DHX Media : BRANDS FINDS A HAVEN FOR TELETUBBIES DOWN UNDER - February 26, 2015

DHX BRANDS FINDS A HAVEN FOR TELETUBBIES DOWN UNDER

Licensing agent appointed for Australia and New Zealand

Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, London. 26 February 2015. DHX Brands, the dedicated brand-management and consumer-products arm of DHX Media, has appointed Haven as the agent for all new Teletubbies licensing and merchandising activity in Australia and New Zealand. Haven will represent the preschool property across the territory, starting with the upcoming Australian Toy Fair.

Peter Byrne, EVP, DHX Brands, said: "Teletubbies has a huge heritage in the Australian market and Haven are superbly placed, as one of the leading agents worldwide, to capitalize on this phenomenon. Their appointment is a strategic step ahead of the international broadcast roll-out as we gear up globally on the brand."

Tom Punch, Managing Director of Haven Licensing said: "We are extremely excited to be working with the fabulous DHX team on this iconic brand.  Teletubbies has amazing awareness in Australia.  We are confident that the wonderful high quality new series will grab the attention of little Aussie kids, and holds the potential to be as successful as the original series."

The announcement comes hot on the heels of a deal with leading manufacturer VTech as licensee for electronic learning products (ELPs) for Teletubbies , with product set to roll out from Autumn/Winter 2016 in the UK, followed by France, Germany, Benelux, Iberia and Australia and New Zealand. DHX Brands has also appointed Character Options as global master toy licensee and Egmont for global master publishing.

More than 20 UK licensees have been signed to date, including Worlds Apart (Furniture & Accessories), Aykroyds (Nightwear and Underwear), Character World (Bedding), Amscan (Partyware), Bon Bon Buddies (Confectionary), Posh Paws (Bags) GB Eye (Posters) and Zak UK (melamine tableware).

Multi award-winning Teletubbies is one of the most successful children's brands and one of the Best Children's TV Programmes of the last 50 years, as voted by international kids' television experts at the 2014 Prix Jeunesse International. The original episodes aired in more than 120 territories and its enduring resonance is underscored by the brand's postings on YouTube, which averages more than 50 million views per month.

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 much-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.

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