A new U.S. video label called The Classic Collection is being launched early next year by the U.K.-based Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group and CLT-UFA International.

The first two titles, The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson (30 x 30 minutes) and Return to Treasure Island (one x 90 minutes), will be sold across the U.S. during the first half of 1999. The company plans to launch two additional titles next year.

The existing international Classic Collection television brand, already established in Japan, Brazil and Germany, will be consolidated with the new video label, with TV titles released to video. The label will continue to specialize in family programming with child and adolescent appeal, such as The Legend of William Tell (16 x 60 minutes) and The Enid Blyton Adventure Series (24 x 30 minutes).

In other news, CLT-UFA fortified its position in France early October by grabbing an 85% stake in the independent French film distributor Société Nouvelle de Distribution (SND). The acquired distributor will be releasing 12 to 15 films a year to theaters across France, representing a mix of French, European and U.S. movies across all genres, including kids.

CLT-UFA International, which already had a deal promoting SND children’s titles Air Bud, New Swiss Family Robinson, Hoods and The Nephew, will acquire the rights to all titles formerly distributed by SND. Eventually, CLT-UFA hopes to use SND’s network to distribute its own titles in France.