AV Channel ink Distribution Deal with Via Vision

The AV Channel is pleased to announce a new sales and distribution deal with Via Vision Entertainment (VVE) .

All product released on the Via Vision label will be exclusively distributed by the AV/Madman group effective March 28th 2006.

VVE is the privately owned Home Entertainment division of Australia?s number 1 promoter Paul Dainty, and is a joint venture between Dainty and Nick Wayman. Mr Dainty is also Chairman of Dainty Consolidated Entertainment (DCE Group), whilst Wayman is a Home Entertainment industry veteran with over a decade?s experience, most recently as General Manager of Visual Entertainment Group .

AV Channel joint CEO Paul Wiegard is highly confident about the new distribution arrangement

?'The Via Vision team have a breadth of experience in Australia's entertainment industry that will stand them in excellent stead for this distribution partnership. The Via Vision label not only brings a new dimension to our business, it forges a new relationship with the DCE group whom I regard as Australia's top producer and promoter of live event entertainment?

DCE have worked with some of music's biggest international names , and are currently in the process of bringing The Rolling Stones to Australia as part of their 'A Bigger Bang' tour. Most recently, they brought rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg to Australian shores

Since its inception in late 2005, VVE has acquired an impressive array of award winning titles ranging from The Audrey Hepburn Story (starring Jennifer Love Hewitt), children?s programming like Wheels on the Bus (featuring the voice of Roger Daltrey of The Who), to award winning TV series like Robocop, right through to sporting documentaries like Golden Moments of the FAPL.



The DCE connection means that VVE will also be targeting a range of live entertainment titles that have substantial profile within the Australian marketplace.

?The AV Channel has made an indelible mark on the home entertainment landscape over the last 10 years and we are thrilled that we have joined forces. From the guys at the top right through the whole team... we feel confident that our products will be embraced and driven by staff that are as passionate about our products as our buying customers?. Via Vision chairman Paul Dainty said.

The first product shipped to market under the new arrangement will be The Audrey Hepburn Story on May 17 with more DVD titles to be released on a monthly basis.

MELBOURNE, Tuesday, 4th April, 2006 - In just over three weeks, the Limited Edition DVD release of Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki's latest Oscar® Nominated masterpiece, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE has completely sold out!

In stores now, and limited to 20,000 pieces, the HOWLS MOVING CASTLE Limited Edition DVD features premium slip-case packaging and two DVDs packed with extras.

"Obviously Madman is very pleased and excited by the huge response Howl's has gotten from the Australian public. Our mission was to make Miyazaki a house-hold name so everyone can enjoy his amazing films and it certainly looks like we're there!", said Dean Prenc, Anime Brand Manager, Madman Entertainment.
"This limited edition release was really something special, so if premium packaging is your thing, you want to be sure to get into stores quick!"

The HOWLS MOVING CASTLE Standard Edition DVD remains available to order, with the Studio Ghibli back-catalogue now available at a special price, for a limited time only, from all good retailers.

Please contact your sales representative for more information and visit http://www.madman.com.au/studioghibli for information on the Studio Ghibli Collection.


WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

"Anime or otherwise, you'll not find a more inspired film released this year." - EMPIRE

"Howl's Moving Castle is an awe-inspiring film." - Filmink

Madman would like to inform its customers that regrettably there is an ERROR confirmed on MMA3562 - Ghost In The Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig volume 2. The third episode on the disc, Episode 7, will skip to the end credits at the halfway mark of the episode.

We've confirmed this problem exists and are working to have a replacement disc printed as quickly as possible. As a result this title is being RECALLED.

For now, all customers please hold on to your receipts from your place of purchase as we will make this as easy to exchange as possible - at store level.

While we understand this is very inconvenient, we would like to advise a temporary workaround:

HOW TO VIEW MISSING SECTION ON GITS 2nd GIG v2:

While watching the episode, press the TITLE button on your remote. Using the numerical keys on your DVD remote enter 04 then ENTER. This will start you off at the beginning of the disc.

You can watch through from there, but please note between the 2nd and 3rd Episodes there will be about 1 minute of black, but the disc is working properly and the episode will start as normal.

On some DVD players, the remotes do not have the TITLE button, but all players have the function, so consult your manual on how to access this.

Once you go to TITLE 04, you can skip forward to Chapter 13 and watch the missing section as normal.

If watching in a PC player, you can use the interface to go directly to the correct part of the disc.

Expect fixed versions to be available from your local retailer in a few short weeks, more news to follow as dates become available!

March 28 2006

Dear AV Channel Customers

Please be advised effective
immediately that the previously published rental date for AV Channel rental product for June has now changed.

All AV Channel rental product will now be released on June 21 2006 , pls amend your records and planning to reflect this change.

Titles now scheduled for this date are as follows

36 Quai Des Orfevres
Beautiful Boxer
Paradise Now
Flight 93
Reeker

Please note that as rental and retail product will now be shipped together we
be pleased to pass on any freight savings.

