Ravensburger, MV Sports, International Greetings, Gemma, and Rainbow Productions come on board as partners
London, UK – 2 October 2014 – DHX Brands, the consumer products arm of DHX Media, has appointed numerous new UK licensing partners for the highly anticipated new Teletubbies series. The deals have been signed through Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG), which is UK licensing agent for the brand. Product in core categories will roll out at retail from 2016.
Partners secured by CPLG include: Ravensburger, on board to produce themed puzzles; MV Sports for wheeled and outdoor toys; andInternational Greetings, for the arts-and-crafts category. CPLG has also signed up Gemma to produce greeting cards and Rainbow Productions for costume characters of Tinky Winky, Laa Laa, Dipsy and Po. DHX Brands has also recently appointed Character Options as global master toy partner.
The new 60-episode series of Teletubbies has been commissioned by the UK’s CBeebies and is being produced for DHX Media by award-winning UK production company, Darrall Macqueen Ltd. It will feature the same well-loved characters but will bring a refreshed, contemporary look to one of the world’s most well-known pre-school properties, ensuring that it is relevant for a new generation.
Peter Byrne, EVP, DHX Brands comments: “There has been a phenomenal response from the licensing community to the newTeletubbies and we are delighted to welcome on board these ’best-in-class’ partners, who will help to set the ball rolling on the eagerly anticipated consumer products program.”
Teletubbies was launched in March 1997 and became one of the most successful global children’s brands of all time. The original episodes have aired in more than 120 territories in 45 languages, and it was the very first western pre-school property to air on China’s CCTV. Its enduring resonance with children is further underscored by the brand’s postings on YouTube, which garnered more than 40 million views per month through the first half of 2014.
Multi award-winning, Teletubbies won a further major accolade this year, named as one of the Best Children’s TV Programmes of the last 50 years, voted for by a panel of 100 international kids’ television experts. Winning in the “most risk-taking kids’ entertainment programme” category at Prix Jeunesse International, the awards honoured the most outstanding, influential and daring children’s and youth TV programmes of the last 50 years.
For more information, please contact:
Aimee Norman at DDA Blueprint PR
Tel: +44 208 985 4708 or aimee@ddablueprint.com
About DHX Brands
DHX Brands is the dedicated brand management and licensing arm of DHX Media Ltd. (TSX: DHX) (www.dhxmedia.com ), a leading broadcaster, creator, producer and marketer 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, it 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, Yo Gabba Gabba!, In the Night Garden, Caillou, Ella the Elephant, Johnny Test, Inspector Gadget, and Degrassi. DHX Brands has offices in London, Toronto and Los Angeles.
About CPLG
CPLG (www.cplg.com) is one of the world’s leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agencies with offices in the UK, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US. Owned by DHX Media (www.dhxmedia.com) a leader in the creation, production and licensing of family entertainment rights, CPLG has more than 40 years of experience in the licensing industry as one of the original full service licensing agencies.