Master toy deal signed for hit tween brand
Halifax, NS – 14 September 2015 – DHX Brands, the dedicated brand-management and consumer-products arm of DHX Media (“DHX” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DHXM; TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B), has appointed JAKKS Pacific Inc. as master toy licensee for hit tween show Make It Pop in all territories outside of Europe. JAKKS Pacific will launch product in dolls, plush, dress up, role play, girl’s electronic toys and Halloween costumes categories. Product is expected to launch at retail in 2016. The deal was concluded by CPLG North America.
The news follows a commission from Nickelodeon US for a second season of the live-action, music-infused comedy series. Make It Pop premiered April 6, 2015 on Nickelodeon US, where it quickly ranked #1 for kids and girls 6-11, and became the most-watched long-form content on Nick.com and on the Nick App and will continue to roll out on Nickelodeon’s international channels throughout 2015. In Canada, commissioning broadcaster YTV launched Make It Pop on September 9, 2015.
Peter Byrne, EVP DHX Brands said: “Make It Pop has garnered exceptional ratings right from the start and has really hit the sweet spot of this age group. It has a distinctive look and feel and the deal with JAKKS will be the foundation of a strong consumer products strategy as we appoint further licensees in core categories for this tween demographic.”
“JAKKS is thrilled to be the master toy licensee for the Make It Pop franchise and we look forward to creating toys and products that fans of all ages will love,” said John Blaney, Executive Vice President – Marketing, JAKKS Pacific.
The colourful, energetic series follows three unique girls – social-media maven Sun Hi (Megan Lee), bookish Corki (Erika Tham), and fashion-forward Jodi (Louriza Tronco) – who come together along with their classmate DJ Caleb (Dale Whibley) over their love of music to form their own K pop-inspired band. Each episode features original songs and performances with a K-pop twist and an EDM beat from the show’s band, XO-IQ.
Make It Pop is co-created by Thomas W. Lynch and Nick Cannon and produced by DHX Media. Lynch and Cannon also serve as executive producers with DHX Media’s Steven DeNure and Anne Loi. DHX Media handles global distribution and brand management for Make It Pop, as well as merchandising and licensing through appointed agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd. (CPLG). Make It Pop is produced at DHX Media’s Epitome Studio in Toronto, Canada.
For more information, please contact:
Trade Media: Aimee Norman at DDA Blueprint PR
aimee@ddablueprint.com
+44 (0) 20 8985 4708
Financial Media: Shaun Smith – Director, Corporate Communications, DHX Media Ltd.
shaun.smith@dhxmedia.com
+1 416-977-7230
Investor relations: David Regan – EVP, Corporate Development, DHX Media Ltd.
david.regan@dhxmedia.com
+1 902-425-3814
About DHX Brands
DHX Brands is the dedicated brand-management and consumer-products arm of DHX Media Ltd. (NASDAQ: DHXM; TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B) (www.dhxmedia.com), a leading creator, producer, marketer and broadcaster of family entertainment. DHX Brands specializes in creating, building and maintaining high-profile global entertainment brands within the children’s and young-adult markets. With expertise in brand development, licensing, marketing and creative, we develop brands which captivate and inspire through engaging content, first-class distribution, quality consumer products, immersive live experiences, and digital media. DHX Brands’ world-class portfolio includes Teletubbies, Twirlywoos, In the Night Garden, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Caillou, Make It Pop!, Slugterra, and Degrassi. DHX Brands has offices in London, Toronto and Los Angeles.
About JAKKS Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of toys and consumer products with a wide range of products that feature popular brands and children’s toy licenses. JAKKS’ diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, Halloween Costumes, Kids Furniture, Vehicles, Plush, Art Activity Kits, Seasonal Products, Infant/Pre-School, Construction Toys, Ride-On Vehicles, Wagons, Inflatable Environments and Tents, Impulse Toys and Pet Products sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific®, Road Champs®, Funnoodle®, Plug It In & Play TV Games™, Kids Only!®, Tollytots®, Disguise®, Moose Mountain® and Maui®. JAKKS is an award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks including Nickelodeon®, Warner Bros.®, DC Comics and Saban’s Power Rangers®. DreamPlay Toys, LLC is a joint venture between JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and NantWorks LLC to develop, market and sell toys and related consumer products incorporating NantWorks’ proprietary iD recognition technology. www.jakks.com
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward looking statements with respect to DHX Media including the success of the products and future broadcast. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on information currently available to the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, among other things, include risk factors discussed in materials filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time including matters discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended June 30, 2014, and annual Management Discussion and Analysis. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.