We thank you for your cooperation and for your ongoing support of AV Channel product.

The AV Channel Team

Madman Cinema today announced that Lee Hunter will join its team in the newly created position of National Sales Manager, commencing on Monday March 6.

With over 20 years experience, Lee has established himself as a highly respected contributor to the Australian distribution and exhibition industry, with previous positions held at Hoyts, NewVision, Palace and Rialto.

Within the area of theatrical sales Lee will work closely with Paul Tonta, Madman Cinema?s National Sales Coordinator.

Madman Cinema has also confirmed a further development in PR for its upcoming slate. Deb Fryers is currently managing all Victorian PR, as well as the national PR for KENNY.
Deb brings with her a wealth of experience, including Managerial PR roles at Dendy/Becker and BVI, as well as consulting PR roles for Dendy/Becker and Kaleidoscope Films.

Want to enjoy Madman product of a different kind? Victorians can get themselves down to the inaugural Madman art exhibition at Artholes in Fitzroy, showcasing the work of over 20 Madman artists!

If you think an art gallery in your area might be interested in hosting SUBTERRANEAN EXPRESS, ask them to contact info@madman.com.au.

The SUBTERRANEAN EXPRESS exhibition opens on Friday March 17th at 6pm and runs until Wednesday March 29th.

Artholes is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. The address is:

114 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, VIC 3065

We are pleased to announce that the entire RETRO COLLECTION t-shirt range is reduced for a limited time to the very special price of $19.95!

So if you were undecided on whether you're a Decepticon or an Autobot you can now afford to be both!

All your favorite retro classics are available: VOLTRON, STARBLAZERS, ROBOTECH & BATTLE OF THE PLANETS and of course, the mighty TRANSFORMERS! While stock lasts.

Madman Entertainment would like to inform its customers that regretfully, there is a fault with GANTZ VOLUME 5 (MMA3357).

Customer may notice a slight freeze and 10 second skip at one point of the disc. After extensive testing, Madman has established this is a physical problem with the disc and that this occurred in the replication process.

Madman Entertainment is immediately seeking to rectify the problem with our replicators as rapidly as possible and expects to have a new version available in 4-6 weeks.

We hope fans can still enjoy the rest of the disc, and replacements will be offered when they become available.

Retailers please recall GANTZ V5 (MMA3357). This title will be resolicited on a future order sheet.

For further information please contact your AV Channel Account Manager.

The AV Channel and Madman Entertainment are seeking a motivated and driven professional to fulfill a senior account management role.

Based in Melbourne, your responsibilities would include managing day-to-day business of a major national retail account, as well as numerous separate independent outlets, which combined comprise a significant percentage of AV Channel's anime (Japanese animation,) customer base.

You would be required to regularly work and communicate with AV Channel's Director of Sales, Madman Entertainment's Anime Brand Manager and the various product buyers and staff members of the accounts you represent.

You should possess the following attributes:

- Minimum of 3 years retail experience, with experience in management preferable
- Excellent data and sales analysis skills
- Excellent marketing and promotional programming skills
- Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to arrange information in a way that is creative, entertaining and informative, coupled with the confidence to present to large groups
- The ability to meet targets, established in conjunction with the Director of Sales and Anime Brand Manager
- The ability to manage 20 plus DVD releases per month, in conjunction with the management and maximization of an extensive DVD back-catalogue
- The ability to excel under pressure
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a confident manner
- The ability to work well in a team and also individually
- The flexibility to accommodate occasionally irregular working hours and interstate travel
- Good knowledge of anime & manga and the Australian anime industry
- Good knowledge of video-gaming and the Australian video-gaming industry

Salary to be negotiated and dependent on experience and the qualities that you can bring to the position!

Please submit all applications to hr@avchannel.com.au by Friday the 17th of February, 2006. Following lodgment of your application, selected applicants will be contacted for interviews.

NEWS JUST IN!

JASPER MORELLO has been NOMINATED for a BAFTA (British Academy of Film & Television Arts) Award for Best Short Animation.

Having picked up 2 AFI awards, 2 IF Awards and the Dendy Award (Sydney Film Festival), the prestigious 'Cristal' grand prize at the Annecy International Animation Festival as well as many other accollades, JASPER is winning a deserved place at the pinnacle of the animation sphere.

The BAFTA nomination cements the international reputation of this silhouette animation about a disgraced aeronautical navigator who flees his home in search of redemption and a cure for the plague that afflicts his wife and society at large. Animator/director Anthony Lucas and his partner/producer Julia Lucas are currently at the Sundance Film Festival where the film will screen in the Animation Spotlight Program.

STAY TUNED for more announcements about major international awards!

THE MYSTERIOUS GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORATIONS OF JASPER MORELLO will be released on DVD on 15 March 2006. The DVD includes Anthony Lucas's short films as well as commentaries and a documentary on the world of Jasper Morello.

http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=6023&method=view

www.jaspermorello.com