More VeggieTales

Another article reporting the recent loss of an $11 million dollar judgment in favor of Lyrick Studios. This piece focuses more on the reasons why Big Idea Productions, Inc. walked from Lyrick.

"They weren't suing to get the rights back, they simply wanted money," Vischer said.

Vischer said he let Lyrick — which also distributes kid favorites "Barney" and "Wishbone" (ed: and Austalian group, The Wiggles)— distribute "VeggieTales" in the late 1990s for one reason: "The owner of the company was Dick Leech, who was a wonderful man, a very strong Christian."

But when Leech sold the company and retired, Vischer found a new distributor.

"We knew that we had language in the draft agreements that would have let us walk away if Dick Leech either sold the company or ceased to be in his leadership role, both of which happened," Vischer said.

Further, Vischer and Big Idea had never signed a contract with Lyrick. But the new owners sued anyway. To Vischer's amazement, the jury ordered him to pay $11 million.

Big Idea is looking for investors and finding some, apparently. According to the article: "Christians with very healthy portfolios are showing interest."

On other issues, there appears to have been troubling times with the production and release of Jonah. Phil Vischer's reponse is here.

Big Idea has been a generally bright spot of Christian entertainment. I stockpiled the videos long before I even dreamed of having children, because I knew that it was, and continues to be, quality programming. Here's to hoping Bob and Larry are able to work out their issues and continue to appear on the video shelves for a long time.