Halifax, NS - 9 October 2012 - DHX Media Ltd (“DHX”) (TSX: DHX), a leading independent international producer, distributor and licensor of mainly children’s entertainment content, has signed a major non-English language deal for Rastamouse in Europe with Canal+ and has made two significant sales to Germany’s KiKA. The German channel, aimed at kids and youth audiences, has picked up two series from the DHX sales slate: tween live action series How to Be Indie and music-centric preschool show dirtgirlworld.
Rastamouse secures major non-English language deal in Europe
Canal+ has come on board to air a French-language version of the hit preschool show in France, where it will be known as Rastasouris.
Rastamouse is building global momentum. The second season of the stop-frame animated series, produced and animated in the UK by Three Stones Media, has just launched on CBeebies in the UK. DHX also recently signed a deal to air the show in Canada on Knowledge Network’s BBC Kids channel following further international deals with BBC Worldwide Channels for its feeds in Hispanic US, Latin America and Africa, and sales to Australia’s ABC, Poland’s Canal+, HOP! in Israel and ERT3 for Greece and Cyprus.
Josh Scherba, SVP Distribution at DHX said: “Rastamouse is distinctive and unique, yet universal in appeal, due to the positive messages and themes at the heart of each episode, coupled with the musicality and eye-catching animation. Signing a significant non-English speaking European broadcast partner for the show underscores its wide appeal.”
German broadcaster snaps up How to Be Indie and dirtgirlworld. Sebastian Debertin, Head of Fiction, Acquisitions & Co-Productions at KiKa said: “We are very happy that these two shows will find their new home in Germany on KiKA.”
How to be Indie is produced by Canadian production company Heroic Film Company and represented internationally by DHX. The show airs around the world on YTV in Canada, Disney Channel UK, ABC Australia, Turner Broadcasting’s Boomerang channel in Latin America, M-Net in Africa, Italy’s DeAgostini and Canal+ Poland.
Airing on Sprout in the US, CBeebies in the U.K., on CBC Canada and ABC Australia, dirtgirlworld is a co-production between Australia’s mememe productions and DHX.
Josh Scherba, SVP Distribution at DHX said: “Well-written, insightful series always find homes internationally and have long-term appeal. Both How to Be Indie and dirtgirlworld have strong, distinctive themes and character-driven storylines tailored for their respective demographics that we are confident will prove successful with KiKA’s audiences.
About DHX Media Ltd.
DHX Media (www.dhxmedia.com), together with its subsidiary, W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, is a leading international family entertainment rights creation and management company with three-award-winning production facilities, worldwide distribution and a global consumer products business. DHX Media has produced over 40 original television series, including world-recognized series such as Franny’s Feet, Animal Mechanicals, Kid vs. Kat, Angela Anaconda and Martha Speaks, and maintains a library of over 2,500 half-hours of animation and live-action programming. The company’s global licensing group oversees a diverse merchandising portfolio for proven properties, including the hit U.K. seriesRastamouse, airing on CBeebies. DHX Media has offices in Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver, Los Angeles and London. DHX Media is listed on the TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange).
For investor relations, please contact:
David A. Regan – EVP, Corporate Development & IR, DHX Media Ltd.
+1 902-423-0260