DON CORNELIUS SELLS 'SOUL TRAIN': Property bought by multimedia company that promises to expand the brand.

After 37 years, "the hippest trip in America" has come under new ownership. Don Cornelius, creator of the "Soul Train" franchise, has sold the property to MadVision Entertainment, a multimedia company specializing in branded urban content and production.The deal includes production rights to "Soul Train's" weekly series, including a catalog of more than 1,100 hours of archival footage. New episodes haven't been produced since 2006, but it's understood that MadVision may bring the show back sometime in the future."The 'Soul Train' legacy and brand are of the utmost importance to me and to 'Soul Train's' millions of fans," Cornelius told the Hollywood Reporter. "After years of offers, I feel the time is now finally right to pass the torch. The MadVision team understands and respects my vision."Peter Griffith, who founded MadVision with Kenard Gibbs and Anthony Maddox, said the company also is eyeing new opportunities for "Soul Train" on DVD, broadband and video-on-demand."Our goal is to preserve the show's legacy and expand the brand for the generations to come," Gibbs added. SOURCE: EURWEB.COM