Halifax, NS – 25 June 2008 – DHX Media Ltd (AIM & TSX ticker: “DHX”), a leading independent international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content is pleased to announce a third season commission for the hit preschool series Franny’s Feet from Family Channel, an Astral Media network. This order for 26, 11-minute episodes, brings the total of episodes ordered to 104, 11-minute episodes (or 52 half-hours), and will see the new season air on Astral Media’s Playhouse Disney and Family channels.
Recent deals for Franny’s Feet have included a broadcast rights acquisition by PBS Kids Sprout following excellent ratings for the show in the US on THIRTEEN/WNET where it airs daily, and, in the UK, a broadcast rights sale to Disney Channel UK, an apparel deal signed with Cooneen and a “dress up” deal signed with Cesar.
Michael Donovan, Chairman and CEO at DHX Media, commented, “Franny’s Feet continues to be a property with ancillary revenue potential with a wide international reach. This third season commission is evidence of our commitment to excellence in developing properties with wide, ongoing appeal.”
Produced by DHX Media’s DECODE Entertainment, Franny’s Feet also airs on PBS member stations in markets including Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and Washington. It is also currently shown in more than 150 countries worldwide, including major international channels ABC Australia, France 5, Disney Channel UK and Germany; Cartoon Network in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, Italy’s Rai, TV2 Denmark and TV12 Singapore.
The series is sold worldwide by DECODE Enterprises, DHX Media’s distribution subsidiary. Worldwide licensing is managed by The Sharpe Company.
Beth Stevenson, Executive VP of Production and Development at DHX Media’s DECODE Entertainment, said: “We’re really looking forward to taking Franny to new and exciting places in the new season. We’ve signed a number of key deals for the property over recent months and this commission gives us a further platform to build on as we extend the brand.”
Franny’s Feet is supported by an extensive licensing and merchandising campaign. PLAYSKOOL, a division of Hasbro, Inc., is worldwide master toy and game licensee and is set to launch a series of toys and games incorporating dolls, accessories, role play, games and puzzles.
The licensing programme includes recent deals with Allumination Filmworks for US home entertainment, US deals for Halloween costumes with Disguise Inc., and Cadaco for crayon and paper arts activity products and glue based cling moulds and frames for activity.
Penguin Group USA has launched storybooks, readers, stickerbooks, a series of novelty books such as board, lift-the-flap and word game activity books and Sımon & Schuster’s color & activity books and kits.
In the UK, the company has signed an apparel deal with Cooneen and a dress up deal with Cesar brokered through UK agent Rocket Licensing and in Argentina, agent IMC has signed up Ediciones B as publisher of story books and soft cover titles in Argentina and Uruguay.
DECODE has also recently signed up a number of international licensing sub-agents through its representative, The Sharpe Company including CPLG (Copyright Promotions) in France and Italy, Scandinavia’s Alicom Licensing, IMC (International Merchandising Consultants) in Argentina, Australia’s IFG and Korea’s Asiana Licensing have come on board to extend the reach of the brand in key markets.
About Franny’s Feet
Franny’s magical adventures transport her to places around the world, where she meets new friends and tries to help them solve problems, sharing her feelings, fears and advice with the audience along the way. Global awareness, science and vocabulary development are woven together with delightful storytelling for a seamless, entertaining and interdisciplinary learning experience.
In every episode, while helping her grandpa in his shoe repair shop, Franny slips on a pair of shoes and says, “Where will my feet take me today?” From there, the adventures are limitless. When Franny dons a pair of hiking boots, she is transported to the middle of the African Savannah. In a pair of sandals, she twirls into a Mexican fiesta. Mukluks take her on a wild trip to the frozen Arctic. In zoris, she travels to a tea ceremony in Japan.
For more information, please contact:
DHX Media Ltd. +1 902-423-0260
Dana Landry – Chief Financial Officer
David A. Regan – EVP Corporate Development & IR
AIM Nominated Advisors: Canaccord Adams Limited +44 (0) 20 7050 6500
Neil Johnson
Erin Needra
About DHX Media Ltd.
DHX Media Ltd. is a leading international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content with an emphasis on children, family and youth markets. DHX Media Ltd. is listed on AIM and on the Toronto Stock Exchange. DHX Media’s production companies, Decode Entertainment and Halifax Film, are the producers or co-producers of 11 original television series or theatrical releases currently commissioned for production and maintain a growing library of over 1,700 half-hours of mostly children and youth-oriented television productions. www.dhxmedia.com
Disclaimer
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