Tavistock Regulatory News (TAVI)

21 Jan 2005 17:06

Bright Things plc21 January 2005 21 January 2005 BRIGHT THINGS PLC Content Agreement with HIT Entertainment PLC Bright Things PLC, the developer of an educational games console and softwarefor the pre-school market, has signed a content agreement with HITEntertainment, one of the world's leading children's entertainment companies,for the distribution rights for Thomas & Friends TM, Bob the BuilderTM, AngelinaBallerinaTM, PinguTM and Fireman SamTM. Today's announcement marks further progress in Bright Thing's strategy ofseeking distribution rights for characters that will provide the basis forBright Thing's games. This follows the December 2004 agreement withEntertainment Rights for the Postman Pat(R) and Little Red TractorTM characters,the September 2004 agreement with Chorion for the Noddy brand and the May 2004agreement with BBC Worldwide for the distribution rights for other keychildren's characters, including The TeletubbiesTM and The TweeniesTM. Dominic Wheatley, CEO, Bright Things, said: "I am delighted to announce this agreement with HIT Entertainment. Withcharacters like Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder, today's news seessome of the market's most popular children's figures being added to the BrightThings' expanding portfolio." HIT's Brand Business Directors, Katie Rollings and Katie Foster, welcome thedeal. A spokesperson for HIT Entertainment, said: "We are thrilled to be working with Bright Things across the HIT portfolio onthis new educational DVD games platform. Interactive electronic media is anexciting and important area for the pre-school market and we are very pleased tobe working with Bright Things on this project"" ENDS For further information please contact: Bright Things PLC Matthew Tims, Publishing Director 07976 740397Giles Croot / Mark Antelme, Brunswick 020 7404 5959 HIT Entertainment PLC Juliet Dawson, Senior PR Manager 020 7554 3616 NOTES FOR EDITORS: About Bright Things Bright Things was formed in June 2002 by Dominic Wheatley and John Kavanagh, theinventor of the technology, to develop and exploit the prototype interactiveeducational children's console. About HIT EntertainmentHIT Entertainment PLC is now one of the world's leading children's entertainmentcompanies with arguably the strongest portfolio of classic properties under asingle management. These include Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine,Barney, Angelina Ballerina, Pingu and Guinness World Records. Since the company's launch in 1989 HIT has developed into a mini studio withactivities spanning television and video production (with studios in the US andthe UK), publishing, consumer products licensing and live events. With operations now in the UK, US, Japan, Germany and Canada approximately 45%of our revenue comes from Home Entertainment sales with another 45% derivingfrom consumer product licensing. HIT is now the fourth biggest children's video distributor in the UK and the USand the fourth biggest children's character licensor in the world. With over1,000 episodes of top quality young children's programming HIT sells programmesto over 180 territories worldwide. Shares in HIT Entertainment PLC are traded on the London Stock Exchange (symbol:HTE) and the company is a constituent of the FTSE Mid 250 index. HIT's properties seek to inform, educate and delight young children and thecompany's strategic goal is to become the world's leading specialist provider ofpre-school entertainment, controlling all aspects of revenue generation,creating long-term classic characters loved by children across the globe. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange