"Peppa Pig" brings her house to U.S. homes
05 February 2008
NICKELODEON'S NOGGIN ACQUIRES
BROADCAST RIGHTS TO
ENTERTAINMENT ONE’S “PEPPA PIG” FOR NORTH
AMERICA
London, February 5, 2008: “PEPPA PIG”, the UK pre-school animated series which has gone on to huge international success in over 160 territories, has chosen a home in the U.S. it was announced today by its global rights owner, Entertainment One (E1). NOGGIN, the 24-hour, commercial-free educational preschool network from Nickelodeon, has acquired US broadcast rights to the first series of “PEPPA PIG” (52 episodes) with an option on all future series and one-off specials.
Commenting on the deal, E1 Filmed Entertainment President Patrice Theroux said: "Peppa lives the daily occurrences that are familiar to all small children, and every story emphasizes core values of family and friends. The connected-learning approach offered by NOGGIN provided us with the perfect platform on which to showcase "PEPPA PIG" to US audiences. We are excited to work with the team at NOGGIN to replicate the success for “PEPPA PIG” that we have already achieved in the UK and overseas. This series which now has over 100 episodes, and for which we control worldwide rights, is central to E1’s strategy of owning, distributing and exploiting filmed entertainment content on a global basis and through our growing multi-territory distribution platform."
“We’re very excited to have Peppa and her family join the Noggin family," said Teri Weiss, Senior Vice President of Production and Development, Nickelodeon Preschool Television. "With our new 24 hour schedule, our audience will be able to enjoy this loveable pig in short segments throughout the day.”
“PEPPA PIG,” a series of short segments which recently began airing on NOGGIN, was first broadcast in the UK on Channel 5 in June 2004, followed by Nick Jr. in July of the same year. In the UK, “PEPPA PIG” is consistently one of the highest rated shows on Five’s for pre-school audience strand, “Milkshake” and on Nick Jr., the number one rated pre-school channel in the UK.
The “PEPPA PIG” brand now generates in excess of £25 million in retail sales per annum in the UK, through an ever growing network of over 35 UK licensees spanning toys, books, magazines, clothing, footwear, accessories, outdoor toys, games and DVDs. In the UK alone, there have been 7 DVDs released, generating revenues of over £2.5m through sales of more than 650,000 units. The ever growing strength of Peppa Pig is reflected in the toy line which won the highly coveted “Pre School Toy Range for 20007” at the Toy Retail Award Ceremony in London on 31st January. Peppa Pig has retained 2nd place in the pre school toy rankings based on retail sales value since September 2007(NPD data) putting it ahead of established brands including Bob the Builder and Dora the Explorer and generating in excess of £12 million p.a at retail in the UK. “PEPPA PIG” clothing has generated approximately £2 million p.a. at retail. With additional categories being added on an ongoing basis Peppa Pig’s position within the pre school market will continue to strengthen.
Internationally, “PEPPA PIG” is sold to over 50 broadcasters, spanning more than 160 territories and translated into 25 languages. The series has consistently garnered top 5 ratings in France (#1 new pre-school show on France 5), Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Australia, where territory-specific licensing programs are proving extremely successful.
The animated series of “PEPPA PIG” consists of more than 100 episodes over two series, with Peppa’s first ever Christmas Special airing in ‘07, and a third series scheduled for production in ’08.
For further information, please contact:
DDA PR
Lawrence Atkinson; Lisa Lazure
E:
lawrence.atkinson@ddapr.com;
lisa.lazure@ddapr.com
T: +44 (0) 207 932 9800 / +1 310 205 4868
W: www.ddapr.com
Note to the Editors:
About Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE: ETO) Admitted to trading on AIM on 29 March 2007, Entertainment One Ltd's strategy is to build a leading global independent entertainment content ownership and distribution business which acquires films, television programs and music content and exploits these rights in all media throughout the world. Entertainment One is the largest distributor of home entertainment products in the Canadian market. Following the acquisition of Seville Entertainment in Canada on 20 August 2007, it also has a significant presence in the theatrical and international sales markets. Outside Canada Entertainment One owns Koch Entertainment, the largest independent record label in North America and a leading independent distributor of music and video in the United States and Contender, one of the leading independent UK distributors of filmed entertainment. www.entertainmentone.ca
About NOGGIN
NOGGIN, the 24-hour, commercial-free educational
preschool network from Nickelodeon, currently reaches 65 million
households via cable, digital cable and satellite TV. NOGGIN
is like preschool on TV, with educational programming both on-air
and online at www.noggin.com. NOGGIN and all
related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom
International Inc.