The Jim Henson Company today announced that favorites from the Company’s TV programming and feature film library will be available for purchase and download on Apple’se iTunes Store beginning today, January 28th, 2008. The launch will begin with episodes from the first seasons of the critically acclaimed award-winning sci-fi series Farscape and the endearing favorite Fraggle Rock.
The Jim Henson Company has partnered with New Video, a leading digital aggregator of independent video content, to bring these highly sought after programs to the iTunes Store, the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store. Television shows are US$1.99 per episode, and music videos and short films are $1.99 each. Through this new partnership between New Video and the Jim Henson Company, both the Fraggle Rock and the Farscape series will be available in their entirety in the coming months.
“We continue to be honored and thrilled by our fans’ ongoing desire to support their favorite shows and view them using all formats of media,” said Nicole Goldman, Vice President of Marketing and Publicity of The Jim Henson Company, in the press release. “We know our fans have been asking for these titles on iTunes and through our partnership with New Video, we hope to serve our loyal supporters and also introduce these beloved shows to new audiences.”
On January 28, the cult science fiction series Farscape in its first season entirety (all 22 episodes) will be available on iTunes. This is exciting news for die-hard Farscape fans who no doubt know how difficult and expensive it is to find the complete first season on DVD. Season one includes the enthralling premiere episode of this ground breaking sci-fi hit that made extensive use of CGI, prosthetics, and state-of-the-art puppetry – courtesy of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.
Are you ready to “dance your cares away”? Well, you can on January 28 when all episodes for the first season (24 episodes) of this highly acclaimed puppet series loved by both children and adults alike is available for easy download on iTunes. 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of Fraggle Rock and from these fun-loving subterranean creatures came 96 total episodes, 100 original songs, and millions of fans all around the world.
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and computer graphics. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets (the rights to which are now owned by The Walt Disney Company), Henson is the recipient of over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Credits include the Saturn Award-winning “Farscape” and the features “MirrorMask,” “Five Children and It” and “Good Boy!”. With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot complete with soundstage and post-production facilities. Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, a preeminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state of the art and vintage equipment. The Company is currently in production on “Sid the Science Kid,” a new science readiness animated series for preschoolers scheduled to debut on PBS in September 2008, and recently launched “Puppet Up! – Uncensored,” a live puppet improvisational show that has played to sold out crowds around the world and premiered as a special on TBS. The Company has also announced the creation of Jim Henson Designs, a merchandise collection inspired by Jim Henson’s earliest sketches.
Source: The Jim Henson Company
” . . . because Henson doesn’t own it anymore. Disney does.”
If only we knew someone important at Disney that had some influence with Apple. Or is it the other way around?
(doc: You’re welcome. I taught pre-school and first grade many years ago. “What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood, tempered and balanced by knowledge and common-sense…” – Beatrix Potter’s Journal, 11/17/1896, from the National Trust collection.)
P.S. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=75677621&id=75677704&s=143441
I greatly appreciate the sentiment expressed by Bea. I have gone to great lengths to protect the innocent spirit of my children, and to give them knowledge, with heavy emphasis on common-sense. I have not seen that quote since… don’t know when!
I should add that the tune “”Perfect Day” also helps calm me after listening (about 10 times in a row) to “Kodo – Inside the Sun Remix” by the Yoshida Brothers.
Ampar & doc,
Thanks guys. I wasn’t familiar with that. It made my day.
You are quite welcome and thanks to Bea.
Farscape on iTunes? Wonderful.
Farscape is an incredibly intelligent, sophisticated, well-written show that never underestimated the intelligence of their audience.
The philosopher Marshall McLuhan warned viewers that “we become what we behold” – and Farscape recognised that truth and did their best to make TV something other than mindless, superficial and simple.
I think Marshall McLuhan would have like Farscape. I know I do. Farscape is ‘lean forward’ TV. A show where you have to engage every part of your being to fully appreciate. Not just those atrophied brain cells, but also those atrophied emotions.
Farscape is the most rewarding TV that I have ever watched.