Io Group, Inc., parent company of top gay brands TitanMen and ManPlay, announced on July 15 the introduction of a new brand to its portfolio, TitanMen Fresh.
Initial releases of the new brand, which focuses on under-30 models, will be produced in Europe by Man's Art Studio and directed by famed European gay director Marcel Bruckmann. Bruckmann was named Best Gay Director at the 2004 Venus Awards in Berlin, Germany.
Man's Art and Bruckmann have signed an exclusive long-term production and distribution deal with Io Group to produce up to 12 titles per year for the next seven years. Terms of the contract give Io Group exclusive DVD manufacturing and distribution rights for the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Africa.
The agreement also gives Io Group exclusive worldwide distribution rights for Internet, streaming, VOD, PPV, cable, broadcast, and satellite for all films produced.
Man's Art will retain European DVD distribution rights for all films.
This is the first entry into the under-30 market for Io Group and marks the beginning of expansion into new genres for the production and distribution company.
"We are very excited by our expansion into the under-30 genre," said Keith Webb, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Io Group. "We looked at the market and saw a huge hole in high quality and affordable films featuring younger men. By bringing the same high quality production values the TitanMen brand is synonymous with to this genre, we feel we can penetrate and expand this segment of the market quite successfully. We have a great track record for being successful in anything we put our skills and energy behind."
"I have committed all the resources of my company to ensure that TitanMen Fresh is a viable and long term brand," says Bruce Cam, CEO of Io Group and GAYVN Hall of Fame Director. "I traveled to Germany to work with Marcel and his production team, passing on the finer points of production that are the signature of my own films for the past fifteen years. My goal is to ensure the same high quality and great sex associated with the TitanMen brand name; the only difference being the use of younger models. I am confident that we can bring the same level of quality of TitanMen productions into this segment of the marketplace."
The first two TitanMen Fresh titles are London Calling and Where Is Rico?, set for U.S. wholesale release in early August. Retail price-points for the brand are targeted to be in line with current ManPlay retail prices and should hit store shelves between $39 and $45. For marketing and promotional materials such as box covers, banners, or press releases, please visit TitanPromos.com.
For U.S. wholesale inquiries please contact: Stephen Mounce or Charles LeBlanc, [email protected], 800-360-7204, 415-252-7747 (Fax), P.O. Box 411345, San Francisco, CA 94141; or Nicole Hunter, [email protected], 888-562-9125, 212-924-6514 (Fax), 101 W. 23rd St., #2149, New York, NY 10011.
