Corpus Resources PLC Regulatory News (COR)

10 Jan 2005 07:00

Chorion PLC10 January 2005 10 January 2005 Chorion secures Japanese contract for Noddy Chorion is pleased to announce that it has secured an agreement for thedistribution of a Noddy TV series in Japan, the world's second largest toymarket. A distribution agreement between Chorion and OLC/Rights Entertainment Japan(ORE), the Tokyo-based intellectual property rights subsidiary of theme parkowner Oriental Land Co. Ltd, will see Chorion's 100 x 10 minute CGI-animatedseries, "Make Way for Noddy", debut in Japan on no fewer than three majortelevision networks, starting in the second half of 2005. As part of the agreement, Chorion has also awarded ORE publishing, video andlicensing rights for the Noddy brand in Japan, making possible the comprehensiverollout of Noddy books, toys and home entertainment products into a market inwhich there are more than six million children under the age of five1, thebrand's core demographic. Noddy's new broadcasting partners are: • Kids Station, one of the most widely distributed and highest rating cable and satellite channels in Japan (a joint venture channel owned by Mitsui, Tokyo Broadcasting System and the Sumitomo Corporation/Liberty Media entity Jupiter Programming Company) and with an audience of six million viewers; • BS Fuji, the satellite television network of major commercial broadcaster Fuji Television Network (flagship of Japan's largest media conglomerate, the Fujisankei Communications Group); and • Megaport Broadcasting, a national digital interactive television network (owned by a consortium including Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun and publisher Kadokawa Shoten) Today's announcement represents a major step in the global expansion of theNoddy brand and its licensing prospects. Japan is the largest toy market in the world after the United States. Accordingto research agency Euromonitor, the value of the toys and games market in Japanis Y1022 billion (approx. US$9.7 billion), of which traditional toys and gamesaccount for annual sales worth Y527 billion (approx. US$5 billion). Within the next 12 months "Make Way for Noddy" will be seen in three of theworld's biggest markets: the United States, mainland China and Japan. The seriesis already one of the UK's biggest television exports and is broadcast inapproximately 115 territories. In the UK, "Make Way for Noddy", which made itsdebut in 2002, is the most popular television programme for its target audienceof children aged three to five. Welcoming Noddy's expansion into Japan, Chorion chief executive Nicholas Jamessaid: "Taking Noddy to Japan represents a landmark achievement for Chorion and theNoddy brand. The recent sales in major territories such as Japan, the US andmainland China, underline the character's international appeal and the majorlicensing prospects for the brand. "We are especially delighted to work with such a prestigious partner in OLC/Rights Entertainment Japan which has secured airtime on prestigious televisionnetworks in Japan." Japan is also one of the biggest markets for another Chorion brand: crime authorAgatha Christie. Publisher Hayakawa has begun distributing new editions of allChristie titles and first animated television series based on Christie's works -created expressly for Japan - recently aired on general entertainment network,NHK1. Commenting on recent trading ahead of the company's close period, Mr James said, "The signing of this very important deal with one of the strongest players inthe Japanese market together with the significant broadcasting success, on ITV,of the four new Miss Marple TV films throughout December, brings to a close avery positive year for Chorion. We have seen good growth across our entireportfolio and trading is in line with market expectations. We look forward to avery positive 2005." - ends - For further information please call: Tim Allan or Andrew ShollPortland, for Chorion020 7404 5344andrew.sholl@portlandpr.co.uk About Chorion Chorion (LSE: COR) is the UK's leading owner and manager of classicliterary-based brands. Its foremost properties include Enid Blyton's Noddy,Roger Hargreaves' Mr. Men and Little Miss series, Agatha Christie's HerculePoirot and Miss Marple and Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret. Visitwww.chorion.co.uk. About OLC/Rights Entertainment Japan (ORE) OLC/Rights Entertainment (Japan) Inc. was established in 2003 to fulfil the aimof strategically expanding the intellectual property rights business as a fullyowned subsidiary of Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC, the parent company alsooperates Japan's Disney theme park). About Noddy "Make Way for Noddy" is a colourful CGI-animated pre-school series centring onthe adventures of the little wooden boy with a nodding head and his Toylandfriends. It is based on the classic books by the UK's biggest-selling children'sauthor Enid Blyton. More than 200 million Noddy books have been sold worldwidein 40 languages since the character was first created in 1949. "Make Way for Noddy" made its debut on UK broadcaster Five in 2002. It has grownto become the most watched pre-school TV series for kids aged 3-5 in the UK andis one of the top-three rated pre-school programmes in France. The programme hassince been translated into more than a dozen languages and is seen 115 marketsaround the world. 1 Source: Unicef/United Nations Population Division (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/japan_statistics.html This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange