Echo Bridge Entertainment Merges with Leading Home entertainment distributor, Platinum Disc Corporation
The Merger catapults Echo Bridge into the top echelon of the US Home Entertainment industry, by controlling one of the largest video distribution companies in the US.
Needham, MA – February 7, 2005 – Echo Bridge Entertainment has announced its merger with Platinum Disc Corporation, one of the largest North American independent distributors of home entertainment product, which will become Platinum Disc, LLC, a subsidiary of Echo Bridge Entertainment, LLC. This significant move by Echo Bridge effectively places it among the top companies controlling independent filmed entertainment distribution in North America. The announcement was made today by Echo Bridge Entertainment Managing Partner, Michael Alexander and the founder and CEO of Platinum Disc, Dave Thompson.
Commenting on the announcement, Alexander said, “This deal goes a long way towards reaching our goal to become one of the top independent, fully integrated worldwide distribution companies in the entertainment business, and we are very excited to bring such a dynamic and successful company as Platinum Disc into the Echo Bridge family.” Thompson adds, “This merger couldn’t be a better match, with the combined strengths of the two companies complementing each other perfectly. As a team we will build the company to become a major force within the industry.” In the last three years, Platinum Disc Corporation has increased business by 240%, to become the largest independent home entertainment supplier of value-priced video and audio in the North American marketplace, with some of their biggest buyers being Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Best Buy and Circuit City. Based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Platinum will continue to operate as before, keeping its 225 staff intact, with Thompson maintaining the smooth operation of the company and becoming a board member of Echo Bridge Entertainment.
Platinum Disc, which received an independent distributor of the year award last year, has a catalogue of nearly 2,000 film titles, all of which are acquired and sourced from various production companies worldwide. Platinum carries all product categories and genres. In the last year, Platinum concluded a major deal with Hallmark Entertainment to distribute a package of titles, including “Buffalo Girls,” starring Melanie Griffith and Angelica Huston, “True Women,” with Angelina Jolie, “Titanic,” starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and George C. Scott, “Murder in the Rue Morgue,” starring Val Kilmer, as well as 52 episodes of the critically acclaimed TV series “Lonesome Dove.”
Other titles include “License To Kill,” starring Denzel Washington, “Pokemon,” “Dynasty,” with Harrison Ford, “Long Walk Home,” starring Whoopi Goldberg and Sissy Spacek, and from Alliance Atlantis, such titles as “Yoga and Pilates” and “Hammy the Hamster.” Platinum also has a catalogue of over 5,300 CD song titles.
This multi-million dollar deal marks Echo Bridge’s most significant investment yet since its creation in 2004, resulting in a dramatic increase in the company’s value. Veteran industry executives Michael Alexander, Doug Hamilton, Michael Rosenblatt and Lucie Salhany have been steadily buying libraries and rights to a number of individual titles, and with this deal, the library will total nearly 2,250 film titles.
The team has now created a vertically integrated worldwide sales and distribution company, which can provide a full service, direct distribution channel to the North American theatrical and DVD markets, as well as an experienced international sales operation which covers the foreign marketplace. Echo Bridge distributes filmed entertainment in all media, including theatrical, home entertainment and all forms of television. This deal positions the company as one of a handful of independent businesses that controls distribution across all media worldwide, and offers an exceptional opportunity for film and television producers alike.