December 12, 2013

Purple Ronnie, Bagpuss & more join the dots with YouTube partner Little Dot Studios

Coolabi is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with online producer and broadcaster, Little Dot Studios, for the iconic Smallfilms properties, Bagpuss, Ivor the Engine and classic Clangers, as well as one of UK’s leading social expression brands, Purple Ronnie.

Little Dot Studios creates and distributes content online for some of the biggest television programme brands on YouTube such as TOWIE, Gordon Ramsay, Who Do You Think You Are?, Peep Show and Fresh Meat.

A brand new channel, www.youtube.com/purpleronnie, targeted at 15-30 year olds, premieres Purple Ronnie animated shorts. The shorts are witty social expressions presented as snackable content for easy sharing. Additionally, Little Dot Studios will be claiming ownership of content on behalf of Coolabi and Smallfilms that has been previously uploaded.

Naomi Dare, Head of Digital at Coolabi comments, “The time is right for Coolabi to be making the most of YouTube across all of our brands. Purple Ronnie has come of age, and we are confident that this channel will create a lot of interest. The content is highly appropriate for a young, social audience looking for ways to express what they’re feeling. Having a partner who really gets YouTube, and can advise us on what works for this platform, makes this a very exciting proposition.”

Andy Taylor, Co-Founder of Little Dot Studios comments, “We’re delighted to be working with Coolabi and their iconic brands. We can’t wait to bring Purple Ronnie alive online giving YouTube’s one billion users the opportunity to enjoy and share the content.”

Coolabi represents the rights to the classic brands, Bagpuss, Ivor the Engine and Clangers on behalf of Smallfilms and Peter Firmin. The Bagpuss series was first aired on the BBC in 1974, and, although just 13 episodes were made, the shows aired for 26 weeks a year for 13 years.

Channel 5 recently voted Bagpuss the third greatest kids TV programme of all time, and best character show, in a nostalgic countdown of the 50 best British children’s TV series over the past 60 years. Additionally, the iconic and much loved British cult classic, Clangers, is in production with co-producers, CBeebies, Coolabi, Smallfilms and US 24-hour pre-school network, Sprout, and is set to make a welcome return to its home on the BBC after 45 years in 2015.

For further press information, please contact Cassandra Sananes at Cassandra.sananes@coolabi.com or on 07718908868.