strong, dedicated partnership for production, distribution, licensing and marketing. Founded three years ago by Kenn Viselman, the itsy bitsy Entertainment Company is known for inspiring "Safehaven Entertainment(TM)" - programming and products that maintain the highest levels of consideration for positive parenting while enhancing children's lives, allowing them to dream!

To: EPS who wrote (27)	5/30/1998 4:28:00 PM
From: EPS	Respond to of 33

Genesis Initiates Coverage of Handleman with Buy Rating May 5, 1998 01:29 PM SAN FRANCISCO, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesis Merchant Group Securities today initiated coverage of Handleman Company HDL with a Buy rating. Handleman is a leading rack jobber (the management of inventories for retail clients) of music to mass merchants such as Kmart and Wal-Mart. Genesis analyst Barry Sosnick noted, "We anticipate earnings per share of $0.32 in fiscal 1998, $0.68 in fiscal 1999, and $0.88 in fiscal 2000. We believe that there is the potential for 50% appreciation in the stock price over the next year." Handleman's customers comprise the largest segment of the mass merchandising market which has experienced market share growth in US music business. The North Coast Entertainment division owns the licenses to the original Halloween and Godzilla movies as well as some of the sequels. The company should benefit this year when new Halloween and Godzilla movies are released. Handleman is a leading distributor of music in Mexico and Canada and has footholds in Argentina and Brazil. Its North Coast Entertainment division develops relatively high margin proprietary products and markets licensed merchandise. Sales are estimated at $1.1 billion for the fiscal year ending March 1999. SOURCE Genesis Merchant Group Securities Top

To: EPS who wrote (27)	5/30/1998 4:30:00 PM
From: EPS	Respond to of 33

Handleman Company Acquires Majority Stake in itsy bitsy Entertainment, Holder of Rights to Teletubbies and Other Entertainment Properties CEO, Kenn Viselman, to Assume Additional Duties as Chairman of the Board Of The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company May 18, 1998 07:01 AM TROY, Mich., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Handleman Company HDL today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary North Coast Entertainment and The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company, an entertainment marketing firm with exclusive rights to a number of prestigious children's properties, including Teletubbies, Tots TV, Noddy and Miss Spider, have entered into an agreement for the purchase of shares of itsy bitsy Entertainment. Following consummation of this agreement, North Coast now owns a 75% stake in itsy bitsy Entertainment. Under the terms of the deal, itsy bitsy Entertainment will establish a children's unit with responsibility for the acquisition, development and marketing of future children's entertainment properties and concepts for North Coast Entertainment. Managerial and operating control of itsy bitsy Entertainment will remain with its current management, which is headed by the company's founder and chief executive officer, Kenn Viselman, who is retaining a meaningful minority interest in the company. Mr. Viselman will also take on additional responsibilities as chairman of itsy bitsy Entertainment's board of directors. The transaction advances a long-standing relationship among North Coast, its subsidiary Anchor Bay Entertainment Inc., itsy bitsy Entertainment and Mr. Viselman. Anchor Bay has worked with The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company and Kenn Viselman on Tots TV, another series by Ragdoll Productions, the creators of Teletubbies, and previously while Mr. Viselman was at QFE, by establishing the video label for Thomas The Tank Engine with Anchor Bay. Anchor Bay continues to hold the video rights to Thomas the Tank Engine, Tots TV and other successful properties. "We are pleased to be broadening our relationship with Kenn Viselman and his team at itsy bitsy Entertainment and are looking forward to having much greater involvement in the children's market as a result of this deal," said Stephen Strome, president and chief executive of Handleman. "Given the extraordinary track record of Kenn Viselman, we are confident that he and his team are capable of leading Handleman's efforts to increase its development of properties targeted to the children's market, particularly the preschool segment." Stephen Nadelberg, president of North Coast Entertainment said, "In the person of Kenn Viselman, this transaction brings to North Coast and Handleman one of the top children's entertainment and licensing executives in the industry and positions us to take a leading role in this fast growing area of the licensing business." Prior to founding itsy bitsy Entertainment in 1995, Mr. Viselman was with BAI (formerly known as Quality Family Entertainment) as head of sales and marketing. MEXX USA, Inc. and Jerrel, Inc. Mr. Viselman has received several licensing awards for his accomplishments in managing such children's entertainment properties as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, which under his direction became one of the world's largest revenue-generating licensed entertainment characters. "I am looking forward to working with Handleman to take itsy bitsy Entertainment to the next level of its development and to helping North Coast and other Handleman units acquire new properties and develop new concepts," said Mr. Viselman. "Clearly they are committed to playing a major role in the children's entertainment end of the business, and our partnership with them will allow us to strengthen our position significantly as we pursue our mutual goals." "I have put together a core team of 25 professionals who have proven to be outstanding in their respective areas," continued Viselman. "I am sure that with their input and the current climate in the area of children's entertainment, The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company will continue to have a strong impact in this arena." The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company was launched to offer creators of unique properties a strong, dedicated merchandising, promotions and marketing partnership. The company is known for creating Safehaven Entertainment programming and products that promote positive care giving while enhancing children's lives. North Coast Entertainment develops, publishes and markets family entertainment and educational multi-media products through four primary businesses: Anchor Bay Entertainment, Madacy Entertainment, Sofsource, and Sell-Through Entertainment. Handleman Company, with annual sales in excess of $1 billion, is the largest supplier and merchandiser of music, video, books and personal computer software products sold in North America's leading retail chains. Handleman's 3,600 employees ship products to approximately 16,600 retail departments from distribution facilities located in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.

To: EPS who wrote (27)	5/30/1998 4:31:00 PM
From: EPS	Respond to of 33

Handleman Company Transfers Atlanta and Baltimore Distribution Services To Indianapolis Automated Center May 7, 1998 12:02 PM TROY, Mich., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move to improve customer satisfaction while reducing operating expense, Handleman Company HDL announced today that it will transfer product distribution from its Atlanta and Baltimore facilities to Handleman's automated distribution center (ADC) in Indianapolis, with a completion date set for late summer of this year. In making the announcement, Tom Schmid, Handleman Entertainment Resources vice president/operations, noted, "In its two years of operation, the Indianapolis ADC has exceeded our expectations for productivity. Inventory control, order reliability, on-time shipping and customer satisfaction all have increased as a result of our automated systems. By moving our distribution to Indianapolis, we will improve inventory management and provide improved levels of service to those customers formerly supplied out of Atlanta and Baltimore." Handleman Company, with annual sales in excess of $1 billion, is the largest supplier and merchandiser of music, video, book and personal computer software products to North America's leading retail chains. The Company's 3,600 employees ship products to some 16,600 retail departments from distribution facilities located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. SOURCE Handleman Company