Studio Distribution Services (SDS), the leading distributor for film and television physical media entertainment in the United States and Canada, has reached an agreement to expand the Blu-ray and DVD releases in Walmart stores nationwide for the global hit television series, The Chosen.
This distribution partnership marks the first deal of its kind for SDS to release content outside the studio film labels that it currently manages for its parent studios, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
The deal with The Chosen began with debuting Seasons 1-3 at US-only Walmart stores and has now expanded to existing catalog products, including The Chosen Seasons 1-3 DVD bundle and individual seasons with exclusive artwork in the US, as well as the much-anticipated upcoming release, The Chosen Season 4, coming to stores on Blu-ray and DVD on June 25th in both the US and Canada, and a Season 5 when released, in both the US and Canada.
The Chosen TV series is a groundbreaking multi-season episodic television drama based on the story of Jesus that is produced, written, and directed by Dallas Jenkins. The series has been a global phenomenon and continues to be one of the most-watched shows in the world. It boasts over 200 million viewers across over 770 million episode views and has consistently been a top performer across the variety of broadcast and streaming platforms that it has played on.
It has also established a large social media presence with over 13 million followers. “Our partnership with SDS helps us more effectively serve millions of fans across retail destinations where they shop,” said Craig Featherstone, Director of Sales, The Chosen. “But the real magic of the partnership is a wildly collaborative friendship that is introducing millions of new fans to The Chosen—a show about the authentic Jesus of the Bible. Across every part of the SDS organization, they have skilled and passionate advocates for our show and our fans. We’re grateful for the care and support at every level of their organization.”
The collaboration with The Chosen is SDS’ first direct partnership with a film distributor, outside its parent studios, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and their partners. The strategic move follows SDS being selected by Walmart U.S. as its consolidator for physical content. SDS is designed for scalability, making it a seamless process to incorporate new partners into their distribution model.
“This positions SDS to continue to foster direct connections between film distributors and audiences. While the company was initially set up for Warner Bros, Universal, and their partners, it was built in a way that would allow it to scale up easily,” SDS President Eddie Cunningham recently explained. “And we couldn’t be more delighted to be partnering with The Chosen team to bring the popular franchise to Walmart shelves.”
SDS is a leading force in the industry, having released five out of the top ten physical media releases in 2023 with the titles, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Oppenheimer, Fast X, Barbie and Black Adam. The deal with The Chosen showcases SDS’ commitment to innovation and adaptability in the ever-evolving physical media industry. As physical media enthusiasts eagerly anticipate The Chosen’s future releases, the partnership exemplifies SDS’ dedication to championing the physical media industry and continuing to connect physical content distribution to audiences.
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