LeapFrog Scout & Friends Make Their Onscreen Debut in Lionsgate DVD That Makes Learning Phonics Skills Fun

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:LF), the leader in educational entertainment, and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global diversified entertainment company, today announced the release of the first title in their popular learning DVD series to feature original characters Scout & Friends.  LeapFrog: Phonics Farm DVD, available from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, also offered through Digital Download and On Demand, is the latest LeapFrog offering based on learning puppy Scout, a franchise that in two years has grown to more than 20 products and is the #1 standalone brand in the Preschool Electronics Learning Toy category(1). Additional DVDs starring Scout will be available throughout the coming year.

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Scout's Turn to Be a Star

LeapFrog: Phonics Farm is the 12th educational video from LeapFrog, whose first video, Letter Factory, launched in 2003 and continues to be a perennial bestseller. In this latest offering, which Lionsgate developed in close partnership with the LeapFrog learning team, kids travel with Scout and his pals to a farm full of unusual creatures. As kids get acquainted with "letter animals" such as an Athletic Alligator, a Sad Seal and a High-pitched Horse, they are building phonics skills, an important step on the road to reading. To complement the children's learn-to-read journey, LeapFrog offers the Tag Junior book pal and the Tag reader, which has been recommended by teachers.

"We have enjoyed a successful partnership with LeapFrog since 2009, jointly launching 11 updated and new titles to date," said Michael Rathauser, senior vice president of Marketing for Lionsgate Home Entertainment. "Having the chance to once again join forces with this educational entertainment pioneer is exciting, and we look forward to providing even more quality ways for kids to enjoy great stories while they learn with familiar friend Scout the puppy."

"As the learn-to-read leader, LeapFrog has been thrilled to collaborate with screen entertainment expert Lionsgate to bring kids products that let them learn while they have fun," said Craig Hendrickson, senior vice president of Educational Toys at LeapFrog. "Our classic 'Letter Factory' and 'Talking Words Factory' movies have helped millions of children learn the alphabet and other pre-reading skills, which are critical to helping them reach their lifelong potential, in school and in life. Bringing these beloved characters to life on screen has also been a wonderful way for the Scout franchise to grow, and we look forward to the next chapters of his animated learning adventures."

Learning puppy Scout made his product debut in 2009 as My Pal Scout, a talking and singing plush friend who could "learn" kids' names, favorite colors and favorite foods.

Availability

LeapFrog: Phonics Farm, MSRP $14.98, for children ages 2-5, is currently available at LeapFrog.com, www.leapfrogdvds.com and at major retail locations.

For more information on Scout and other LeapFrog products, visit www.leapfrog.com.  

About LeapFrog

LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is an education innovator and a leading developer of educational entertainment for children. LeapFrog's award-winning product portfolio is designed to help children achieve their full potential by delivering best-in-class curriculum through engaging and age-appropriate technology-based platforms and toys. The Learning Path, LeapFrog's proprietary online destination for parents and extended family, provides personalized feedback on a child's learning progress and offers product recommendations to enhance each child's learning experience. Through the power of play, LeapFrog's products and curriculum help children of all ages prepare for life and academic success. LeapFrog's products are available in more than 45 countries and have been used by teachers in more than 100,000 US classrooms. LeapFrog is based in Emeryville, California and was founded in 1995 by a father who revolutionized technology-based learning solutions to help his child learn how to read. Come see the learning at www.leapfrog.com.

TM & Copyright © 2011 LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms.  The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as "Mad Men", "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie" along with  the comedy "Blue Mountain State, " the critically-acclaimed drama "Boss" and the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House Of Payne", its spinoff "Meet The Browns", the upcoming "For Better or Worse," "The Wendy Williams Show" and "Are We There Yet?".

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, THE EXPENDABLES, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. The Company's home entertainment business has grown to more than 8% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

(1) U.S. Source, 2010: The NPD Group / Consumer Tracking Service; Preschool Electronic Learning Toy, stand-alone brands in Dollars, Annual

SOURCE LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.