11 Nov 2010 07:00
Date: 11 November 2010On behalf of: Entertainment One Ltd. ("eOne", "the Company" or "the Group")Embargoed until: 0700hrs
Entertainment One Ltd.
US broadcast deal for Peppa Pig signed with Nick Jr.
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO), the international entertainment group, is pleased to announce that it has signed a three year US broadcasting deal for Peppa Pig ("Peppa"), its two time BAFTA award winning pre-school kids property, with Nick Jr. This represents a significant step as eOne introduces Peppa to the world's largest licensing and merchandising market in partnership with the most watched children's TV channel in the US.
Peppa Pig is expected to make its US premiere early 2011 on Nick Jr., Nickelodeon's 24-hour commercial-free, educational pre-school network as a scheduled half hour format.
Peppa has been broadcast on Nick Jr. and Channel Five's Milkshake in the UK since 2004 and is currently the top rated pre-school show on both channels. The series is currently broadcast in more than 180 countries with a catalogue of 156 episodes and an additional 52 commissioned and in production for delivery over the next two years.
The popularity of the television series has supported the development of a significant merchandising program that has seen rapid growth over the last three years. Total merchandise sales, excluding DVD sales, are valued at over £150m per annum. Following the US launch eOne will seek to develop a full branded licensing and merchandising programme specific to North America, a market that is estimated to be worth over US$92bn.
The US launch will also help grow sales in the wider international market extending the licensing and merchandising programmes already in place in UK, France, Poland and Australia.
Commenting on the deal Darren Throop, CEO of Entertainment One, said:
"The agreement with Nick Jr. has the potential to be a transformational step forward for the Peppa Pig franchise and for eOne's Family operations which continue to be a major strategic growth platform for our company. We are confident that Peppa will be as popular with children and families in the U.S. as she is in the UK and look forward to leveraging Peppa's expanded fan base to grow the franchise around the world."
Along with Peppa Pig, eOne's portfolio of Family programming includes such popular titles as Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom, Tractor Tom and Humf.
Darren Throop and Giles Willits, Chief Financial Officer, of eOne will be chairing a conference call to discuss the U.S. deal in further detail today, 11 November, at 1100hrs.
If you would like to dial in please contact ls@redleafpr.com to register your interest.
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Enquiries:
Redleaf Communications |
Emma Kane Rebecca Sanders-Hewett
|
+44(0)207 566 6700 eOne@redleafpr.com |
Entertainment One Ltd. | Giles Willits Scott MacFadyen | +44(0)207 907 3773 +1 416 903 6581
|
Singer Capital Markets Limited
| James Maxwell Nick Donovan
| +44(0)203 205 7500 |
Cenkos Securities plc | Stephen Keys Beth McKiernan | +44(0)207 397 8926 |
Notes to Editors:
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company's comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, kids programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 20,000 film and television titles, 2,400 hours of television programming and 45,000 musictracks.
Further information is available at www.entertainmentonegroup.com or email Redleaf at eOne@redleafpr.com