LA-based US DVD distributor Genius Products has expanded its relationship with The Weinstein Company (TWC), whereby Genius will now handle digital rights distribution for TWC's film library and direct-to-video content.

Under the terms of the new multi-year digital rights agreement, Genius will distribute TWC feature films and direct-to-video content, maintaining both physical and digital distribution rights for the term of the agreement. The transaction grows Genius Products library to over 1,000 titles of digital rights and should result in the addition of 200-250 new titles over the term of the deal.

Genius has digital rights with several of its other content providers such as Classic Media, Entertainment Rights Halmi and Wellspring and is in the process of concluding agreements with US retailers for digital rights.

'We remain bullish and focused on the sale of the physical product. As the industry evolves we will be in a position to benefit from changing technology regardless of delivery methodology,' said Trevor Drinkwater, president and CEO of Genius Products, in a statement.

'We have always positioned ourselves to ensure that our partner's content is distributed across as many delivery methodology as possible whether digital or physical,' said Stephen K. Bannon, chairman of the board of Genius Products Inc, which is the minority owner of Genius Products LLC - majority owned by TWC.

Jeff Calman has been retained by Genius Products as senior adviser of digital strategies, charged with overseeing the expansion of the company's digital rights library and delivery of content through digital platforms.

Calman was most recently executive vice president of Warner Home Video where he managed and developed the company's VOD and electronic sellthrough distribution arm.

'One of my first areas of focus will be to secure additional innovative deals for our content, and to manage the formation of an internal team to ensure we are technically positioned to exploit the library of digital rights that we have today and will continue to acquire in the future,' said Calman in a statement.