A&E Finding Success With Two-Disc Sets

20 Jul, 2001 By: Ralph Tribbey

For A&E Home Video, success has come in twos.

Its double-disc “Collector’s Choice” line of special interest DVDs drawn from both the History Channel and A&E Television have beenwell-received, especially among “warehouse mass merchants,” says JasonCampbell, director of marketing for A&E’s exclusive marketing and sales arm, New Video. “We are in active discussions with other key retailers to expand coverage of the line.”

Another area of distribution focus beyond traditional retail venues is the education market.

“Our type of programming on DVD works very well for educators in the classroom,” Campbell says. “We’ve found that one-hour episodes are toolong, but with chapters, teachers are able to present the material in smaller portions, and there is the added bonus of not having to rewind.”

A&E’s third wave of eight “Collector’s Choice” double-disc DVDs streetsAug. 28 (prebook July 31) at $19.95 each. Each boxed set contains approximately 3-1/2 hours of programming.

Leading the way is a second double-disc boxed set plucked from The History Channel’s popular Civil War Journal series, The Civil WarJournal: The Commanders, which includes four complete episodes. Timed to take advantage of Universal Studios Home Video’s forthcoming release ofThe Mummy Returns is Mummies and the Wonders of Ancient Egypt. OtherAug. 28 double-disc releases are: Locomotion: The Amazing World of Trains, Mysteries of the Bible: The Bible’s Greatest Heroes, The Great Escapes Of WWII, The Rat Pack, The Real Las Vegas: The Complete Story ofAmerica’s Neon Oasis and Ancient Mysteries: Myths and Legends.