Push to build on current success of well-loved brand in territory
Halifax, NS - 16 January 2014 - DHX Media, a leading independent creator, producer, distributor and licensor of children’s entertainment content, has appointed UYoung Media Group to spearhead a comprehensive licensing and merchandising campaign in China for its hit property In the Night Garden, which airs on China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
Stephen Gould, Commercial Director at DHX Media said: “This is a hugely significant deal for the brand, with a wealth of potential in one of the most exciting and yet challenging territories in the world. UYoung is uniquely positioned with a strong partnership network and market expertise to considerably boost the presence of In the Night Garden in China. UYoung will harness and build upon the solid foundations already in place with existing licensees and CCTV as our key broadcast partner. We are very pleased to appoint a commercial entity of this caliber as we strategically focus on taking this quintessential and delightful pre-school brand to its next level of resurgent popularity in key territories worldwide.”
Debbie Gai, General Branding Manager at UYoung added: “We are delighted to be appointed as the exclusive Chinese agent for In The Night Garden, which has established a loyal and expanding fan-base in the local market. We look forward to working with DHX Media to further the worldwide growth of this magical children’s property, continuing to establish it as one of the best-loved preschool brands in China.”
The show launched on CCTV in May 2009 to immediate success as the number one rated children’s programme for the territory in its first season. An In the Night Garden magazine and a range of toys from molded plastic and plush through to stationery have already been launched in China with Excel Media distributing DVD and 30 book titles already published through licensee Children’s Fun. In addition, licensee Shanghai Yingbao has opened a third In the Night Garden edu-tainment centre in Shanghai, China. These bespoke and professionally fitted-out centres provide a special and permanentbrand affinity destination zone for children to play in an educational environment with the much-loved characters from the globally successful TV programme.
Award-winning In the Night Garden consists of 100x30 minute episodes which have achieved international success, airing in 36 countries and translated into 19 languages.
The series takes children on an imaginative journey to meet a host of wonderfully silly and whimsical characters with unusual names like Igglepiggle, Makka Pakka Upsy Daisy and The Tombliboos, who live together within a happy and caring community.
In the UK, In the Night Garden continues to cast its spell over children and their parents. The show has been consistently on air on Cbeebies since its launch in 2007,
and DHX Media has recently announced a renewal deal ensuring the series will continue to be broadcast on the channel until at least Spring 2021.
For more information, please contact:
Aimee Norman at DDA Blueprint PR for DHX Media +44 (0) 20 8985 4708 or aimee@ddablueprint.com
About DHX Media
DHX Media (www.dhxmedia.com) is a leader in the creation, production and licensing of family entertainment rights. DHX Media owns, markets and distributes 9,500 half hours of children's entertainment content, and exploits owned properties through its consumer products licensing business. DHX Media is recognized for brands such as Yo Gabba Gabba!, Caillou, Teletubbies, In the Night Garden, Inspector Gadget, Johnny Test and Super WHY!. DHX Media's full-service international licensing agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group, (CPLG), represents numerous entertainment, sport and design brands. DHX Media has offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Halifax, London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Munich and Amsterdam and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
About UYoung Media Group
Uyoung Media was founded in 2000. Following thought of “creating and spreading the joyfulness of children”, it focuses on media and entertainment operation taking children and family as the core in 10 years. The group is headquartered in Beijing and set a number of solo-funded and holding subsidiaries hiring over 300 employees. Presently Uyoung Media has made a success in forming 4 major business modules including TV, entertainment, film and consume product and established comprehensive leading position in the fields like children’s media advertisement network, TV network, animation investment & producing and brand licensing in the industry. Guided by core thought of the group, Uyoung Media has created unique “concentric circles” business mode-focusing on children and family, led by TV business, established a multi-media industrial chain and realized coordinative development of multiple business chains.